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Donation Request Guidelines

Thank you for thinking of Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad for your fundraiser or community event. We receive many requests each year, and while we would love to help everyone, we have limited resources. To keep our giving fair and sustainable, we use the guidelines below.

Our giving priorities

We prioritize requests that:

  • Support 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
  • Located in Hamilton County, Indiana
  • Align with our mission of preserving history, providing education, and strengthening community connections

What we donate

Approved donations are provided as a Nickel Plate e-gift card, delivered by email.

E-gift cards can be used toward any ticketed Nickel Plate experience (train rides or railbike rides) and redeemed online.

Timing requirements

To be considered, applications must be submitted at least 90 days before your event date.

Review process

All requests are reviewed by a Donation Review Committee and awarded on a quarterly schedule:

  • Requests are reviewed in January, April, July, October
  • Applicants will receive an email decision after the quarterly review

How to apply

Donation Request Application Form

Requests made by phone, social media, or email (without the form) may not be considered.

Recognition

If your request is approved, we ask that Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad be recognized in the following ways (as applicable):

Required

List Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad as an in-kind donor (program, event website, signage, slideshow, or donor list)

Preferred

  • Include our logo where other logos are displayed
  • Tag us in at least one social post (before or after the event)
  • Provide a brief verbal thank-you at the event (when there is an emcee or live program)

We will provide our preferred logo files and name formatting with your approval email.

A few notes

  • Donations are limited and not guaranteed.
  • Donations are provided as e-gift cards only (no cash sponsorships through this process).
  • We may limit the number of approved requests per organization each year.

Questions? Contact Emily Reynolds at [email protected]