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Cash Checks should be made payable to the Smithsonian Institution and either mailed or delivered to the following address: Office
of Development Please include a letter with your donation, indicating whether the gift is unrestricted or specified for a certain museum or Smithsonian program. If you prefer, you may make a pledge and convey your gift to the Smithsonian over a period of up to five years by making arrangements with a development officer in advance. Stock, bonds and other securities Securities Traded on the Stock Exchange To make a gift of appreciated securities to the Smithsonian Institution: Contact a Smithsonian development officer and provide the name of your broker, the name of the stock and the number of shares you would like to contribute. The development officer will advise you on the procedure for completing the gift. In order to avoid capital gains taxes, do not sell the stock yourself nor have your broker sell it. Transfer shares intact to the Smithsonian. The Institution will acknowledge your stock gift as follows: Certificates--on the date the shares are delivered to a Smithsonian representative or on the postmarked date when mailed. Electronic (DTC) transfer--on the date the shares are received by the Smithsonian broker. Closely Held Stock For gifts of closely held stock or controlled stock, consult with your financial advisor and the Office of Development for further information. You may transfer to the Smithsonian the income you receive from any trusts you hold, either for your lifetime or for a specific period. Please contact the Office of Development for further information. A gift of zero coupon bonds has both present and future benefits: it will provide you with an income tax deduction in the year of the gift and will grow through time to a specified amount at a maturity date you determine. It may be a way to enable you to fund a long-term project, such as a fellowship or endowment fund. Please contact the Office of Development for further information. The Smithsonian accepts gifts of real estate upon consultation with the Office of Development's planned giving professionals. A gift of appreciated real estate may help you avoid capital gains tax. In some cases, gifts of life insurance can be an attractive way for you to make a significant contribution to the Smithsonian without reducing liquid assets. If you no longer need the protection of life insurance policies acquired in years past, you may name the Smithsonian as the beneficiary of the policy. All potential gifts of life insurance should be discussed in advance with your financial advisor and our planned giving personnel. All inquiries regarding gifts to the Smithsonian will be considered completely confidential. For further information, please send your e-mail request to membership@si.edu. Office
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