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Endowment Gifts
What is an endowed gift?
An endowment gift provides support that continues year after year. The gift is invested, its principal is held in perpetuity and a portion is made available annually under the museum’s spending policy.
This dependable source of funding helps the museum plan beyond a single exhibition season or fiscal year. It gives future staff the resources to care for the collection, bring new art and ideas to Memphis, and keep the museum connected to the people it serves.
Ways to Make an Endowed Gift
Unrestricted Endowment Gifts
Unrestricted endowment gifts give the museum the flexibility to direct annual support where it is most needed. They provide long-term financial stability while allowing museum leadership to respond to new opportunities and changing circumstances.
Designated Endowment Gifts
At qualifying gift levels, a donor may establish a named fund supporting a particular area of the museum’s work. Funds may support collection care and conservation, acquisitions, exhibitions and artist projects, learning and community programs, and more. The museum will work with you to document the fund’s purpose and terms.
Establishing an Endowment Through Your Estate
An endowment may be established during your lifetime or through a planned gift. A bequest can be directed to the museum’s existing endowment or used to create a new named fund. If you would like a future gift to be endowed or restricted to a particular purpose, please contact the museum.
Your attorney or financial advisor can help you determine which option best fits your plans.
The following language may serve as a starting point for an unrestricted gift to the museum’s permanent endowment:
“I give to Memphis Art Museum, federal tax identification number 62-6063304, [the sum of $___ / ___ percent of my estate / the remainder of my estate], to be added to and held as part of the museum’s permanent endowment, with annual distributions used for its general charitable purposes in accordance with the museum’s endowment spending policy.”
Please consult your attorney when preparing or revising estate documents. If you would like to establish a named fund or designate your gift for a particular purpose, we encourage you to speak with the museum before finalizing your plans.
We are here to help
An endowment gift begins with a conversation. Share a few details below, and a member of our team will contact you to discuss your interests and the options available.