Donating Art and Artifacts
Thank you for your interest in donating artwork, objects, or other materials to Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Please review the following guidelines and complete our Collection Donation Form to initiate the process.
How do I donate artwork, objects, or books to Western Spirit?
If you have artwork, objects, or books that you believe may be of interest to Western Spirit, we would like to hear from you! Due to the high volume of offers the museum receives, we kindly request that you contact us using the Online Collection Donation Form available on our website. If you are unable to complete the online form, please email or call the Museum Registrar at registrar@westernspirit.org or 480-530-3450 to request a printed copy of the form.
Once your form is received, your proposed donation will be evaluated by the museum’s curatorial and collections staff. You can expect a response within four to six weeks. If we are interested in pursuing the donation, our staff will work with you to gather additional information.
Artwork and object donations are reviewed by our Collections Committee on an as-needed basis. Book and library donations are reviewed by the Librarian and Chief Curator. Please note that staff may be engaged with exhibitions or other projects, so the review process may take several weeks to a few months.
If your donation is formally accepted, you will be issued a deed of gift to document the transfer of ownership to the museum. At that time, we will coordinate any necessary shipping or delivery arrangements. Please note that Western Spirit does not accept donations with restrictions attached.
Can I mail or drop off a donation?
Museum policy prohibits us from accepting donations by mail or in person unless prior arrangements have been made with an authorized staff member. Unsolicited donations received through the mail will be returned to the sender. Unsolicited donations brought to the museum in person will be refused.
How are potential donations reviewed?
Donations are reviewed by the Collections Committee, which includes museum staff and trustees with expertise in our collecting areas and the care of museum objects. The Committee evaluates potential donations based on Western Spirit’s current collecting priorities and best practices established by the American Alliance of Museums. Other considerations include the condition of the object or materials; resource requirements for proper storage and care; relevance to our mission and collection; legal ownership and copyright status; and cultural or ethical sensitivities.
Will Western Spirit appraise my donation for its monetary value?
No. Western Spirit cannot provide appraisals of donated items. The Internal Revenue Service considers museums to be interested parties and prohibits them from appraising donations for tax purposes. You may contact one of the following professional organizations to find a qualified appraiser in your area: the American Society of Appraisers, the International Society of Appraisers, or the Appraisers Association of America.
Can I take a tax deduction for my donation?
Western Spirit is a qualified charitable organization and donations to our collection or library are generally tax-deductible. However, we recommend consulting your accountant, attorney, or the Internal Revenue Service to confirm eligibility and ensure you receive the maximum tax benefit. For more information, refer to IRS Publication No. 526 (Charitable Contributions) and Publication No. 561 (Determining the Value of Donated Property).
Will Western Spirit exhibit the materials in my donation?
While we appreciate every donation, we cannot guarantee that any donated materials will be displayed. Only a small portion of the collection is on view at any one time. However, artwork and historical objects may be considered for future exhibitions or loans to other institutions. In the future, we hope to make more of the collection accessible online and available to researchers.
If I donate materials to Western Spirit, will they be returned to me at my request?
No. Once your donation is formally accepted into the museum’s permanent collection—a process called accessioning—and you have signed a deed of gift, the materials become the legal property of Western Spirit. We are unable to return accessioned items to donors.
Can donated materials be removed from Western Spirit’s collection?
In rare cases, items may be removed from the collection through a process called deaccessioning. This process requires approval from the Collections Committee and follows the strict ethical and procedural guidelines established by the American Alliance of Museums.