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Greenburgh volunteers seek permission to pursue philanthropic funding for Black History Museum panels; board asks for written proposal
Summary
Volunteers and the town philanthropy office briefed the Greenburgh Town Board on a planned traveling Black History Museum panel exhibit for Feb. 2 (library) and Feb. 8 (Town Hall). Board members asked for a formal proposal, cost breakdown and timeline before authorizing the philanthropy office to pursue outside funding.
Organizers of a planned Greenburgh Black History Museum exhibit asked the town board at its Jan. 21 work session for permission to have the town philanthropy office pursue outside funding and to help coordinate a traveling panel exhibit for Black History Month.
A presenter explained that a committee has been meeting for months to assemble panels that highlight prominent residents and local history. The committee intends an initial exhibit at the Greenburgh Public Library on Feb. 2, to be followed by a display on the Town Hall second floor beginning Feb. 8 and by later traveling showings at schools and other locations.
"The panels are giving information about people who lived in the town of Greenburgh," the presenter said, describing the exhibit as educational and portable rather than a permanent museum collection. The presenter said the Cab Calloway Foundation and other organizations have offered material and that some content would be leased or licensed rather than owned outright.
The town philanthropy office told the board it had identified prospective funders and that several foundations and the local Rotary Club had expressed interest. The philanthropy representative said staff will not approach donors or finalize agreements without board direction and requested a clear yes or no to move forward with outreach.
Board members welcomed the initiative but repeatedly asked for a written proposal, a full cost breakdown (including whether panels would be leased or purchased and any recurring obligations), and a production timeline. Several board members said they had not received the committee's materials in advance and stressed the board needed time to review slides, costs and any licensing terms before granting town involvement.
Committee members said the Rotary Club had committed $6,000 in seed support and that a vendor had already agreed to print panels on an expedited schedule if funding arrives; the presenters stressed that the initial display at the library could proceed under the library's agreement even while the town board considered formal permission for the philanthropy office to pursue additional donors.
The board did not vote to authorize solicitation of funds at the meeting. Members asked the committee to submit a single, consolidated proposal document and the sample panels for board review and suggested a follow‑up meeting after board members had time to digest the materials.
Next steps recorded in the work session: the committee will forward a written proposal and the panel samples to board staff and the philanthropy office; the board will review the packet and decide whether to authorize the philanthropy office to approach non‑town donors.
