I faced a similar situation.  There was virtually no chance that we would
ever wish to deaccession the object (I thought then, and still think so).
We negotiated a restriction on the deed of gift establishing a committee of
children of the donor (she was elderly), who would work with the institution
should the object ever be deaccessioned.  The family would sit on a
committee with members of the staff of the institution, and all would have
equal voice.

The family's immediate concern was that we might turn around and sell the
object for a lot of money (highly unlikely).

The last clause in the agreement said that if we could not locate any
surviving family members, we would have the power to make the decision
alone.

If you and your board can live with this type of restriction, especially if
you are pretty sure you'll never get rid of the object, go ahead and write
it.  If you and your board do not think you can live with it, explain that
to the donor and ask again for an unrestricted gift.

Good luck!

Claudia

-- 
Claudia J. Nicholson
Executive Director
North Star Museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting
2640 E. Seventh Avenue
North St. Paul, MN  55109
651-748-2880
[log in to unmask]

Celebrate the Boy Scout Centennial in 2010 and the Girl Scout Centennial in
2012 with us!
www.NorthStarMuseum.org



On 5/30/08 1:40 PM, "Scott Scholz" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I am with a house museum and am offered a donation that is extremely
> important towards our house and mission, yet the donor wants deaccession
> restrictions placed on it.  These restrictions are not so much that the item
> can not be deaccessioned, but if it is the donor wants control of how and
> where it would go.  Does anybody have recommendations on how to best
> manage such interests and any concerns I should be aware of if we decide to
> accept?
> 
> Thanks,
> Scott Scholz
> 
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