Donations, Tribute Giving & More

The Museum Center at 5ive Points offers 8 educational trunks that meet all K-12 TN State educational standards. These trunks make learning history interactive and fun! Whether taken into the classroom or used during a field trip, children love getting this hands-on history experience. Our goal is to provide our education programs for free to school systems in our region. We need your help to make it happen by raising $50,000.00 to support this program.

Everyone deserves to come to the Museum Center at 5ive Points and learn about our history and culture. With the cost of living rising throughout our community, we don’t want anyone to miss out on the chance to gather, learn, and grow. Help us make the museum accessible to all members of the Ocoee Region, by donating to support FREE general admission at the museum. Our goal is to raise $10,000.00 to fund this effort.

Without a roof, we can’t provide the programming that takes place under it. Giving to the renovation fund will ensure ongoing financial stability for the Museum and that we can continue to serve our mission of “Telling the Story of the Ocoee Region”.

Each year, patrons of MC5P remember us in their estate plans. Bequests come in all sizes and in many forms; MC5P is deeply grateful for each and every one. Your bequest expresses your lasting commitment to the Museum and contributes to the growth and ongoing success of the

institution. When you provide for MC5P in your estate plan, please let us know so that we can thank you now and recognize your intentions.

Create an enduring legacy. Endowment funds provide a perpetual stream of income to support the Museum’s priorities and serve to help fulfill the Museum’s ongoing vision and mission for future generations to access our collections. Donors may name a space in the Museum and establish named curatorial positions, exhibitions, internships, or general operations.

Consider making a gift in honor of an individual or anniversaries, birthdays, accomplishments, and special events. Making a gift in tribute is a long-lasting way to honor the memory of a loved one. MC5P’s privilege is to receive gifts in memory of friends or family to carry on our work in their names.

Before donating your artifact, ask these important questions:

• Is the artifact in reasonable condition? Does it have no extraordinary conservation needs?

• Can the artifact be adequately stored and cared for by the museum?

• Does the artifact relate to the history of the Ocoee Region in a significant way? The Ocoee Region is defined as Bradley County, Polk County, and Hamilton County east of the Tennessee River. The artifact could have been made/manufactured/used in the region.

• How much information is known about the artifact?

Can someone at the museum appraise my item?

Museum staff are forbidden by federal law from providing any information on the value of any object donated or potentially donated to the Museum Center. If you want to have your item appraised, you will need to consult a qualified appraiser before your donation.

When will I hear back about the item I offered for donation?

You will be notified about the decision of your item unless you forgo the option on the donation request form. Our committee meets at least once a year, sometimes more if we have a heavy influx of items. It can take some time to get back to you on the decision of an item. However, if at any point you would like to check on the status of the item, you can call the museum’s Curator of Collections.

Can I donate anonymously?

Yes and no. During the donation and accession process, we will need the donor’s information for legal reasons. However, after the process is completed, we can change the item’s donor status to “Anonymous” and the donor will no longer be connected to the donation.

Why was my item not accepted for donation?

There are a number of reasons items may not be accepted for accession into the museum collection. Usually, it is because the item does not pertain to the Ocoee Region or because it is a duplicate of an item we already have. If you have a specific question about your item, you may contact the Curator of Collections.

Can I have my item back after the museum has accessioned it?

After the Deed of Gift form is signed, the item becomes property of the museum and cannot be given back to the donor.

Can I add stipulations to my donation? I.e. if I donate this item, it will be on permanent display.

Donations will not be accepted with stipulations (the only exception being a request to remain anonymous as a donor).

Can you store my item until the committee meeting?

Because of limited space, we can only hold a few items. However, if extenuating circumstances arise, contact the Curator of Collections and we may be able to arrange for storage of the item.

Can I loan an item?

Loan items are only accepted for short-term, exhibit-specific loans. This means less than a year and for a specific purpose. Usually, donors are contacted directly or a request is sent out via museum newsletters or on museum social media (if you wish to be added to the museum newsletter, you can contact cshirkey@museumcenter.org). However, if you see an upcoming exhibit that would benefit from an item in your possession, you can fill out the form at the bottom of the page and we might arrange for a short-term loan.

Will the museum purchase my item?

No. The museum does not purchase items.

What will happen to the item after accession?

All items are cared for under museum conservation best practices. Depending on the item and museum needs, the item may be placed on permanent display or in storage for later temporary display in exhibits or to be accessed for research. The item will also be available to the public through our online collection database (the database is updated quarterly, we cannot guarantee when the item will be available for display on the database).

Will you inform me when my item is on display?

Unfortunately, with almost 10,000 items in our collection, we are not able to inform donors of when their donated item will be displayed.