Collections Donation Inquiry FAQs
Does the Balloon Museum accept drop off or unsolicited mailed in donations?
No, we do not accept drop off or unsolicited mailed in donations unless a prior agreement has been arranged between the potential donor and a member of the museum’s staff. According to the Balloon Museum’s Collection Management Policy, all potential donations must have an inquiry form filled out and presented to the Acquisitions Advisory Committee. Proposal recommendations are then voted on by the the Board of Trustees and officially accepted into the collection of the Balloon Museum. The materials may then be sent to the Balloon Museum only after the donation is approved.
To fill out a donor inquiry form, you have three options:
- Our online Collections Donation Inquiry form,
- Download a PDF of the Collections Donation Inquiry form, print it, and mail it in,
- Or request a form to be sent to you by post by emailing [email protected] or calling 505-768-6045 (Tues-Sun from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
How long does it take for the Balloon Museum to review proposed donations?
The time frame depends on when the proposed donation is submitted, but usually it takes about two to four months. But it can vary, especially if conditions or logistics are complicated and need to be sorted out before any finalizing decisions are made. As the Acquisitions Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees meet about every quarter, if a potential donation comes in right after a meeting it could be up to two months before it is considered. If the donation is accepted, the donor must then send the donation to the Balloon Museum for an inventory to be done. Once finished, a Deed of Gift is issued and signed to legally transfer the donation to the property of the Balloon Museum and City of Albuquerque.
Are all donations offered to the Balloon Museum accepted?
No, there are a variety of reasons we cannot accept all donations offered to us. The primary reason is if the proposed donation is not aligned with the Balloon Museum’s mission statement to inspire a spirit of exploration, discovery, and achievement through experiences that engage our visitors in the history, science, sport, and art of ballooning. Another reason would be if the Balloon Museum already has the proposed materials represented in our collection. Other factors, such as poor object conditions, can also result in the item not being accepted into the permanent collection.
How does the Balloon Museum acknowledge donations?
All accepted donations include a Deed of Gift, a Thank You Letter and an acknowledgement on object exhibit labels when necessary.
What does the Balloon Museum do with a donation once it is accepted?
All accepted donations become part of the permanent collection. These items are accessioned and cared for in accordance with current museum best practices. All collections are housed in climate-controlled environments to ensure long term preservation and stability.
Does the Balloon Museum purchase artifacts?
We do not regularly purchase collections. The Balloon Museum has a limited budget and therefore the donation must be of immense significance for the history, science, sport, and art of ballooning for a purchase to be considered and voted upon by the Acquisitions Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees.
Does the Balloon Museum provide appraisals for donated material or value estimates for private personal collections?
No, the Balloon Museum staff is prohibited by law from appraising any property for potential donations or private personal collections. All potential donors are encouraged to make arrangements with an appraiser privately. Please note if you are wanting to have your potential donation appraised before sending a donor inquiry form to the Balloon Museum, it will take some time, up to a year even, to find the right appraiser as ballooning is a very niche subject matter. Suggested places to begin your search are below. You’ll want to search for those in aerospace, aviation, transportation or personal property as fields for specialties or industries.
- The American Society of Appraisers (Appraisal Review & Management, Business Valuation, Gems & Jewelry, Machinery & Technical Specialties, Personal Property and Real Property),
- Appraisers' Association of America (Fine and Decorative Arts),
- or the American Institute of Appraisers (Real Estate and Property Analysts).
- Aircraft appraisers: Elliott Aviation and Aviation Management Consulting, Inc.
Does the Balloon Museum accept balloon systems into the collection?
Yes, the Museum accepts balloon systems (gondolas, envelopes, burners, load rings, ballast, etc.) but only under certain circumstances. The balloon system must meet one or both of these criteria: it is of historical significance to the history, science, sport, or art of ballooning or the make and model are not currently represented within the permeant collection. The donor must also be aware that envelopes are only accepted as fabric samples as the Balloon Museum cannot store or display these objects in their entirety effectively.
Will a donation be put on exhibit?
This depends on the item’s appropriateness to the Balloon Museum’s current and future exhibition schedule. Space limitations and conservation concerns dictate that not all artifacts can be exhibited at any one time, but we strive to share as much of our collection as possible with our visitors through regularly changing exhibits.
Can a donor receive a tax deduction for a donation?
Yes, but the IRS and Balloon Museum policy prohibits the Balloon Museum from appraising donations. For the donor’s own records and protection, an independent appraisal is recommended (see FAQ #7). If the donation has already been accepted by the Balloon Museum and is in its care by the time an appraiser is found, the Balloon Museum allows inspection by the appraiser of the donor’s choice by appointment only. Donors are responsible in filling out and providing the appropriate tax forms to the Balloon Museum for the Donne Acknowledgement section to be signed.
Can the Balloon Museum remove objects from the collection?
Yes, the Balloon Museum through the Acquisitions Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees can vote to have artifacts removed from the permeant collection. This is a process called deaccessioning and it does not happen often unless certain conditions are met. Artifacts that are damaged beyond repair, have a condition that puts other parts of the collection at risk, numerous duplicate items, or are outside the scope of the collection may be considered for deaccessioning. Deaccessioned material may be transferred to another museum or cultural or educational organization, or destroyed if necessary.
Will donated materials be returned upon request?
No, the Balloon Museum cannot return accessioned materials to the donor or family member. When the Deed of Gift is signed ownership of the material is legally transferred to the City of Albuquerque.
Does the Balloon Museum accept loan materials?
The Balloon Museum only solicits loan items for temporary short-term exhibits. If items are needed, the Exhibits department is the one to reach out to the public with their specific requirements. We do not accept long-term loans.