In 2026–2027, America is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The NMCFS is leading a nonpartisan, nonpolitical national movement to celebrate the 250th anniversary and help ensure that service takes us beyond the present moment so our nation and democracy can endure for the next 250 years.
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
– Declaration of Independence, 1776
From the beginning, service to the greater good has been central to the American spirit and the essential core of any democracy.
Without that commitment to serving others, the Revolution would not have succeeded, nor would our nation have endured and prospered for all these years.
Join the celebration
You or your organization, school, or community can be a part of celebrating 250 years of American service:
Individuals
Create a local museum of service
To create a museum of service, you don’t need a professional curator or a massive budget. Use our toolkits to help you turn a local public space into a museum of service.
Shop the 250 & Beyond store
Show your support for 250 & Beyond by shopping our store. A portion of each sale supports the National Museum and Center for Service.
Tell a story of service
Do you know someone who’s making a difference by serving others? Help us honor them. Share their story so that we can feature their service in our national archive.
Access 250 & Beyond engagement resources
Download resources to help you find ways to be a part of celebrating 250 years of American service.
Sign up to stay informed
Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest news from NMCFS and see how neighbors are making a difference in every corner of America.
Organizations
Create a museum
To create a museum of service, you don’t need a professional curator or a massive budget. Use our toolkits to help you turn a local public space into a museum of service.
Commit to 250 & Beyond
Join the growing list of organizations who are committed to telling the stories of those who serve, in communities across the country and inviting all Americans to participate.
Share tools and resources for experiences and activities
Share our tools and resources in your community to help celebrate service where it happens.
“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
About the organizing partners
National Museum and Center for Service
A national organization developing a truly national museum and center dedicated to honoring and inspiring service in ALL its forms.
Independent Sector
A national organization developing a truly national museum and center dedicated to honoring and inspiring service in ALL its forms.
WETA
Founded in 1961, WETA is the leading public broadcasting station in the nation’s capital and serves their community with educational, cultural, news and public affairs programs and services.
250 & Beyond is a joint initiative of Independent Sector and the National Museum and Center for Service.
