Thoughtful philanthropy plays an essential role in advancing education and innovation - values at the heart of the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s mission to provide high quality, hands-on STEM learning opportunities to San Diego students. By aligning charitable giving with sound financial planning, donors create a meaningful and lasting impact for generations of young learners. Strategic tools such as estate planning vehicles, Donor-Advised Funds, gifts of appreciated stock and Qualified Charitable Distributions offer flexible and effective ways to invest in future generations of explorers.

Estate Planning: Creating a Lasting Legacy
Estate planning provides donors with the opportunity to extend their support beyond their lifetime. A charitable bequest made through a will, charitable remainder trust or charitable lead trust allows individuals to designate the San Diego Air & Space Museum as a beneficiary of a specific amount, a percentage of the estate or the remaining assets. Naming the Museum as a beneficiary to a life insurance policy or account is another meaningful gift. These approaches enable donors to retain full control of their assets during their lifetime while clearly expressing long-term philanthropic intentions.

Donor-Advised Funds: Flexible and Strategic Giving
Donor-advised funds are an increasingly popular option for donors who value flexibility and simplicity and offer a powerful tool for sustained support of the Museum’s exhibits, programs and events. A DAF allows individuals to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction and recommend grants to the Museum over time. Many families also use DAFs to engage multiple generations in philanthropy, fostering shared values around education, innovation and exploration.

Gifts of Stock: A Tax-Efficient Way to Give
Donating appreciated stock is one of the most effective ways to support the San Diego Air & Space Museum. By contributing publicly traded securities that have increased in value, donors may avoid capital gains taxes while maximizing the charitable impact of their gift. Stock gifts made directly to the Museum, or through a DAF, provide critical support for thousands of students across San Diego County who benefit from the Museum’s STEM education programs.

Qualified Charitable Distributions: Giving Through Retirement Assets
For individuals age 70½ and older, Qualified Charitable Distributions offer a tax-smart way to support the Museum using IRA assets. A QCD allows donors to transfer funds directly from an IRA to the Museum, helping satisfy Required Minimum Distributions while excluding the amount from taxable income.

Investing in the Next Generation of Explorers
STEM programs and events offered both onsite at the Museum and directly in schools provide continuity between the classroom and after-school learning for underserved schools across San Diego County. Through 339 events in fiscal year 2025, Museum programs reached over 23,500 students and 3,900 adults. These efforts are part of their long-term “cradle-to-career” strategic goal to inspire STEM interest, confidence and pursuit of advanced education and careers.

These programs are the focus of the Museum’s upcoming Celebrating America’s 250th: Beach Blanket Blastoff on Saturday, June 13th. Guests will enjoy a backdrop of a vibrant 1960s-inspired beach party infused with the excitement and optimism of the early Space Age. Proceeds benefit the Museum’s STEM education programs.

By thoughtfully combining charitable tools, donors align personal financial goals with the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s mission to inspire curiosity, advance STEM learning and preserve the history of flight and space exploration.

Strategic giving is more than generosity - it is an investment in innovation, education and the explorers of tomorrow.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Readers are encouraged to consult their professional advisors to determine which charitable giving strategies are appropriate for their individual circumstances.