These containers in the National Museum of American History's holdings were used for collecting charitable donations. Some of these objects have been featured in the Giving in America exhibition.

These objects are part of the history of Americans’ creativity and innovation in fundraising and giving for the common good. The short blog post, “Containers reveal Americans thinking outside the box about philanthropy,” explores how Americans in the 1800s learned to use collection boxes. 

Subject keywords: Philanthropy, charity, giving, fundraising, donating, contributing, soliciting, alms box, collection box, pushke, tzedakah, Jewish National Fund, March of Dimes, polio, Muscular Dystrophy Association

Please feel free to get in touch with Dr. Amanda Moniz, the David M. Rubenstein Curator of Philanthropy, with questions, feedback, or offers of objects for the collection.

The Philanthropy Initiative is made possible by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and David M. Rubenstein, with additional support by the Fidelity Charitable Trustees' Initiative, a grantmaking program of Fidelity Charitable.