Support the Museum
At The Florida Museum of Natural History we strive to fulfill our mission of understanding, preserving and interpreting Florida's biological diversity and cultural heritage. We depend on people like you to help us realize this mission.
By supporting the Museum you can help contribute to our outreach efforts to engage underserved audiences, provide funding for ground breaking research, dynamic conservation initiatives and innovative exhibitions that educate, entertain and inspire nearly 200,000 visitors each year, including 14,000 school children.
Every gift - large or small - helps support what we do here at the Florida Museum of Natural History now and into tomorrow.
You can support the Museum by giving a donation in the form of a cash gift, appreciated stock, real estate, endowed gifts or contributing through planned giving. We also accept gifts in the form of collections. For more information regarding any of the following items or to learn more about endowments, facilities expansion, exhibit sponsorship and corporate support please contact Josh McCoy, Director of Development.
Contact the Development Office
Josh McCoy
Director of Development
352-273-2086
jmccoy@flmnh.ufl.edu
Brittany Snipes
Development Assistant
352-273-2086
bsnipes@flmnh.ufl.edu
Leslie Ladendorf
Assistant Director of Development and Membership
352-273-2047
members@flmnh.ufl.edu
Cash Gifts
Cash gifts are the simplest method for providing support. The Museum offers various opportunities for cash donations. Here are just a few:
- Membership
- Curator's Society
- Upper level membership, $500 and above
- Support of exhibits, research and public programs at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity (butterflies and moths).
- Support for research and collections in the Ornithology (birds) department.
Please contact the Development Office to learn about the many other options for cash support.
Appreciated Stock
If the stock market has been good to you this year, and you are considering a charitable year-end gift, a gift of appreciated stock might be the right choice for you. In most cases, the benefits of a stock transfer may include a charitable deduction, as well as no capital gains tax (if the stock has been held for more than one year).
Please contact the Development Office to learn how you can transfer your appreciated stock.
Real Estate and Personal Property
Real estate and personal property can be used for virtually any purpose and may provide additional tax benefits to you. We accept both trust and non-trust property.
Please contact the Development Office to learn how you can donate your real estate or personal property.
Endowed Gifts
Endow your favorite Museum program or provide permanent funding for Museum faculty or graduate students. You can create a named fund for a specific purpose that will exist in perpetuity. It provides a predictable source of funding year after year. As the principle grows over time, they act as an effective hedge against rising costs and allow the Florida Museum to plan strategically for the future.
Please contact the Development Office to learn more about endowments and how your gift will help generations to come.
Planned Giving
The Legacy Society was established by the Florida Museum of Natural History in 2008 to honor and recognize donors who have funded or pledged a deferred gift, including bequests, life insurance, charitable gift annuities or remainder trusts. These gifts may be designated for any program or purpose and are helping the Museum prepare for the future. The information that follows suggests ways to provide a lasting legacy to the Florida Museum of Natural History, thereby enriching the lives of many generations of visitors, students, and scientists to come. By making a planned gift or bequest to the Florida Museum of Natural History you can:
- Receive income for life through a Charitable Gift Annuity, Pooled Income Fund or Charitable Remainder Trust
- Pass assets to your children and grandchildren and cut transfer taxes through a Charitable Lead Trust
- Reduce taxes on your estate through a Bequest, or through your Retirement Plan or Insurance Policy
- Avoid capital gains tax with an Outright Gift of Appreciated Stock
Museum donors committing planned gifts of at least $10,000 are automatically inducted into the Museum's Legacy Society. Members of the Legacy Society are also recognized by the University of Florida through their annual Bequest Society Honor Roll.
Download the Legacy Society Statement of Bequest Form (PDF)
For more information on joining the Florida Museum's Legacy Society through a planned gift or bequest, please contact the Development Office.
Collections
Research and collections are at the heart of the Florida Museum of Natural History. If you have a collection that fits our mission and collection policy, we would like to talk to you about our capacity to house and curate your special collection and honor your work by recognizing your gift.
Please contact the Development Office.
Additional Information
All gifts to the Museum are deposited at the University of Florida Foundation, which is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and are thus eligible to be counted as charitable tax deductions. All gifts to the University of Florida and the Florida Museum of Natural History on or before December 31, 2011 will count towards the Florida Tomorrow Capital Campaign.
Learn more about the Florida Tomorrow Capital Campaign
Sponsor Recognition
The Florida Museum thanks The Real Yellow Pages®
from AT&T for its support through 2011.