Your gifts support all three campuses – the Museum of Ventura County, the Agriculture Museum, and our “third campus” – free online programs & content.

Virtual Education Modules360° Virtual ToursPuzzlesQuizzes and Games
Rapid Response Collecting – COVID-19 and ActivismDigitized Photograph Archive • and more


There are many ways of making a gift to support the Museum of Ventura County

Express your personal passion for history, the arts, exhibitions, children’s programs and education, and the collection by making a contribution to the Museum! Your donation supports the Museum’s ongoing vitality.

Donors can also make contributions to acquire art and historical pieces for the collection or make outright gifts of them. Most gifts can be pledged for payment over a 5-year period.

Gifts of Cash

Cash gifts allow the donor to receive full tax benefits if they itemize deductions. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated and can be designated to benefit a particular program or collecting area within the Museum. Click here to make your cash gift today.

Matching Gifts

Many companies match donations made by their employees to 501(c)(3) organizations, or provide grant opportunities to such organizations for which their employees volunteer. Find out if your employer has such programs, and the museum will provide any information they would need.

Be a GEM! Give Every Month

Give a monthly recurring gift to the Museum by filling out this form.

Gifts of Art & Historical Items

Another way to create a permanent legacy at the Museum of Ventura County is through the bequest of art. A promised gift or collection that the Museum has agreed to accept adds breadth and depth to the Museum’s permanent collection. Giving artwork, historical artifacts and documents ensures that the County’s artistic and historical legacy remains intact and accessible.

Written policies outline the types of objects and the procedures by which they are accepted into the collection.

For information about donating art or historical materials please contact the Smith-Hobson Family Collections Manager Renee Tallent at rtallent@venturamuseum.org or the Research Library and Archives Director Deya Terrafranca at dterrafranca@venturamuseum.org.

Other Ways to Donate

Estate Planning
Memorial + Honorariums

For more information about donating to the museum:
Contact
Heather Williams
hwilliams@venturamuseum.org 
805-653-0323 Ext. 322

IRA Charitable Rollover

Give to the Museum of Ventura County and save on your taxes

Taxpayers who are 70 ½ or over with a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) can experiences significant tax benefits when they donate money directly from their IRA account to the Museum of Ventura County. Qualified taxpayers can donate up to $100,000 each year from their IRA and pay no tax on the withdrawal.

This charitable distribution will cover the annual required minimum distribution that comes into effect at the age  of 70 ½.

We would love to talk with you about an IRA Charitable Rollover – one of the best tax-saving strategies available to senior adults or couples aged 70 ½ or older. Please contact Elena Brokaw, Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director at ebrokaw@venturamuseum.org with questions.

Transfer securities or cash by wire

We accept gifts of publicly traded securities and cash by wire. For your convenience, we’ve prepared a one-page letter that you can send to your bank or investment advisory firm, which gives the information needed to execute a stock transfer.

Information for a stock transfer.

For information on sending a wire transfer, please email bookkeeper@venturamuseum.org.

A Commemorative Tile in the Museum Plaza

A $1,000 gift in honor or memory of someone is recognized with installation of a commemorative tile that will remain outside the Museum for years to come.