Powered by Play: A Campaign for The Strong

The heart of the all-new Neighborhood of Play is The Strong’s 90,000-square-foot expansion which houses state-of-the-art guest amenities and a 24,000-square-foot interactive gallery, ESL Digital Worlds.

Powered by Play: A New Neighborhood and a Bigger Museum

The Strong’s expansion is the driving force behind the Neighborhood of Play—a new, vibrant, walkable neighborhood, revitalizing the downtown area that surrounds The Strong. With The Strong as its centerpiece, the new neighborhood will generate $130 million in annual tourism revenue for Rochester and includes:

• The Strong National Museum of Play’s pre-existing 285,000 sq. ft. of exhibits and educational, play-based experiences—plus a new 90,000 sq. ft. expansion housing innovative exhibits and experiences, including the World Video Game Hall of Fame
• A national, family-friendly hotel operated by Indus Hospitality Group
• Market-rent housing and a mix of retail businesses operated by Konar Properties
• A colorful parking garage with ample covered spaces for visitors.

To fund this transformational project, The Strong launched Powered by Play: A Campaign for The Strong in 2018. The campaign, which will conclude at the end of 2023, has raised more than $72 million to build a bigger and better museum, preserve the history of play, promote the educational power of play, and bring joy to millions of children and families.

There is still time to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime campaign! As a non-profit educational museum, The Strong needs you—members, friends, and leaders in the toy and video game industries—to help get us over the finish line.

To learn more or support the campaign, contact Lisa Feinstein, 585-410-6370, lfeinstein@museumofplay.org

For media inquiries, contact Shane Rhinewald, 585-410-6365, srhinewald@museumofplay.org

The Strong’s expansion is only possible with the support of individual donors, corporations and other organizations, foundations, and government funders. The Strong is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit.

Ways to Give

Your gift to Powered by Play: A Campaign for The Strong is an investment in the lives of the millions of children and families who play, learn, and grow at The Strong National Museum of Play—today and for years to come. There are many ways to make an impact:

Capital Gifts

Both individuals and organizations can support the development and construction of the expansion project. Capital gifts directly support the building of the 90,000 sq. ft. museum expansion, new exhibits, and necessary renovations to the existing museum building.

Naming Opportunities

Your investment in The Strong can recognize or honor your family, an individual, or an organization by naming spaces—such as classrooms or exhibit galleries—in the expansion. Donors can also name programmatic initiatives, such as staff leadership positions, community outreach programs, or collections and conservation funds.

Dedicate an OLED Butterfly

Support the Powered by Play Campaign by dedicating one of our amazing new OLED butterflies that will light-up the new welcome atrium.

Sponsorships and Partnerships

Through sponsorships and partnerships, businesses and other organizations provide critical funding for targeted programs and exhibits. Sponsor organizations receive employee benefits and visibility amongst broad on-site and online audiences.

Annual Giving and Unrestricted Multi-Year Commitments

Annual Giving and unrestricted multi-year commitments allow The Strong to make immediate investments in play-based programs and outreach. Through a repeatable annual gift or a multi-year commitment, you provide critical support for high-impact programs.

Planned Giving

Estate and planned gifts secure your legacy and the future of the museum. Donors who commit to a planned gift become members of The Strong’s Woodbury Society. Learn more about planned giving at The Strong.

Contact Us

Gifts of all types and sizes are welcome and help support The Strong’s play-based educational mission. To learn more, contact The Strong’s Institutional Advancement team at 585-410-6346 or advancement@museumofplay.org.