Support the Children's Museum

Donate

As non-profit organization, the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum relies on generous contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations to support our educational programs and exhibits. There are a variety of creative ways to support the Museum and its mission, and all are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Please contact Michelle Jenkins at (805) 545-5874 to discuss opportunities.

LETTER & SYMBOL BLOCKS $2,000

Each 20’ x 20’ cement block is decorated with letters or one of six adorable symbols: a plane, cat, sun, train, star or bike. Your name will be engraved on a plaque adorning the block. Block naming is a permanent way to honor a beloved family member or your organization or business.

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SPONSOR AN EXHIBIT

Name an indoor or outdoor exhibit - or an entire floor of the Museum - after you or your organization. Exhibits available for sponsorship include: the Playmotion Video Wall, Mock Elevator, Cosmic Cafe and Spinning Disc.

SPONSOR A TRAVELING EXHIBIT

The Museum makes an effort to host one traveling exhibit each year. Since reopening in 2008, the Museum has been home to a rural African village, a Rocket Ship and a Native American Tepee!

CARS 4 CAUSES VEHICLE DONATION

The San Luis Obispo Children's Museum is proud to be a partner of Cars 4 Causes, which specializes in car donations and is the nation’s top rated vehicle donation organization. Your donation is tax deductible and the process is simple. Visit http://www.cars4causes.net/charity-car-donation/san-luis-obispo-childrens-museum to begin the donation process. Cars 4 Causes accepts cars, trucks, boats, trailers, RVs, jet skis, motorcycles, motorhomes and heavy equipment. And, they’ll even arrange to pick it up – working or not.

 

FIELD TRIP SCHOLARSHIP FUND

For only $120, you can sponsor a class field trip to the Museum! The San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum hosts dozens of subsidized field trips each year for underserved students. Title 1, state preschools and Head Start schools fill the Museum year round because of the generosity of our donors.

 

SPONSOR MOONLIGHT HOURS

Moonlight Hours welcomes all visitors free of charge from 5-8pm on the third Thursday of every month, ensuring Museum access for every child in the county. Moonlight Hours takes place during San Luis Obispo’s famous Farmers’ Market to ensure maximum attendance. Sponsor this valuable program once or for the entire year.

DONATE A MEMBERSHIP

Gift memberships open the Museum’s doors to families who would not be able to afford a visit. Go to our membership page for a list of available memberships and benefits.

 

COMMEMORATIVE GIFT

Honor someone you care about and celebrate a birth, birthday, anniversary or other important occasion by making a gift to the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum. Express your sympathy or honor the memory of a loved one. When you make a Commemorative Gift, a personalized letter is sent to the honoree recognizing your gift.

 

EVENT SPONSORSHIPS

Each year, the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum provides opportunities to sponsor special fundraising events, which raise a significant portion of the funding needed to sustain the Museum. As a sponsor, you and/or your company gain high visibility to thousands of families throughout the Central Coast and beyond.

PLANNED GIVING

Through planned giving, you can prepare for the future by making a planned gift or bequest and ensure the Museum's future for generations to come. By making a planned gift or bequest to the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum you can:

  • Reduce taxes on your estate through a Bequest, your Retirement Plan or Insurance Policy (the IRA Rollover is back!)

  • Avoid capital gains tax with an Outright Gift of Appreciated Stock

  • Receive income for life through a Charitable Remainder Trust

  • Pass assets to your children and grandchildren and cut transfer taxes through a Charitable Lead Trust

  • Give your home to the Museum, receive a tax deduction, and continue to live in it with a Retained Life Estate

The San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum works with local attorneys and the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation to provide a number of planned giving opportunities. Contact Children’s Museum Board Member Dan McGee at (805) 458-8887 for more information.

ANNUAL FUND

A gift to the Annual Fund provides critical funding necessary for programs, exhibits and subsidized visits for families who are not otherwise able to afford a trip to the Museum. The Annual Fund kicks off in November of each year.

GIFTS IN KIND

In-kind gifts are gifts of goods or services to offset Museum expenses or to auction in support of the Museum. Many in-kind gifts are tax-deductible.