Designate your gift – support the Museum program of your choice!
The Museum of Flight is a place where families and friends can experience history and future. Gifts allow us to keep the Museum an exciting and dynamic place – one that makes every visit a new experience with new adventures to enjoy and learn from.
There are many ways that you can support your Museum of Flight. The first is to renew your membership every year – and consider renewing at a higher level. You can also make additional gifts to the Museum to support overall operations or a program or project that is meaningful to you. In addition, financial gifts can be made by cash, credit card, appreciated securities or other instruments that fit your personal circumstances. Whatever you decide to do, the Museum is grateful for your enthusiasm and support, and will reward your efforts by providing experiences that enhance your life and the lives of others who visit the Museum.
The Museum of Flight depends on the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations to keep admission fees as low as possible. It is the Museum’s goal to be accessible to everyone. Tax-deductible gifts and corporate matching gifts can be directed to the following areas:
ARCHIVES & LIBRARY
The Museum of Flight has the largest aviation library and archives on the West Coast. The collection includes: Over 94,000 periodicals, 25,000 books, 23,000 technical manuals and publications. In addition, there are over 2 million images, negatives, transparencies and prints relating to the entire range of aviation history and the aerospace experience. Gifts in support of the Archives & Library allow for the purchase of historically significant materials and the processing of existing collections so that they are accessible at the Museum and in some cases through the Internet.
EDUCATION
The Museum annually serves more than 143,000 Washington State students through 28 different instructor-led programs that help build interest and understanding math, science, and technology. Sponsorships for individual programs begin at $5,000. Every gift, no matter what size, directly supports Museum education programs.
EXHIBITS
Exhibits are the backbone to a great Museum experience by providing information that allow visitors to learn the personal stories of inspiration and perseverance that created aviation and astronautic history. Gifts in support of exhibits allow the Museum to provide historical, visual and educational interpretations of the air and space artifacts that are on view at the Museum.
PERSONAL COURAGE WING
A three-story, 88,000-square-foot addition, the J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing highlights the stories of courage, dedication, heroism and human spirit of those involved in fighter aviation in World War I and World War II. The gallery showcases 28 restored World War I and World War II fighter planes in two galleries, including one of the finest collections of historic fighters found anywhere in the world, the internationally known Champlin Fighter Collection. In addition, the American Fighter Aces and Medal of Honor databases are housed here.
RESTORATION
Located in Everett, Wash., 30 minutes north of the Museum, the Museum’s Restoration Center staff and volunteers work daily to preserve aviation history. The center is home to approximately three dozen aircraft in various stages of restoration, including the Boeing 727 prototype, the first de Havilland Comet 4C and the Boeing 247D. Contributions underwrite acquisitions and support restorations. The Restoration Center is open to the public Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MUSEUM OPERATIONS
With a campus of 23.4 acres, including indoor and outdoor exhibits, and serving more than 435,000 visitors annually, the Museum has need for unrestricted gifts. These gifts provide support for ongoing programs, as well as one-time opportunities. Unrestricted gifts allow the Museum to direct resources to the areas of greatest need to meet operational and programmatic goals.
ENDOWMENT
Endowment gifts ensure long-term support since only the annual earned income is used for operating expenses. The principle remains in a secure interest bearing account for as long as the Museum exists.
BECOME A CORPORATE SPONSOR!
Businesses can become an annual sponsor of the Museum and receive benefits including use of the facility, complimentary admission passes, advertising, and a company membership.
TRIBUTE GIFTS
A gift to a charitable organization is a wonderful way to recognize someone of importance in your life. By making a tribute gift, you honor a family member or friend by supporting the work of an organization that does meaningful community service. If you are interested in making a tribute gift to the Museum of Flight, please send the gift along with the following information to the Museum, Office of Development, 9404 East Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA 98108.
- Name, address and phone number of donor
- Name of person honored or remembered
- Address and phone number of honoree or family of deceased
- Special occasion if appropriate, i.e. birthday, anniversary
- Special message to send to honoree or family of deceased, if desired
Gifts of any size are welcome and appreciated.
If you are interested in supporting a specific program or aspect of the Museum not described above, please contact the Office of Development online or at 206-764-5700. One of our staff members will be pleased to talk with you about your giving goals and the needs of the Museum.