Support the Nordic Heritage Museum
Make a Donation
You can donate safely and easily now:
Alternately, you are invited to make a donation by calling the Museum at (206) 789-5707
ext. 39. Or, you can send a check to:
Nordic Heritage Museum
3014 NW 67th St
Seattle, WA 98117
Thank you for considering a gift to the Museum! Your contribution can be directed to the Capital Campaign, the Endowment Fund,
or the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund is designed to augment annual revenue from other existing sources such as membership dues,
admission fees, and fundraising events. Unrestricted donations to the Annual Fund cover general operating costs and allow the Nordic Heritage Museum to offer many public programs at little or no cost to the public.
Under the extended charitable IRA legislation, if you are age 70½ or older, you can make charitable gifts using funds from your individual retirement
accounts (IRAs) without undesirable tax effects. For more information, please consult with your tax advisor.
Donations to the Collection
The Nordic Heritage Museum accepts donations of items into its collection from community members. If you wish to donate an item, please make an
appointment by calling our registrar, Sarah Bishop, at 206.789.5707 ext. 27 or emailing her at
sarahb@nordicmuseum.org. Donations must be assessed before
being accepted — we want to make sure that your potential gift is properly identified and cared for — therefore items cannot be dropped off on the weekends,
but should be donated by appointment Tuesday through Friday. Please note that books are no longer being accepted. Thank you for your consideration!
Capital Campaign
The Nordic Heritage Museum is presently housed in a structure built in 1907 and leased from the Seattle School District.
Museum leaders have long recognized the need for a new purpose-built facility that will allow the organization to realize
its potential as a modern museum and thriving community center. This new facility will not only enhance the Museum's
programmatic offerings, but will ensure its future.
In 2009, with the help of gracious donors, the Museum completed the purchase of the future building site on Market Street
between 26th Ave NW and 28th Ave NW in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. Then, in June 2012, the Board approved the current
$45 million Museum plans outlined here.
Key stakeholders including Museum members and Capital Campaign donors came together this summer
to hear about our progress in the campaign for a new, permanent home on Market Street. Presentations
included information about fundraising activities and plans for the new facility.
The current plan features 53,000 sq. ft. of new purpose-built construction, which will include interactive
and immersive core exhibitions, dedicated areas for classrooms and a craft studio, and a state-of-the art auditorium,
ideal for presentations and performances. Temporary exhibitions will be presented in a dynamic 4,000 sq. ft. gallery,
designed to accommodate world-class exhibitions from the national galleries of the Nordic countries. An additional
4,000 sq. ft. of climate-controlled storage will allow for appropriate stewardship of our important
and expanding collection of art and objects.
Plans for the new Nordic Heritage Museum will integrate Nordic sensibility into every aspect of its design, programming,
and operations. Core exhibitions will share Nordic and Nordic-American cultural heritage with a wide audience, and the facility
will incorporate Nordic ideals such as functional design and environmental sustainability.
Just a few of the highlights:
- The Cultural Resource Center will serve as a place for Members
and visitors to research their genealogy, and provide a place for scholars to access
the library, archives, and collections.
- Core exhibition spaces will feature innovative and engaging, interactive displays
and immersive environments.
- Content from the current Museum, such as the National Identity
Galleries and The Dream of America, will receive new treatments and updates.
- There will be dedicated, state-of-the-art space for visiting exhibitions.
With our plan of opening the new Museum in 2016, we have established a goal of raising $3M by years end,
which will allow us to complete the planning and permitting process. With less than $19M to raise for the entire project,
we are at an exciting point in the campaign; with your continued support the new Museum is within our grasp.
If you would like to make a contribution to the Capital Campaign, you can
donate online or you can contact
Development Director Jan Woldseth Colbrese at
janwc@nordicmuseum.org
or 206-789-5707, x39.
For more information on the images below, click the full-screen icon in the bottom right corner, then choose "Show Info" to view captions.
Heritage Gifts-The Endowment Fund
A strong endowment fund is crucial to the Museum’s long-range plans. Donations to
the Nordic Heritage Museum Endowment, known as “Heritage Gifts,” are an investment
in the future excellence of the Museum. A Heritage Gift is added to the endowment
principal for investment. The reliability of endowment income allows the Nordic
Heritage Museum to plan for the future by ensuring a steady stream of funding for
its growing programs and services and the personnel to support them as the Museum
grows.
Heritage Gifts provide stable funding for the Museum’s expenditures and affords
donors the opportunity to make a lasting contribution. These resources help to ensure
that the Museum will continue delivering its mission for generations to come.
Planned Giving and the Nordic Legacy Circle
The Nordic Legacy Circle recognizes supporters who have generously included the
Nordic Heritage Museum in their estate plans. These planned gifts are essential
to the future financial stability of the Museum, supporting the development of exhibits
and programs and preserving a heritage that has shaped our community.
Nordic Legacy Circle members Curtis Jacobs and his beloved wife Shirley, who passed
away in December 2010, joined the Museum in 1994, becoming involved in all activities
of the Finn Room and volunteering at many events such as
Viking Days and
Yulefest
The more time they spent at the Museum, the more they realized that they wanted
to help ensure the future of the Museum. The Jacobs wanted their estate to help
support an organization that has provided so many years of friendship, reflection
and community involvement. An interest in genealogy was also a key factor in choosing
to include the Museum in their estate plans. The Jacobs felt strongly that there
needs to be a place for the next generation to understand and appreciate where their
ancestors came from and what they have accomplished.
"It is never too early to consider what you might want to do with your estate,"
said Curtis.
Considering a planned or deferred gift provides a way to "leave a legacy," while
also ensuring the Museum's future success.
There are numerous tax-advantaged ways to support the Museum both now and in the
future. One of the most common is a bequest, which may include cash, securities,
and real estate or other property. The Museum also accepts retirement proceeds and
life insurance, and is happy to work with you should you have other wishes. Planned
gifts may be directed toward unrestricted use, the Endowment, or specific purposes
such as the Capital Campaign, special exhibits, or programs. The exact form may
be a bequest, a clause in a will, or perhaps a tax-free distribution from an IRA
(for those 70 and one-half years or older).
Members of the Nordic Legacy Circle are recognized in the Annual Report and are
invited to attend special events. Members may also choose to have their plans remain
anonymous.
If you have already included the Museum in your estate plan, we thank you! Please
notify us so that we may recognize you as a member of the Nordic Legacy Circle,
and to start receiving benefits of that membership. For additional information about
the Nordic Legacy Circle, its benefits, and how to make a planned gift to the Museum,
contact Development Director Jan Woldseth Colbrese at
janwc@nordicmuseum.org
or 206-789-5707, x39.
The Nordic Heritage Museum is a 501 (c) 3 organization, please consult your tax accountant regarding tax deductions.
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