General Fund
Our operations are funded by donations, memberships, grants, support from the City/County, and earned income such as gift shop sales. Donations to our general fund make up about 31% of our annual operating budget. Donations allow us to continue to fulfill our mission, provide programs, exhibits, and research assistance to the community, and continue to care for our large collection of historical artifacts and archival materials that tell the unique Ames story.
Donate to our General Fund
Endowment Fund
Our Endowment Fund, created in 2004 with the Story County Community Foundation, provides for the mission and future goals of the organization. Gifts to our Endowment Fund are invested over time and create a permanent source of funding, helping us fulfill our mission today and into the future. Gifts made directly through the Story County Community Foundation may be eligible for Endow Iowa credits. If you'd like your donation to be eligible for Endow Iowa credits, please contact the Story County Community Foundation directly at 515-232-9200. Gifts made on this page are not eligible for Endow Iowa credits, but will be placed in our self-directed fund through Story County Community Foundation.
Donate to our Endowment Fund
Donate IRA Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) to Charity
The IRS requires that you withdraw a minimum amount annually - known as a Required Minimum Distribution - from some types of retirement accounts. The distributions are required to start when you turn age 72 (or age 70 1/2 if you were born before July 1, 1949).
When you put money into tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 401(k) workplace retirement accounts, you postponed taxes; you didn’t eliminate them. RMDs make sure you pay tax on your contributions and earnings. RMDs are taxable income.
Giving money directly from your IRA to charity is called a Qualified Charitable Donation, or QCD. It’s a tax strategy you should consider, especially if you already make charitable donations each year. If you have to take RMDs, QCDs can be a good way to distribute the required amount out of IRAs and avoid paying income tax on the distributions.
Qualified Charitable Distributions can begin at age 70 ½ even for those who don’t need to begin Required Minimum Distributions until age 72.
Consult your financial and tax adviser for details specific to your situation.
Donate by mail
Checks can be sent to the following address:
Ames History Museum
PO Box 821
Ames, IA 50010
Planned Giving
Learn more about donating through bequests, retirement plan assets, stock, or other planned giving.
Membership
Memberships are another important source of ongoing funding for the museum. Click here for more information about memberships.
Archival & Artifact Donations
Learn more about donating artifacts or archival materials to Ames History Museum.