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Ways to Give

The Boston Athenæum accepts one-time or recurring monetary gifts through our online giving form. We also offer many other ways of giving:

Cash Gifts
 

Cash gifts can be made by:

  • Credit or debit card on our online giving form or by phone at (617) 720-7680.
  • Electronic funds transfer coordinated by contacting the Development Office.
  • Check made out to the Boston Athenaeum and mailed to the address below. Postage-paid envelopes are available upon request.
Attn: Development Office
Boston Athenæum
10½ Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
 
Gifts of Securities
 

Gifts of appreciated securities, stocks, and bonds can be made through our representatives at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP. Please notify our Trust Advisor, listed below, of the type and number of stock or securities that you wish to give, as well as how the funds should be directed.

Leah M. Sankey, CTFA
Trust Advisor
Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
t 617.248.5112
f 617.502.5112
lsankey@choate.com
 
Donor Advised Funds
 

We accept grants made through donor-advised funds from a number of public charities. For help recommending a grant of this nature, contact the development office at (617) 720-7680 or development@bostonathenaeum.org.

Gifts of Personal Property
 

Gifts of personal property, including works of art, rare books, and other items of demonstrable value may be accepted. Please contact the Special Collections Department for questions of this nature.

Endowment Gifts
 

Endowment gifts are especially appreciated as the interest generated from endowed funds continues to provide income for the program(s) toward which they are directed in perpetuity. Contact the Development Office for help coordinating these gifts.

Planned Gifts
 

Planned gifts, such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable trusts, are excellent ways to ensure your generosity has an impact for years to come. To learn more about how to include the Athenaeum in your financial and estate plans, visit our Planned Giving page or contact the Development Office.

 

Increasing the Impact of Your Gift

Lasting Commitments

If you would like to make a lasting commitment to the Athenaeum, you can set your gift to recur on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual basis. Reliable, recurring donations like these ensure the standard of excellence much-appreciated by the Athenaeum community. You can make your monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual gift on our online giving form, or by contacting the Development Office.

Memorial and Tribute Gifts

Memorial and tribute gifts are a powerful way to honor or remember someone special in your life. If you would like to make a memorial or tribute gift, simply attach a note with their name or follow the instructions on our online giving form. When a tribute or memorial gift is made, a letter is sent to the honoree or their family. Unless otherwise directed, we will also include the names of both donor and honoree in our Annual Report.

To direct family and friends to make gifts in memory of a loved one who has recently passed, we suggest including the following language in an obituary or other tribute:

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Boston Athenæum's Annual Fund in memory of {name}.  Checks may be mailed to the Boston Athenæum, 10½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108. Online gifts are accepted at www.bostonathenaeum.org/give

Matching Gifts

You may be able to multiply the impact of your donation with a matching gift. Many companies offer their employees the opportunity to have their charitable contributions matched, dollar for dollar. Contact your HR director to learn more about your company's gift matching program. If you have questions about the gift matching process or what kinds of donations are eligible for matches, contact the development office at (617) 720-7680 or development@bostonathenaeum.org.

View Your Giving History

If you would like to access the history of your donations to the Athenaeum, log in or create a new profile here.  Please note that if you need to create a new profile, it could take up to one business day for your account to comprehensively reflect your generosity. If you prefer, you can contact the development office for more immediate information.

The Proprietors of the Boston Athenæum is a tax-exempt organization as described by IRS code 501(c)(3). Our tax identification number is 04-2104852. 

All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.