Impact

Student Oratory Festival

Your Support Matters

Our student oratory festival gives students the opportunity to perform Lincoln’s words on our historic stage. We have reached students in 17 states across the U.S.

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Your support helps preserve Lincoln's legacy and helps us inspire the next generation of leaders.

When you support Ford’s Theatre, you become part of the family, while making an impact on your community and your nation.

Donations and membership further our mission of celebrating Lincoln’s legacy and exploring the American experience. Your support helps fund educational programs like the Oratory Festivals, giving children a place on our national stage. Your funding brings the American experience to life through our performances. And your generosity inspires visitors by exploring the importance of President Lincoln and his legacy through our exhibits.

Our Reach

484,274+ Historic Site Visitors

107,895+ Theatre Patrons

95,250+ Student Virtual Field Trips

5,707 Free Student Tickets

Making an Impact Together

Creating the next generation of leaders

Your support helps students develop self-esteem as well as public-speaking and leadership skills.

Building Student Confidence

Your support helps give students a voice.

Preserving History

“I want future generations to learn about Ford’s Theatre.”

Empowering Students

Students share the life-changing experience of our oratory programs.

Empowering Teachers

Strengthening Performance and Teaching Skills for the Classroom.

Living Proof: Paige Teleford

"We learned to speak out and bravely offer our thoughts ourselves to the world."

Creating the next generation of leaders

Building Student Confidence

Preserving History

Empowering Students

Empowering Teachers

Living Proof: Paige Teleford

Impact Reports

Explore the impact of Ford’s Theatre in the community.

Ways to make an Impact

See how your donation helps Ford's Theatre.

Support a local school's trip to Ford’s Theatre

$250 brings a local class to One Destiny

Your support enables production of and free tickets for “One Destiny," a short play commissioned and produced by Ford’s Theatre that revisits the events of April 14, 1865.

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Bring 10 students to Ford’s Theatre

$100 funds school bus transportation

Ford’s provides free tickets AND free bus transportation for students. Your support provides many students with their first experience of live theatre.

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Preserve Lincoln’s Legacy

Membership

Membership helps fund all of our theatrical and educational programming. Join today.

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Make your donation go further with recurring gifts

Monthly Donations

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“Through Lincoln’s Words: Oratory Festival”

Creating Leaders

More than 600 students participate in the Oratory Festival and perform on the Ford’s Theatre stage. Your support helps these students develop critical skills in communication, self-esteem and leadership.

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A SPECIAL THANKS

Donors and members help us make a difference every day. View the list of our donors and see who has helped us make a lasting impact in our community.

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Impact

Student Oratory Festival

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Our Reach

Making an Impact Together