Founding Donors

L’Chaim • Yad b’Yad • Ner Tamid

Building a museum is the work of many hands and many hearts. The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience is pleased to offer these opportunities to help create this unique and important museum. Starting at only $18,000 payable over up to 5 years, becoming a Museum Founder gives you a meaningful way to honor your family’s history, as well as the overall Southern Jewish Experience.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Museum Founder, please contact Executive Director Kenneth Hoffman at kenneth@msje.org or 504-384-2480, x101.

L’Chaim (To Life)

$18,000 to $49,999

  • Inclusion as a L’Chaim level donor on a prominent display near the Museum entrance.
  • Inclusion in the Mezuzah Society display.
  • Invitation to all Museum Grand Opening events.
  • Recognition in the Museum’s Grand Opening program, annual report, and website.

Yad b’Yad (Hand in Hand)

$50,000 to $99,999

  • Inclusion as a Yad b’Yad level donor on a prominent display near the Museum entrance.
  • An opportunity to create a Family Legacy Page to be included in our exhibits with photos
    about the donor’s family history.
  • Inclusion in the Mezuzah Society display.
  • Invitation to all Museum Grand Opening events.
  • Recognition in the Museum’s Grand Opening program, annual report, and website.

Ner Tamid (The Eternal Light)

$100,000 and above

  • Inclusion as a Ner Tamid level donor on a prominent display near the Museum entrance.
  • Donors of $100,000 and above have the opportunity to consider a limited selection
    of spaces, exhibits, or programs that are available for named recognition.
  • An opportunity to create a Family Legacy Page to be included in our exhibits with
    photos about the donor’s family history.
  • Inclusion in the Mezuzah Society display.
  • Invitation to all Museum Grand Opening events.
  • Recognition in the Museum’s Grand Opening program, annual report, and website.
Giving LevelNer Tamid Naming Opportunity
$5 MillionMuseum Name
The Smith Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience; “The Smith”
Endowed PositionsExecutive Director $2 million
Historian $1.5 million
Curator $1.5 million
Educator $1.5 million
$1 MillionTheater (museum orientation & public programs space; reserved)
Introductory Film (reserved)
Public Programs Endowment
$750,000Gallery A: 18th & 19th Century History (reserved)
Gallery B: Judaism 101 (the basics of Judaism using Southern examples)
Gallery C: 20th Century History
Special Exhibit Gallery: Changing exhibits (approximately two per year)
$500,000Judaica & Gift Shop (reserved)
$350,000Jewish Studies Internship Program (reserved)
$250,000Classroom (reserved)
Conference Room (reserved)
$200,000State History Sponsors (each of the 13 states will have an exclusive sponsor)
$100,000+Museum Exhibits as listed below.

Museum Exhibit Naming Opportunities

Immigration Waves & Becoming a CitizenAn overview of the major migrations of Jews over the past 350 years; Early Jewish settlements in the South through the Revolutionary War$100,000 Reserved
Jewish Communal LifeThe establishment and growth of Jewish communities and congregations across the South$100,000
Peddlers & MerchantsStories of economic successes and failures and growing civic involvement in the 19th century and beyond$250,000
Southern Jews, Race & the Civil WarAn exploration of Southern Jewish relationships with African-Americans before, during and after the Civil War; Stories of Jews who fought for the Confederacy and those who did not$100,000
Southern SynagoguesA photo exhibit of historic synagogues across the SouthTBD
Judaism through Southern EyesAn exploration of Jewish holidays, life cycle events, and basic beliefs & practices as experienced by Southern Jews$100,000
New Arrivals: A Strained WelcomeEastern European Jews and their relationships with more established Southern Jews; the Galveston Plan$100,000
Southern Jews & the HolocaustAn exploration of how Southern Jews reacted to the Holocaust; stories of Survivors who made news lives in the South$100,000 Reserved
Southern Jews, Civil Rights, & ActivismSouthern Jewish involvement in and responses to the Civil Rights Movement$250,000 Reserved
State-by-State ExhibitAn engaging interactive exhibit covering a variety of stories, maps, and data in each of our 13 states$200,000 per State
Southern Judaism TodayCurrent trends, challenges, experiences; popular views of Southern Jews; Jewish summer camping and youth organizationsTBD
What’s Your Southern Jewish Experience?An interactive exhibit that gives visitors opportunities to answer questions and add stories of their own to the Museum$100,000