Donating Artifacts and Works of Art
Historical artifacts and artwork donated to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum become part of a permanent collection belonging to the People of Texas. The following information answers many frequently asked questions about donating artifacts to the museum. Thank you.
Display of Artifacts
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is unable to promise permanent display of specific items because:
- Most museums have more artifacts than they can display at one time. Artifacts in many displays are rotated to keep exhibits interesting to repeat visitors and so that all donors will eventually have their items on display.
- Many artifacts are sensitive to light and other environmental factors. They will fade or deteriorate if left on permanent display. Some items, such as photographs and paper documents, are so fragile that reproductions are always used.
- Artifacts are sometimes removed from exhibit and loaned to qualified museums for temporary exhibition.
- Any artifacts not on display are placed in the study collections where they are available for examination by qualified scholars, students and researchers.
- Whether on display, or in the study collections, your gift is an equally important and treasured addition to the collections of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.
Tax Deductibility
Is my gift tax-deductible?
The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is a nonprofit department of the City of Waco under Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Gifts to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum are deductible from gross taxable income in accordance with the current provisions of the federal tax code. Deductibility differs depending upon each donor’s financial circumstances, so you are urged to discuss the donation of items of significant monetary value with your financial advisors.
Appraisals
Will the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum provide an appraisal of my donation?
The I.R.S. does not permit us to appraise donations, select appraisers for donors, or pay for appraisals.
Why?
Since the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum wants the gift, the I.R.S. assumes that we would give a favorable or biased appraisal. Therefore, the I.R.S. insists upon independent appraisals done by a qualified person with no interest in the donation. These donations are usually recorded on I.R.S. form #8283.
While we cannot provide an appraisal, we are permitted to advise you on how to select an appraiser, to help you locate several qualified appraisers, and to advise you concerning what constitutes a valid appraisal.
The Director and staff of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum will be pleased to answer any questions or respond to any concerns you may have.