For years, Oshkosh has been one of the only cities of its size in Wisconsin without a dedicated children’s museum. Today, we are working to change that, and we're asking you to join us.

Through our Museum Maker Campaign, we’re inviting 250 donors to become Founding Members of the Oshkosh Kids Museum through a $5,000 contribution.

The campaign will run from August 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, or until all 250 Founding Member positions have been filled. If we achieve our goal within this timeframe, we will proudly launch the Oshkosh Kids Museum in 2027. If not, we will be forced to extend our campaign and postpone opening until 2028.

However, time matters because childhood doesn't wait.

It is important to us to launch the museum quickly instead of spending the next fifteen years fundraising, because children grow up quickly. The children that are here with us today and in front of us right now won't be children in fifteen years. We risk missing out on reaching an entire generation of children.

With a gift of $5,000, you will secure one of only 250 Founding Member opportunities available and help create a space filled with the joy of childhood wonder. If you wish, you may reserve multiple Founding Member opportunities—every additional $5,000 secures another place and moves us another step closer towards our goal of establishing a permanent children's museum that will serve families throughout Oshkosh and the surrounding communities for generations to come.

Your generosity builds a museum filled with interactive exhibits and hands-on activities that encourage kids to ask questions, solve problems, and discover the world around them.

Our exhibits will help children develop critical skills in five foundational areas:

• Cognition

• Social Interaction & Emotional Regulation

• Speech & Language

• Physical Skills

• Sensory Awareness

Only 250 Founding Member opportunities are available, and once those positions have been claimed, our Museum Maker Campaign will close forever, and the Oshkosh Kids Museum will open in its place as a testament to the belief in children that our founding members have.

We hope you will stand alongside us as one of those visionaries who helped make the Oshkosh Kids Museum possible.

Together, we can create a place of joy that belongs to our entire community.

Thank you for your generosity, your belief in the power of play, and your commitment to the children of Oshkosh. We look forward to welcoming you as a Founding Member of the Oshkosh Kids Museum.