One of the easiest and most common ways for you to support the Smithsonian Institution is with a gift of cash. Cash can be used to support our work in the form of:
An outright gift. By making a cash gift by check, credit card, or money order today, you enable us to meet our most urgent needs and carry out our educational mission on a daily basis. You will have the opportunity to see your generosity in action and will also receive a federal income tax charitable deduction, if you itemize.
A payable on death (POD) account. A POD bank account or certificate of deposit names one or more persons or charities as the beneficiary of all funds once you, the account owner, pass away. The beneficiary you name has no rights to the funds until after your lifetime. Until that time, you remain in control and are free to use the money in the bank account, change the beneficiary, or close the account.
There are several other ways to make cash donations as part of the gift types below. To learn more, click on the links below.
Ways to Use Cash
- A gift in your will or living trust.
- A charitable gift annuity.
- A charitable remainder trust.
- A charitable lead trust.
- A donor advised fund.
- Memorial and tribute gifts.
- An endowed gift.
Contact the Office of Gift Planning at 888-419-7584 or legacy@si.edu for additional information on giving a gift of cash.
