Donations sought for museum fundraiser
Columbia Basin Herald/file photo The opening receptions that accompany Moses Lake Museum & Art Center exhibits are among the events paid for through museum fundraisers, like the “Rusty Mammoth” sale scheduled for early August.
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center is soliciting donations of quality art and collectibles for its “Rusty Mammoth” sale. The sale is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 11 and 12 at the museum, 401 South Balsam St.
Proceeds from the sale go to support the museum’s community programs, which are paid for through donations and fundraisers.
Museum officials are looking for quality used items in good condition. “We prefer that items fit into these categories: art, collectibles, antiques, ceramics, glassware, books, art supplies, textiles, home decor and jewelry,” according to a press release from the museum.
All donations will be final, the press release said. “Please carefully check and consider all donations.”
Donations can qualify as charitable contributions, under certain circumstances. “Subject to current IRS and tax regulations, items donated to the (museum’s) benefit art and collectibles sale are tax deductible for income tax purposes at their present fair market value.”
Determining the value, however, is up to the donor. “The Rusty Mammoth sale does not provide appraisals or evaluations of donations for income tax purposes. The Internal Revenue Code places the responsibility for estimating fair market value of the property received on the donor. Tax benefits for charitable contributions are available only to taxpayers who itemize deductions.”
There is an IRS publication, 561, that lays out the rules for tax-deductible donations. The museum has a tax ID number, available upon request.
The museum sponsors a number of programs, all of them supported through fundraisers. Free Family Saturday offers a monthly craft project for kids and families. There is an evening lecture series in conjunction with Humanities Washington, and the separate afternoon “Salon Series.” Most Salon Series lectures feature local subjects and local speakers.
Each museum exhibit opens with a reception, and the receptions are paid for through the museum’s fundraisers. Other fundraisers include museum memberships, program donations and the “Feed the Mammoth” party held each winter.
The sale is named after the sculpture of a mammoth skeleton, made from scrap metal, 14 feet tall at the shoulder. The mammoth has been on display at the museum since it opened at its current location, and has become the mascot for fundraising activities.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.