Hi Jenny

This is a common problem, since donors to a collection often tend to assume
that their object will be put on display, despite the gift's unrestricted
nature. As a significant donor to your Museum, however, my first inclination
would be to explain to them the reasons why the object is not on display,
and if this still does not satisfy them to offer to return it to them.

In order to prevent this setting a bad precedent, you would need to alter
your policy on accepting new donations, including a clause that donors would
need to sign their agreement to, to the effect that acceptance of the gift
does not guarantee its display. This makes the unrestricted nature of the
gift an active, rather than passive, part of the policy.

I hope this helps

Andrew Alvarez


On 1/6/09, Jenny Olmsted <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> I'm hoping that in the list's infinite wisdom, someone may have advice on
> what may turn out to be a difficult, or at least delicate, situation with a
> donor.
>
> One of our long-time donors and lifetime members contacted me recently to
> ask why a piece she donated in 2006 wasn't on display with its matching
> piece that had been donated in about 1995.  She was adamant that if we would
> not or could not display the 2006 piece, she wants it back.
>
> Looking through the donation paperwork, I saw that according to the
> incoming condition report, the piece was already damaged when it was
> donated.  Presumably this is the reason it was never put on display (this
> donation took place before I started working at this institution).
>
> Additionally, there was no restriction on the Deed of Gift that the object
> must be on display.
>
> My take on this is that, as an unrestricted gift now in our legal
> possession, we can legally keep the object and display it or not as we deem
> appropriate.  However, given that this donor is also a lifetime member of
> the society, I don't want to upset or alienate her.  Although this object
> does not seem to be essential to our collection, so there does not seem to
> be a reason we would want to keep it, I would be against giving the object
> back as it would set a bad precedent.
>
> Have any of you been in a similar situation?  How did you handle it?  I
> appreciate any feedback and advice.
>
> Jenny Herring
> Curator
>
>
>
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