Members and friends can support Cranbrook Institute of Science in a number of ways. The most common forms of giving are outright gifts of cash and securities, but there are other types of assets that may be donated as well and planned giving options that may have favorable financial and tax benefits.

This website is designed to give you general information about various ways of giving to Cranbrook Institute of Science. It is not intended to provide specific advice about the legal or tax implications of charitable giving. You should consult with your financial, tax, and legal advisors for a thorough analysis of your individual situation and the tax consequences and to decide which of these ways of giving might work best for you before making a gift to Cranbrook Institute of Science. We are pleased to work with you and your advisors to structure a gift that best fulfills your charitable goals.

Cash

Cash donations are one of the easiest ways to make a charitable contribution.

The impact of your cash gift to the Institute is evident in its artifacts, exhibitions and collections that are on display. Contributions help make possible the Institute’s educational programs and the care, study, and exhibition of our collections. Your tax-deductible gift can be a terrific way to honor or memorialize someone.

For your reference, Cranbrook’s tax identification number is 38-2015048.

Securities

Make the most of your giving by considering a donation from your financial portfolio.

Readily marketable appreciated securities are commonly donated to the Institute. When you donate appreciated securities, you generally do not incur any capital gains tax. You also may be eligible to receive a federal income-tax charitable deduction for the securities’ full fair market value if you have held them long-term (i.e., for longer than 12 months). Because a gift of appreciated securities generally avoids capital gains taxes, this type of gift may have a lower after-tax cost to you than an equivalent gift of cash. In addition to stock, you may donate bonds and mutual fund shares to Cranbrook Institute of Science. 

Planned Giving

If you want to be remembered, do something memorable.

From its very beginning, planned gifts have helped to sustain the Institute. In fact, a bequest of minerals from Cranbrook Founder George Booth in 1932 formed the basis of the Institute’s renowned collection to encourage and develop the study of natural science, giving home to the minerals and initiating one of the finest mineral collections in North America.

Today planned gifts are more important than ever to the Institute’s stability and future success. 

For more information and assistance on making a planned gift, please visit Planned Giving at Cranbrook.