Imagining Our Future — Imagining Your Legacy

During the Space Age, the nation focused its energies on scientific challenges, bringing about a virtuous cycle of continuous technical advancement and redoubled public interest in science. Imagination fueled innovation, which led to advancements, new challenges, and ongoing innovations.

The Science Museum of Virginia was and is part of that cycle. Founded to foster the public’s understanding and appreciation of science, the Museum was a daring bid to create a partnership between the Commonwealth and concerned citizens to bring science from the academy into the public arena.

Fueling that cycle in perpetuity, this section of our website will show you how your planned gift can provide long-term financial support to the Museum while meeting your own personal needs as well.

The Science Museum of Virginia Foundation and the John Russell Pope Society

Today’s Museum can look not only to the Commonwealth but to its own Science Museum of Virginia Foundation for reliable funding to make the Museum’s visitor experience both memorable and accessible to all, especially young people.

In turn, both the Museum and its Foundation look to another group to perpetuate the Museum’s excellence and accessibility through endowment. This group, the John Russell Pope Society, honors those who inform the Museum Foundation of its place in their estate plans.

For additional information, or to discuss any of the giving vehicles mentioned on the website, you can use our personal request form to get more information or contact Kinsey Peeler at (804) 864-1542 or srockwell@smv.org.


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Put Your IRA to Work for the Science Museum

There's a simple, straightforward way to avoid income tax and potential estate tax on your retirement plan, while making a significant gift to the Science Museum.

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Our Endowment is Our Future

And you play an important role in both.

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Name the Science Museum in Your Will

Make us part of your family. A gift through your will or estate is the easiest gift you can make today.