In these challenging economic times, the Douglas County Historical Society once again is able to share tax breaks with qualifying donors who agree to help finance the organization’s signature museum.

The society has been granted up to $10,000 in tax credits to be used to help attract donors for the Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Mass.

The Kansas State Historical Society announced Wednesday that Watkins would share in $200,000 in tax credits made available to seven historic sites and to the society itself for general operations at state historic sites.

Watkins also qualified for $10,000 in credits a year ago.

The program allows Douglas County Historical Society and managers of other Partnership Historic Sites to seek donors to help finance qualifying expenses: restoration, preservation, site operations or establishment of an endowment.

Donors can receive tax credits equal to 50 percent of their donations, provided each donation is at least $1,000. Individual donors cannot receive any more than $2,500 in credits during a calendar year.

Tax credits are different from tax deductions, in that tax credits directly reduce a person’s tax bill. Donors contributing $1,000, for example, could reduce their taxes owed by $500. Tax deductions reduce a taxpayer’s taxable income, an indirect route to a lower tax bill that depends on a person’s tax rate and possibly other factors.

One of the grant recipients is Railroad Heritage Inc., which can use $50,000 to help raise money for The Great Overland Station in Topeka.

For more information about the Partnership Historic Sites program and the tax credits, visit kshs.org/resource/partnership or call (785) 272-8681, ext. 240.