The Anacostia Community Museum (ACM) in Washington, D.C., has announced a $5 million gift from Roger Ferguson and Annette Nazareth to establish an endowment in support of the museum’s director position.

The donation enables the museum, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, to recruit and retain world-class directors and do more in presenting innovative exhibits and programs to the public. Ferguson is a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, and Nazareth is currently senior counsel at the international law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

“Since its inception, the Anacostia Community Museum has been a model for how museums can be more than simply community centers but also powerful change agents at the center of their communities,” said Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch. “This endowed directorship underscores the importance of the museum to the Anacostia neighborhood, the city, and the institution, and will help Melanie Adams and her team continue to build upon its rich history of education, exhibitions, and storytelling.” 

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Jenoche)