Thanks for supporting our mission!

Your donation supports the Whatcom Museum’s innovative and interactive educational programs and exhibitions about art, nature, and Northwest history, and ensures our future as a vibrant community cultural center and regional destination, both virtual and in-person. The past few years have had a major impact on our organization and we couldn’t weather the storm without generous donations from individuals like you! Every dollar helps us to create relevant and engaging exhibitions, programming for children and adults, and preserve our collection for generations to come. Donate online, right now, by filling out our donation form below. We appreciate your generosity!

Want to have an even greater impact on the legacy of the Museum? Read on to discover opportunities for planned giving, employee matching or corporate giving, tributes, and more!

Donate

Donation form

  • American Express
    Discover
    MasterCard
    Visa
    Supported Credit Cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
     
  • By submitting this form you agree to our Privacy Policy.

Proceeds from donations help fund educational programs and school visits, among other activities.

Proceeds from donations help fund educational programs and school visits, among other activities.

Ways to Support the Whatcom Museum!

There are many ways to support art, nature, and Northwest history. We offer a variety of options:

Corporate Giving

Corporate sponsorship provides local businesses with an opportunity to align their brand with top quality arts programming that improves the quality of life in our community and reaches more than 70,000 arts patrons each year. We offer plenty of opportunities for visible recognition through a variety of vehicles that include our website, exhibition catalogs, gallery signage, and the Museum’s national-award-winning quarterly member magazine, Inside. Corporate sponsors can choose to support an upcoming exhibition, our annual gala fundraising event, or any of the hundreds of public or school-based programs we offer each year.

Give to the Annual Fund

When you make a gift to the Museum’s Annual Fund, you are making an important commitment in support of accessible art and history programming for everyone in our community. Our Annual Fund makes it possible for the Museum to bring national touring exhibitions to Whatcom County. It provides the funding necessary to keep our art studio stocked with supplies; it helps us serve thousands of school children each year through our education programs; and to present low-cost programs to our community. We invite you to make a gift now by scrolling down to our donation form, or consider joining our easy, donor-friendly monthly giving program.

Cash/Check/Credit Card

Gifts of cash can be made at our admissions desk during the Museum’s open hours. Checks should be made out to Whatcom Museum and mailed to: 121 Prospect Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. We accept gifts and pledge payments made with Visa or Mastercard by mail, telephone, or online.

Gifts of Securities

Publicly traded securities, shares of stock in closely-held companies, bonds and government issues may be given to the Whatcom Museum. Email our Development Director for more information.

Gifts of Real Estate

The Museum may accept gifts of real estate—including homes, condominiums, commercial properties, farmland, rental properties and undeveloped land — after a thorough review of several factors, including an appraisal, a marketability assessment and an environmental assessment. Gifts of this nature normally take 60 – 90 days to complete. If considering such a gift, please allow for the appropriate time to complete the transaction. Email our Development Director for more information.

Gifts of Tangible Personal Property

The Museum may accept gifts of tangible personal property, either as additions to the permanent collection or for resale to support the Museum. All gifts of tangible property are subject to review and approval by the Museum’s Accessions Committee. Email our Curator of Collections for more information.

Attend a Fundraising Event

The Whatcom Musuem hosts a gala fundraiser annually. Purchase a ticket and party with us, all in support of the Museum’s exhibitions and programming!

Tribute and Memorial Gifts

Tribute Gifts mark special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. Memorial Gifts express your sympathy or remember a loved one. A Tribute or Memorial Gift is an especially meaningful way to recognize friends, family, business associates, and special occasions, while at the same time supporting the collections, exhibitions, and educational programs of one of the region’s greatest treasures. Your contribution will be acknowledged with a personalized card sent to the honored individual or family — without reference, of course, to the amount of the gift. In addition, the name of the person being honored, along with your name as the donor, will be listed in our Annual Report. Email our Development Director for more information.

Planned Giving

Consider the Whatcom Museum in your estate planning. Through bequests, beneficiary designation, and charitable remainder trusts, it is easy to mark your legacy at the Museum. We have resources and recommendations to help you with these important decisions. Email our Development Director for more information.

“At a time when our society seems more polarized than any time I can remember, the Museum is a unifier — a place that celebrates our culture, our history, our community. It’s a place where people can come together.”
— Dean Wright, Past Board Member, Whatcom Museum Foundation

Questions about supporting the Whatcom Museum? Contact us for information.

The Whatcom Museum Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.