Become a Donor   Monetary, gifts, memorials, property and appropriate historical materials are being sought. Business or individual sponsorship of special exhibits will continue to insure the success of the museum. All contributions are tax-deductible. Donations of Real Estate and Personal Property Thank you for considering a gift to the Morton House Museum. Friends donate property to the Morton House Museum as a significant way to support the organization. But they also know they will receive attractive financial benefits as a result of the gift. These benefits have contributed to the increasing interest in property donations. Since 2003, over $5.9 billion of real estate and $829 million of art and collectibles has been gifted annually to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. Every gift is important and goes a long way towards ensuring long-term stability for the Museum's future. There are a number of ways to support the Museum. You may choose to become a Museum member, make an outright gift to the annual operating fund, a commemorative or memorial gift to the Morton House Museum through the Berrien Community Foundation, or perhaps you would like to leave a legacy by including the Museum in your estate plans. We will be delighted to welcome you to the Morton House Museum family. Depending on the nature of your gift and on your needs and objectives, you can potentially: Avoid capital gains taxes due on the sale of property. Reduce income taxes. Reduce estate taxes. Receive an annual income. Eliminate the burden of maintaining and paying for property. Support the Morton House Museum in an alternative way. Create a significant legacy. Personal Property   PERSONAL PROPERTY DONATIONS A wide range of personal property can be offered for donation. Examples include: Porcelain and Silver                                Decorative Objects Furniture            Rugs Jewelry and Watches Classic Cars Aircraft Watercraft Collections, such as stamps, coins, medals, books and other memorabilia Intellectual Property, such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, etc. Paintings Drawings or prints Sculpture Real Estate   Almost any type of real estate, residential or commercial, domestic or international, can be offered. Examples include:          ●   Single family homes      ●   Vacation homes      ●   Apartments, condominiums and cooperatives      ●   Multi-family homes       ●  Apartment buildings      ●   Farms, ranches and vineyards      ●   Undeveloped land          ●   Office buildings       ●  Hotels, motels and resort properties      ●   Warehouses                           ●   Industrial property        ●    Recreational properties, such as golf courses       ●   Shopping centers            Knowing If It Is Right   As you think about a gift of real estate or personal property, consider what you own and ask yourself the following:  Do I have real estate that is difficult or expensive to manage? Will I owe significant taxes if I sell? Do I have a substantial taxable income that a gift of property might offset? Do I have a property that, if donated, would provide me with income? Do I own a piece of art that I don’t enjoy as much as I once did? Do I own property, such as a vacation home, that I don’t use very often?  If you answered, “yes,” to any of the questions above, you could benefit by gifting property to the Morton House Museum.  Making the Donation   Three easy ways to donate!  1. By Mail ~ If making payment via check, click here where you will be asked to print the form and      mail along with your payment to:                                 The Morton House Museum 501 Territorial Road Benton Harbor, MI 49022 2.  By Fax:   ~ Complete the form below, print and fax to: Morton House Museum F: (269) 429-5469 3.  By Phone:   ~ Call Debra Trapikas, Executive Director at (269) 429-5468, or cell (269) 861-0718. Ways to Support the Museum   Ways to Support the Morton House Museum 1)    Museum Membership        Museum membership fees not only support the preservation of the Morton House Museum, but also        encourages family participation in an environment of learning. Our member's enjoy a number of benefits        including unlimited free admission to the Museum, as well as many other special privileges in return for        their contribution. 2)    Annual Operating Fund        Annual giving is the key source of support for Museum operations. Outright gifts, contributions made to our        annual direct mail appeal, revenues from fundraising events, the private rental of Museum facilities and        program and exhibition sponsorships are essential to our existence. This support makes it possible not only        to turn on the lights every morning, but also makes possible the work of our educators in developing and        delivering quality programs for schools and the public. The commitment of our donors to the Museum enables        us to strengthen our valuable community outreach programs, and to maintain and improve our exceptional        exhibitions for public learning. 3)    The Berrien Community Foundation Endowment Fund        The Berrien Community Foundaiton exists to receive and invest deferred gifts, commemorative gifts and        donations that build an endowment fund to ensure the future well being of the Morton House Museum. Once        we have met our endowment goal, a portion of the interest earned on the principal is granted back to the        Museum to support our programs, to build and maintain collections and to keep the lights on.               We all hope to leave our unique mark in time - to be remembered for our loyalty, commitment, compassion,        kindness and generosity. A deferred gift to the Museum is one that is arranged now, but is not available for        use by the Museum until later in the future. A planned gift enables you to invest in the Museum as your        charity of choice while maximizing tax and other financial benefits.        Bequests        Include the Morton House Museum in your will today and you can leave a legacy supporting your interests        at the Museum. Your estate will receive a donation receipt for the full amount of the bequest, which can        assist in reducing the tax payable on your final income tax return.        Life Insurance        A gift of life insurance can be an affordable way for you to make a future major gift to the Museum while        enjoying tax relief during your lifetime.        Gift Plus Annuity        You can make a contribution to the Berrien Community Foundation and, in turn, receive guaranteed income        payments for life. 4)    Sponsor an Event         The Museum seeks sponsorship and partnership support for a wide number of projects, exhibitions,         events and programs. Levels of support vary for each project. Some projects for which we seek sponsorship         and partnership support include:         ●    School and Interpretive Programs         ●    Seniors Reminiscence Kits         ●    Museum Membership Program            ●    Museum Newsletter            ●     Morton House Day Free Admission         ●    Adopt-A-Class Field Trip Program         ●    May Pole Extravaganza         ●    Cemetery Tour         ●    Holiday Open House         ●    Eve of the Fairies         ●    Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social         ●    Founder's Day Fair