Priorities and Funds

Gifts to the Longyear Fund support all aspects of our mission and enable Longyear to preserve and share Mary Baker Eddy’s story with an ever-widening audience. Donations to this fund are unrestricted and help cover:

• Programs, exhibits, and tours for thousands of visitors each year;
• Preservation of our collection of 65,000 artifacts, documents, and photographs related to Mrs. Eddy and the workers who stood with her as she established Christian Science;
• Longyear Press publications, including engaging books and a biannual magazine for both adults and children, all based on original research;
• A website and virtual programs that transport Longyear’s work around the world;
• Appropriate compensation for Longyear’s dedicated professional staff.

The Longyear Fund provides Longyear’s Board of Trustees the greatest flexibility in utilizing your generous philanthropy.

The Mary Baker Eddy Historic Houses are among Longyear’s most cherished assets. Thousands of visitors from around the world tour the houses each year to learn more about the Discoverer, Founder, and Leader of Christian Science. Gifts to this fund are earmarked for operating expenses at all eight houses. These expenses include costs that most homeowners are familiar with—electricity, heat, insurance, security, repairs, and routine maintenance (such as yard care and snow removal). Additionally, this fund covers supplies for education programs, as well as salaries for our staff, who bring Mrs. Eddy’s story to life through guided tours and programs.

A gift to the Longyear Legacy Endowment Fund is an investment in the Museum’s future: It ensures that Longyear will have a steady source of income to use for preserving and sharing Mrs. Eddy’s history for years to come. Longyear’s board-approved spending policy allows the endowment principal to continue to grow even while it generates a reliable income stream in perpetuity.

Preserving the eight Mary Baker Eddy Historic Houses and a museum that houses the historical collection, exhibit galleries, a library, and staff offices is a privilege and a responsibility. Combined, these nine buildings cover more than 72,000 sq. ft. and nearly 19 acres. Proper maintenance is essential for these assets to continue to bear witness to the facts of Mrs. Eddy’s life far into the future. Capital projects range from repairing roofs and replacing boilers to restoring entire houses inside and out. Longyear’s 10-year maintenance plan ensures that all of our facilities and the valuable contents they house will be here for future generations. Here is a list of current capital projects.