Colorful Victorian-style house viewed through a decorative white and blue paper cutout with a silhouette of a child blowing bubbles.

Donation Requests & Collection Policy

Information for organizations requesting donations and those wishing to donate A.C. Gilbert artifacts to our collection

Donate an Artifact

Donate A.C. Gilbert historical artifacts to our permanent collection

Request a Donation

Nonprofit organizations can request admission passes for auctions, raffles, and fundraisers

Supporting organizations that serve children throughout the Marion and Polk county community.

Watercolor illustration of a two-story wooden house with a front porch, surrounded by bushes and a garden, under a soft sky.

Gilbert House Children's Museum is proud to support other organizations serving children throughout the Marion and Polk county community. We value the opportunity to further our mission of inspiring children to learn through creative play by aligning with other organizations that carry out this work.

What We Offer

Four (4) one-day admission passes to Gilbert House Children's Museum

  • Valid for six months from issue date

  • No cash value

  • Limited to ONE donation request per organization per calendar year

  • We receive many requests and cannot guarantee fulfillment

Donation Requests for Nonprofit Organizations

Gilbert House is proud to support organizations serving children throughout the Marion and Polk county community.

Bronze statue of a girl with curly hair sitting with her hands under her chin, in front of a colorful house with yellow walls and pink trim.

✓ Eligible Organizations

  • Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status in good standing

  • Schools (public and private) - Preference given to schools that have visited the museum within the past two years

  • Physically located within 35 miles of Gilbert House Children's Museum

  • Organization's mission must support and serve children ages 2-10 (our core audience)

✗ Non-Eligible Organizations

  • For-profit organizations

  • Third party requests (must be from the organization itself)

  • Events benefiting a single person or family

  • Religious or political organizations

  • Middle schools or high schools

  • Organizations farther than 35 miles from Gilbert House

How to Submit Your Request

MAIL ONLY - Printed on organization letterhead

Attn: Donation Request
Gilbert House Children's Museum
116 Marion Street NE
Salem, OR 97301

Important Requirements

  • The Museum does NOT accept requests via telephone, email, or in-person

  • Please do NOT call to follow up on the status of your request

  • Requests must be on official organization letterhead

  • We are unable to respond to organizations not awarded a donation

  • Submission does not guarantee fulfillment

Donating to Our Historical Collection

A.C. Gilbert artifacts for our permanent museum collection

STOP: Read This Before Contacting Us

WE DO NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED OR DROP-IN DONATIONS

All historical collection donations must be coordinated in advance. We do not accept drop-in donations.

If you wish to donate an artifact, please contact our Outreach Coordinator to schedule a time:

Email Outreach Coordinator

Standard Acquisition Policy

Artifacts must meet ALL of these criteria:

  • Must be A.C. Gilbert related (1900-1961)

  • Supports the Museum's mission statement

  • Retains physical integrity, identity, and authenticity

  • Can be properly stored, preserved, and used by the museum

  • Is NOT a duplicate of an existing collection piece (unless integrity is superior)

  • Is marketable for sale

What We Accept

We ONLY accept A.C. Gilbert-related artifacts from 1900-1961 that meet our strict acquisition criteria:

What We Do NOT Accept

We CANNOT Accept:

  • General children's toys or games (only A.C. Gilbert artifacts)

  • Duplicate items already in our collection (unless condition is superior)

  • Items unrelated to A.C. Gilbert (1900-1961)

  • Items that don't support our mission

  • Items with inadequate documentation

  • Items we cannot properly store or preserve

  • Items that pose a threat or hazard

  • Unsolicited or drop-in donations

Assessment Process

Artifacts are evaluated on a 1-4 scale across three categories:

  • Condition of set exterior (1-4 points)

  • Condition of set contents (1-4 points)

  • Condition of set paperwork (1-4 points)

Artifacts must achieve a satisfactory score (out of 12 total points) OR be an entirely new addition to the collection.

Important Conditions

The artifact becomes the permanent property of Gilbert House Children's Museum.

Gilbert House reserves the right to deaccession (sell, donate, or dispose of) artifacts that no longer meet our criteria, including items that don't support our mission, lack proper documentation, or represent a hazard.

Ready to Inquire About an Artifact Donation?

Email photos and detailed description to our Outreach Coordinator for evaluation

Email Outreach Coordinator

Rejection & Disposal Policy

If a donation is rejected, the donation will be returned to the donor. If the donor is unavailable, the rejected donation will be considered abandoned and the Museum reserves the right to dispose of such property as it sees fit.

Your Gift Makes a Difference

Every donation helps us create magical moments for children and families in our community. Thank you for supporting imagination, learning, and play at Gilbert House Children's Museum.

Donate Today

Questions?

Contact the appropriate coordinator based on your inquiry

Donation Requests (Nonprofits):
Mail formal letter to address above

Historical Collection Donations:

outreach@acgilbert.org

Gilbert House Children's Museum

116 Marion Street NE, Salem, OR 97301

Phone: (503) 371-3631