The Power of Place
Williamsburg is the heart of our nation's founding, where pivotal events unfolded. The Power of Place Campaign is dedicated to preserving this rich history, bringing it to life through innovative educational initiatives, and igniting civic engagement. Together, we will ensure our nation's origin story becomes a shared American story that inspires and unites us all.
2025 Fundraising Results
Donor support is critical in advancing Colonial Williamsburg’s educational mission and its operations, with philanthropy funding approximately 70% of the Foundation’s mission activities annually. The impact of our donors is prevalent throughout the organization, allowing us to move, restore and open the Williamsburg Bray School; design and build the Campbell Archaeology Center; reconstruct the African Baptist Meeting House and Burial Ground; provide educational materials and professional development for our nation’s teachers; support our interpreters; and develop onsite and online programming surrounding our nation’s origin story.
Colonial Williamsburg ended 2025 with one of its best fundraising years in history, as nearly 50,000 individuals and organizations gave $85 million in new gifts, pledges and estate commitments. By December 31, 2025, the Power of Place Campaign reached $527 million.
Donors make all we do possible. We are grateful for the incredible investment in our work.
Learn More about Power of Place
The Power of Place Campaign is dedicated to preserving history, bringing it to life through education, and encouraging civic engagement. Together, we'll ensure our nation's origin story becomes a shared American story that inspires and unites us all.
I firmly believe Colonial Williamsburg is the most important living historical site in our nation speaking to our future.
— Bob Milligan, donor
Every Gift Counts
It takes the support of thousands of donors just like you to keep our historic city running. With your support, every year we can:
- Engage over half a million guests in historical discovery 365 days a year
- Maintain over 600 iconic historic buildings
- Provide history and civics educational programming to 1,500 classroom teachers from across the country
- Inspire new generations with world-class digital content
Places have power. Stories have power. Ideas have power.
The power of this place lives in the stories of its people. Our work here uncovers the details of their lives, evolving our understanding of America's origins — so that the future may learn from the past. Learn more about the Power of Place Campaign.
The Impact of Your Generosity
The Impact of Your Generosity
Inspiring Students to Learn
How do you interest 4th-graders in history? Let them see it, hear it, touch it, smell it. When Ryan visited the Historic Area with his class, he was so engaged by what he was learning that Tab Broyles, Director of Teacher Development of the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg, later commented to his teacher on how he had impressed her. “Oh,” the teacher said. “He had an attendance issue. But since our visit, he loves history. And ever since then, he's had no problem attending school.”
Connecting Through Trades
“Who would have thought that watching somebody make nails could lead to an examination of the Second Amendment? That's what we do.” Master Blacksmith Ken Schwarz is talking about the power of experience. “You smell the burning coal, you feel the heat, you sense the energy that it takes to interact with the metal—and that experience of physical work opens you to consider the past in a new way that connects directly to the present.”
