Tribute Gifts

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum offers a number of ways for you to make a tribute gift – a gift in honor or in memory of a special person or occasion – while providing financial support to the Desert Museum and those we serve.

Tribute gifts to the Desert Museum are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

  1. Commemorative Gifts

    Commemorative gifts can be made at any time and of any amount.

    The Desert Museum recognizes commemorative gifts with one-time listings of the person(s) or events(s) being honored, the donor(s) name, and the donation, in:

    Commemorative donations of $10,000 or more are also eligible for listing on the Desert Museum’s donor recognition wall.

    To make a gift online, visit this page and choose the option to make a tribute gift. Unless specified otherwise at the time of the donation, commemorative gifts go to the area of greatest need.

    To make a commemorative gift by check, mail it to:

    Tribute Gifts
    Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
    2021 N Kinney St
    Tucson, AZ 85743-9719

    Please include the name of the person(s) or events(s) being honored, the names of the donor(s), and the mailing address, telephone number, and email of the donor(s). If the donor(s) want others to be notified in writing that a donation has been made, the donor(s) must include the names and addresses of those persons.

  2. Tribute Benches

    A tribute bench at the Desert Museum is a thoughtful and distinctive way to recognize a special person or occasion. In addition to being a meaningful honor, tribute benches help beautify the Desert Museum and enhance the visitor experience.

    Desert Museum tribute bench prices are currently $5,000, $10,000, or $25,000, depending on selected location.

    A tribute bench includes the bench hand-crafted by the Desert Museum, and a commemorative plaque.

    Three Memorial Benches on grounds
  3. Tribute Trees

    Memorial Tree on grounds

    Tribute trees and other established plants are available at various locations throughout the Desert Museum.

    Desert Museum tribute tree prices are currently $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000, depending on selected location.

    Tribute trees include a commemorative plaque.

    Please Note

    • Any gift may be made in honor of, or in memory of.
    • Notice of the person honored or memorialized must be provided in writing at the time the gift is made.
    • Upon request, notification of the gift is mailed to a third party. The gift amount is not disclosed.
    • At present, the Desert Museum does not offer the following as commemorative items: bricks, pavers, statuaries, or sculptures. Commemorative markers.
    • Plaques are only offered as part of tribute benches or tribute trees.
    • A bench or tree tribute plaque must be its own transaction; we are unable to provide plaques for separate gifts, or by tallying tribute gifts.
    • The Desert Museum reserves the right to relocate any tribute, if the Desert Museum determines such relocation is required.
    • All plaques have a line and character limit. Word choice is subject to the Desert Museum’s approval. There is a standard specification and design for all plaques.
    • There are a limited number of locations for tribute benches and trees at Desert Museum. At a given time, it is possible all tribute locations have been committed, in which case Desert Museum will maintain a waiting list of those who want to purchase a tribute bench or tree.
    • The tribute bench or tree has a limited lifetime of ten (10) years. The Desert Museum will maintain, provide routine maintenance, and if necessary, replace the bench, tree, or plaque for a period of at least ten (10) years. After ten (10) years, the Desert Museum may contact the donor and offer to renew this agreement for another ten (10) years at what is then the tribute bench or tree cost. If the donor chooses not to renew the agreement and the Desert Museum chooses not maintain the bench, tree, and/or plaque, the Desert Museum will attempt to return the plaque to the donor.

    For further information, please email philanthropy@desertmuesum.org or call 520-883-3005.

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“During our first visit to the Desert Museum in 1994 we agreed it was the best full spectrum natural history experience we'd ever had - and right here in our own backyard!
We've supported the Museum annually since then and encourage friends and business associates to do the same.”
--Jerry Weinert
& Marni Dittmar