Support the Museum

Art inspires, enriches, and enlivens us; it gives hope for the future and reminds us of our shared humanity. We are grateful to the individuals, corporations, and foundations that support the Museum with generous donations and memberships throughout the year.

Giving Options

Endowment

A gift to the endowment is a lasting investment in the Museum’s vision to transform lives through art. Building sustaining funds for the Collection, exhibitions, and programming helps to ensure the Museum’s continued impact in our community, now and in the future.

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Annual Fund/General Donations

Our Annual Fund campaign is divided into Fall and Spring Appeals, which raise funds to provide much needed support for our daily operations and programs. We believe the arts make a difference in our community. A gift to the Annual Fund allows us to continue to provide meaningful art, education, and experiences to the people of Western North Carolina and the many visitors to our region.

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Memorials & Honoraria

Honoring a friend or loved one with a donation serves as a tribute to their memory or to recognize a special occasion, helping to celebrate them through art. Any donation to the Museum can be made in memory or in honor of someone special. An acknowledgment of your gift will go to your loved one or their family.

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Planned Giving

Planned gifts can include bequests, charitable trusts, gifts of retirement-plan assets, gifts of life-insurance policies, and gifts of real estate or tangible property. We would be delighted to work with you and your advisors to structure a gift that best fulfills your philanthropic goals. Contact our grants manager for more information.

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More Ways to Give

Charitable Distribution and More

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a great time to consider the tax benefits of a charitable contribution to an organization like the Asheville Art Museum. If you are 70 ½ or older as of January 1, 2021, and not using your IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for your living expenses, you can reduce your taxable income by making an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to the Museum. Alternatively, a gift of stocks or other securities to the Museum can increase both your tax deductions and the value of your gift to us. Either of these contributions can be applied to your membership—ask your financial advisor for more information about these year-end options.

In-Kind Gifts

Supporting the Museum through the donation of goods or services is a wonderful way to contribute to the success of all aspects of the Museum. Contact our grants manager if you are interested in donating in kind.

Gifts of Art

The Museum welcomes gifts of art that may be donated during your lifetime or by bequest. Please visit our art inquiries page if you are considering donating a work of art to the Museum. The process of reviewing your offer may take several weeks, and we are not able to reply to every submission.

Become a Member

As a Member of the Museum family, you get a variety of exciting benefits and the pride of knowing you support a vibrant arts community. All membership levels include unlimited annual access to our galleries, rooftop Café, and sculpture terrace. For more details on Member levels and benefits, visit our membership page.

Artist Clarissa Sligh (left) with Curatorial Assistant Lola Clairmont. [Photo by Shauna Caldwell]

2022 DONORS

The generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations, as well as local, state, and federal government support, enables the Museum to serve WNC residents and our many visitors with innovative educational programs for young people, an active schedule of adult educational programming, and spectacular exhibitions to engage all age groups and diverse communities. Thank you to all of the Museum’s donors who supported the Museum’s exhibitions, Collection, education programming, and operations.

Our Annual Donor Wall reflects all financial and in-kind gifts received in support of Museum exhibitions, collections, education programming, and operations.

$10,000+
The Maurer Family Foundation, Inc.
Frances Myers
Susan Bailey Turner

$5,000+
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
The Blumenthal Foundation
Joel Adams and Associates, Inc.
Judy Upjohn

$2,500+
American Institute of Architects – Asheville Area Section
Association of Art Museum Directors
Peter and Jasmin Gentling
Robert and Karen Milnes

$1,000+
Rodgers and Bess Baird
Nicholas and Christi Butts
Mary and George Dambach
Stephanie Greiner and Bryan Smith
Frederick Heath and Merrily Orsini
Bonnie and Stephen Knox
Delphia Lamberson
Bret McAllister and Gary Greener
Chris and Sharlene McGraw
Butch and Kathy Patrick
Heather Russell and Chuck Baldisweiler

2021 DONORS

$100,000+
Art Bridges Foundation
William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust
Windgate Foundation

$50,000+
Cherokee Preservation Foundation

$25,000+
Midgard Foundation/Phillip C. Broughton, Phillip C. Broughton Jr., David L. Smith and Margaret B. Crockett
National Endowment for the Humanities
Anonymous
Jane Bramham and Cam Collins
Fleur S. Bresler
Leah R. Karpen
Russell and Ladene Newton
Richard and Maggi Swanson
Susan Bailey Turner
Steve and Frosene Zeis

$10,000+
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
The Blumenthal Foundation
Joe and Jill Lawrence
Frances Myers
James Peterson and Julia Calkins Peterson
Francella R. Poston
James and Bitsy Powell
Paul and Cherry Lentz Saenger
Waid and Babbie Shelton

$5,000+
Bank of America/Merrill Lynch
The Beattie Foundation
Institute of Museum & Library Services
TD Charitable Foundation
The Van Winkle Law Firm
Sheila Akabas
Robert K. Benites
Joey Gigliotti
Steven J. Gigliotti
Mary G. Hagood
Susan L. Holden
James Houser, Jr. and Patricia Cox
Delphia Lamberson
Vito Lenoci
Shirley Anne McCullough
Tom Oreck
Michael J. Teaford
James D. Warlick
Olivia and Gary Zahler

$2,500+
The John F. Kennedy Center
Bernadette and Miles Bender
Carolyn and Orville Coward
Nancy Holmes
Margaret and Elwood Miles
Pamela L. Myers
James Oliver and Kendall Wright Oliver
Omari S. Simmons
George and Jill Stowe
Jim Wilson and Lynne Poirier-Wilson

$1,000+
Asheville Area Arts Council
BB&T Bank
Carolina Alliance Bank
Carter, P.C.
The Glenda G Mordan Charitable Foundation
Judy Appleton Memorial Fund
Metro Wines
Anonymous (2)
Joel and Marla Adams
Michael and Catty Andry
Alex and Jessica Bernstein
Stephen Betso
Carol and Morty Blumberg
Nathan and Anne Burkhardt
Tom Butler and Marilyn Laufer
Charlotte Cameron
Robert and Jeannette Cannon
Robert and Ellen Carr
Lee and Gene Casey
Chris Cavanaugh
Donald and Lisbeth Cooper
Mary and George Dambach
Michael and Libby de Caetani
Neal and Susan Evans
Richard and Bridget Eckerd
John and Camille Fenton
Judith Galloway
Peter and Jasmin Gentling
Darren and Marissa Green
Michael and Kay Goodman
Ray and Thom Griffin
Judith Hamill
Frederick Heath and Merrily Orsini
Allen and Barry Huffman
Bruce and Leigh Ann Johnson
Sandy and Brion Johnson
Jonathon and Ann Kemske
Kenneth Kotara and Michelle Lappas Kotara
Tom and Nancy Maher
Brian and Gail McCarthy
Raymond and Susan McClinton
Robert and Karen Milnes
Ladd and Virginia Painter
Herbert and Kathy Patrick
Mack Pearsall
H.L. and Mary Ellen Porter
Mary Louise Powell
Rob Pulleyn
Charles and Jennifer Riner
Jim Samsel and Kim McGuire
Martha Schenck
Miriam Sexton
Marsha and Michael Shlaer
Libby Skamfer
Nancy Smith
Hank and Marita Strauss
Sarah Van Gunten
Miller and Constance Williams

Join the Museum Family

Enrich your involvement with the Museum by joining our vibrant family of Members. Experience great art while mingling with fellow art lovers at an opening reception, watch a local ceramist throw a pot in her studio, discover new creative skills at a workshop—all this and more. As a Member, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits while providing vital support for the Museum’s engaging education programs and innovative exhibitions. We invite you to join us! Join, renew, or give the gift of Museum membership today.

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