The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, which operates Monticello accepted
its first donation c. 1990. Until then it operated exclusively on admissions
and museum shop /catelog purchases. Around 1991, a "Monticello Cabinet" was
formed-people who contribute c. $5000 per year . Several hefty grants have been
awarded for expanding interpretation of the plantation life, the
African-American Community and also for conservation of the house itself, i.e.,
the roof.