Building a legacy
Meet our legacy donors
The museum relies on legacy donors to safeguard the future of our 501(c)3 nonprofit. We are grateful to our donors who have committed to building a legacy with us through bequests in their estate plans.
Here are their stories.
Jim S.
Legacy donor
“I have volunteered at the Museum of Idaho for twenty years, and during that time I have seen it assume a key role in our community. I started with Sue, the T-Rex, and I have enjoyed showing visitors world-class exhibits like Sue ever since. Now when school groups visit the Museum and I welcome them, many of them respond that ‘I have been here before and I love it.’ Their enthusiasm is obvious, and that enthusiasm exists in many of our visitors. Such community success deserves community support, and I am happy to leave a legacy by contributing to our future success.”
Linda Montgomery
Legacy donor
“The Museum of Idaho is supported only by the community — not by a university or governmental entity like most museums. I am proud to donate now to keep all of the great programs going for every age group in our community. Particularly, I know that I will be helping the Museum to continue even after I am gone. I have chosen to leave the Museum a bequest in my will. I considered buying a life insurance policy to be able to leave the Museum even more. I am not a rich person, but having the Museum in our community makes us all rich.”
Joann and Don Cissel
Legacy donors
As a nonprofit, MOI is able to sustain our mission in large part due to our generous donors such as Joann and Don Cissel. The Cissels were known for their philanthropic hearts, and their financial support since 2009 has helped us grow into the institution so many enjoy today. Their final bequests, made from the Donald W Cissel and Lois Joann C Cissel Family Trust, will ensure that MOI is able to bring historical, cultural, and educational programs and exhibits to our community for generations to come. Although Joann and Don have both passed on, their legacy of giving will live on.
Begin your legacy
A planned gift can make a significant impact on the Museum of Idaho’s ability to inspire wonder and discovery for generations to come. With our secure online tools, the process is quite simple.
What our legacy donors have accomplished (so far)
From exhibit halls to impactful education initiatives, our legacy donors have had a profound impact on the trajectory of the museum.
Traveling exhibit hall (and more)
The Wendell and Margaret Petty family created a legacy by investing in our most recent expansion years before construction began. Their gift was foundational in ensuring that the museum’s capital campaign got off to a great start, and the result is the new lobby, store, and the expansive special exhibit hall (The Petty Gallery) you all enjoy today.
Expanded educational programming
The bequest of Marie Putnam has been actively helping the MOI grow our education department. Putnam’s generous gift allowed us to hire another full-time employee and expand both the variety of programs we now offer and the number of people we can reach each year.
Grown our sustainability fund
Gifts to our sustainability account are an investment in the future of the Museum and help guarantee the institution remains a viable resource for our region for generations to come.