Stocks, Mutual Funds, and other Securities (If you have long-term appreciated stocks or bonds that you have held for a year or more, consider giving them directly to the Museum, as you may receive tax benefits.)

Giving a life insurance policy is a great way to transform a modest gift into a dramatic one. You can transfer ownership of a fully paid policy to the museum, reassign ownership and beneficiary status for a policy on which premiums are still being paid, or establish a new policy and designate the museum as applicant, owner, and beneficiary.

If you would like to donate a work of art or an artifact to the Museum please contact Dr. Tricia Loscher, Deputy Director and Curator at 928-684-2272. Be sure to have detailed object information (artist, title, date, medium, dimensions) and a photo of the work. If the Museum is interested in acquiring the piece, the Curator will guide you through that process and provide answers to your appraisal and tax questions. Although the work may be artistically significant, not all pieces are appropriate for the Museum’s collection. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum does not accept works without proper evaluation and will not accept donations made at the Visitor Services (admissions) desk or receptionist desk in the Administration Building.

The simplest way to make a planned gift is through a bequest in your will. You may direct a bequest to support a specific acquisition fund for art or to endow a specific program or collection. Undesignated bequests allow the museum to use the funds where they are most needed.

Contribute to the future of the museum, secure lifetime annual payments for yourself and/or other beneficiaries, and generate substantial tax benefits with a charitable remainder trust. A trust of this kind provides beneficiaries with income for life or a specified length of time and then distributes the remaining assets to the museum. An income tax deduction is available immediately.

The Museum’s endowments were created to provide a permanent source of operating income for the institution. Restricted endowment gifts establish named funds and positions to support specific areas and needs of the Museum. An endowment gift demonstrates a long-term commitment to support the Desert Caballeros Western Museum. This type of gift is invested and maintained in perpetuity. Earnings from this type of gift, after it has been invested, provide crucial and on-going support to the Museum. Endowments reflect your specific interests and serve as a testament to your generosity.