Support

There are many ways to support the International Quilt Museum. Through membership, giving, corporate sponsorships and volunteer service, your support ensures our global collection will be protected for and shared with future generations.


Membership

Membership is the best way to experience everything the International Quilt Museum has to offer. Your support advances the understanding and appreciation of quilts and quiltmaking traditions.

The International Quilt Museum and Friends of the International Quilt Museum have joined forces to offer one membership with all the perks of being part of and supporting both. Membership will continue to directly impact the museum’s success by providing financial support towards world-class exhibitions, educational programs and global outreach. That means more meaningful experiences for visitors like you.

Become a Member Today

Educator - $30

Educator - $30
Educator - $30

Individual benefits.

For educators in any school system with a copy of current school ID.

Individual - $60

Individual - $60
Individual - $60

(Fully tax-deductible)

  • Free admission for one adult
  • Museum store discount – 10%
  • Workshop registration discount – 10%
  • E-newsletters
  • Advance registration to events/workshops
  • Membership in Friends of the International Quilt Museum

Dual - $75

Dual - $75
Dual - $75

(Fully tax-deductible)

  • Free admission for two adults

  • Individual benefits

Family - $110

Family - $110
Family - $110

(Fully tax-deductible)

  • Free admission for two adults & children or grandchildren under age 19
  • Reciprocal admission privileges to NARM museums
  • Individual benefits

Sustainer - $250

Sustainer - $250
Sustainer - $250

($190 tax-deductible)

  • Four complimentary guest passes
  • Complimentary Behind-the-Scenes tour
  • Museum store discount – 20%
  • Workshop registration discount – 20%
  • Name in annual report
  • Dual/Family benefits

Advocate - $500

Advocate - $500
Advocate - $500

($400 tax-deductible)

  • Two additional complimentary guest passes (six total)
  • Invitations to VIP receptions
  • Special thank you gift 
  • Sustainer benefits

Patron - $1,000

Patron - $1,000
Patron - $1,000

($850 tax-deductible)

  • Four additional complimentary guest passes (ten total)
  • Recognition on donor wall and welcome screens
  • Free rental of Campbell and Hodder Seminar Room or 25% discount on rental of Reception Hall
  • Advocate benefits

Give

The International Quilt Museum relies on support from quilt enthusiasts from around the world. The center continues to grow and flourish because of your support. Our unique program accomplished much since its inception in 1997, including the opening of a museum and academic home in 2008.

The center is many things to many different people: a treasure house of quilts spanning centuries from around the world; a unique academic program and resource attracting scholars from far and wide; a connection point for quilt enthusiasts of all sorts; a world class museum with state of the art exhibitions, digital galleries and stunning architecture. The University of Nebraska Foundation is the designated fundraising organization for the IQM.

Give Now


Corporate Sponsorships

As a valued sponsor of the International Quilt Museum’s world-class exhibitions and programs, your business will receive maximum benefits and publicity while supporting quality cultural experiences and preserving global traditions.

World-Class Exhibitions
Diverse curated exhibitions draw from historic, international, contemporary and studio collections worldwide. Our exhibitions draw more than 20,000 visitors annually from around the country and as far away as Australia, Asia and Europe.

Artist Visits and Gallery Tours
We offer opportunities for the pubic to meet featured artists, quilters and collectors while touring the museum’s world-class exhibitions, attending lectures or participating in workshops.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Accompany a curator on a tour behind the scenes to view some of the museum’s most famed pieces in the climate-controlled collections storage.

Traveling Exhibitions
Exhibitions from our permanent and experience collections travel throughout the United States and internationally, including recent exhibits to Australia, China, England, France, Italy and Japan.

Education & Outreach
Tuesday Talks, First Fridays and workshops provide educational, hands-on learning, classes and experiences to all ages and levels.

Take a look at our Corporate Giving levels below. For more information about becoming a corporate sponsor, contact Leslie Levy, Executive Director, at 402-472-6342 or [email protected]. Click here to download our 2019-2020 Corporate Giving brochure.

PATRON SPONSOR — $7,500

PATRON SPONSOR — $7,500
PATRON SPONSOR — $7,500
  • Recognition in Annual Report
  • Recognition on IQM Welcome Screen (viewable by 24,000+ visitors)
  • Recognition on virtual donor wall
  • Complimentary annual memberships (8)
  • Recognition in newsletters
  • Exhibition sponsorships (12)
  • Recognition in annual exhibition catalog
  • Recognition in ALL online exhibits each year
  • Private tours with curator for up to 20 attendees (2)
  • Complimentary facility rental
  • Named First Friday sponsor
  • Name on every IQM exhibit for 12 months
  • Named Tuesday Talk sponsor

DIRECTOR SPONSOR — $5,000

DIRECTOR SPONSOR — $5,000
DIRECTOR SPONSOR — $5,000
  • Recognition in Annual Report
  • Recognition on IQM Welcome Screen (viewable by 24,000+ visitors)
  • Recognition on virtual donor wall
  • Complimentary annual memberships (8)
  • Recognition in newsletters
  • Exhibition sponsorships (5)
  • Recognition in annual exhibition catalog
  • Recognition in five online exhibits each year
  • Private tour with curator for up to 20 attendees (1)
  • Reduced rate on facility rental
  • Named First Friday sponsor (11)

CURATOR SPONSOR — $2,500

CURATOR SPONSOR — $2,500
CURATOR SPONSOR — $2,500
  • Recognition in Annual Report
  • Recognition on IQM Welcome Screen (viewable by 24,000+ visitors)
  • Recognition on virtual donor wall
  • Complimentary annual memberships (8)
  • Recognition in newsletters
  • Exhibition sponsorships (1)
  • Recognition in annual exhibition catalog
  • Recognition in three online exhibits each year

AMBASSADOR SPONSOR — $1,000

AMBASSADOR SPONSOR — $1,000
AMBASSADOR SPONSOR — $1,000
  • Recognition in Annual Report
  • Recognition on IQM Welcome Screen (viewable by 24,000+ visitors)
  • Recognition on virtual donor wall
  • Complimentary annual memberships (4)

Volunteer

Volunteers at the International Quilt Museum support the museum in fulfilling its mission: Some serve as docents giving tours to general visitors, elementary school children, and other special groups; others conduct research on quilts in our collection, support the exhibition team to install displays in our galleries, or work behind the scenes to preserve the collection. All of our volunteers get the opportunity to venture behind the scenes and play a role in how the museum works!

Our volunteers come from many backgrounds, and often share interests in quilts and quilting, public education, history and research, art and more. Many of our volunteers enjoy meeting new people and making new friends, and share a desire give back to their local community. If any of these interests sound like you, we invite you to join our volunteer team! We provide regular trainings and communications to all volunteers, and our volunteer benefits include free admission to the museum (plus one guest), the chance to see new acquisitions and exhibitions before the general public, invitations and access to special events, and an annual volunteer appreciation event.

Collections

Collections
Collections

Do you love seeing a wide variety of quilts, or get a sense of satisfaction from achieving concrete goals? Our collections care volunteers help our Collections Department with the most important aspects of our stewardship and preservation efforts. IQM collections volunteers may be asked to refold quilts, to vacuum quilts and objects, or to complete other related work, all vital to the IQM’s mission of preserving our international collection of historic and culturally significant quilts, quilted objects and other textiles. These volunteers get the rare opportunity to see new acquisitions and famous quilts, as well as an inside view of the vast diversity of quiltmaking throughout history and around the world. The collections care volunteers generally work for 2-3 hours in the morning or afternoon, and volunteers may be asked to complete tasks that involve repeated reaching and lifting movements while standing or walking. Knowledge of quilts is preferred, but not required. Special collections care training will be provided for each task.

For more information about our collections care and conservation procedures, CLICK HERE

Docents/Tours

Docents/Tours
Docents/Tours

Do you enjoy learning new things and sharing your knowledge? If you have a passion for history, the arts, or education, you might be a great fit for our docent team. Docents provide tours of exhibitions to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, including adults, children, teens and school groups, helping the museum provide consistent and quality community education opportunities. Because docents are representatives of the museum to the public, these positions require strong communication skills. Docents will receive a sneak peek of new exhibitions and specific exhibition-related training directly from the museum’s curators when new exhibitions open, in addition to other training opportunities throughout the year. Tours are generally scheduled for Tuesday-Saturday mornings at 11 AM for public tours and between 10 AM and Noon for school tours; the museum often hosts more than 10 exhibitions per year.

Visitor Services

Visitor Services
Visitor Services

Our visitor services volunteers are the first faces our visitors see! In this position, volunteers greet and interact with guests during museum hours and special events, extending our mission to build a global audience for quilts and quilt history. They offer hospitality, answer questions as necessary and help ensure the longevity of the quilts on exhibition by sharing information about museum expectations. Visitor Services volunteers may also work behind the scenes or at the front desk in a variety of tasks as needed.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions
Exhibitions

Do you enjoy working with your hands, or seeing a project come together for final presentation? Exhibitions volunteers get to work behind the scenes with curators on fun, interesting tasks that the general public doesn’t normally get to experience.  Opportunities for these volunteers include installing and de-installing quilts, labels and vinyl graphics so our collection can be shared with the public, and helping our curators create interactive and display elements for specific exhibitions. Exhibitions volunteer shifts are generally 2-3 hours long and volunteers may be asked to complete tasks that require repeated reaching, lifting or carrying movements. Exhibitions volunteers will be provided step-by-step instruction for each of these tasks.

Genealogical Task Force

Genealogical Task Force
Genealogical Task Force

Volunteers with the Genealogical Task Force contribute to the museum’s mission by researching identified quilt makers or multiple names inscribed on quilts. These volunteers help us confirm any provenance associated with quilts, and/or attempt to correctly identify the named individual(s) on various quilts through careful research. GTF members write research reports of all findings, and help us preserve the collection by photographing, mapping, and transcribing all names inscribed on quilts entering the collection.

Group Volunteering Opportunities

Group Volunteering Opportunities
Group Volunteering Opportunities

Bring Your Friends Behind the Scenes!

The International Quilt Museum has opportunities for both one-time and repeating group volunteer activities in our Collections Care department. Venture behind the scenes and join us in the Byron and Sara Rhodes Dillow Conservation Workroom for the chance to see unique and historic quilts and directly contribute to the museum’s work in quilt preservation. By helping us vacuum new acquisitions and refold the ever-growing collection, your group will get to see (and touch!) historic quilts from around the world while ensuring future visitors are able to enjoy the collection for years to come.

With a collection of more than 6,000 quilts from 65 countries and new acquisitions arriving all the time, we’re sure you’ll find something fun and interesting, and all training is provided on-site on the day of your event.

For more information, email us at [email protected]

Please complete the form below if you would like more information about volunteer opportunities at the museum, or fill out and return our Volunteer Application (link below under "Files") to [email protected]
 

Volunteer Interest Form