Donations

Your gift helps support a National Historic treasure

Every Donation Helps

Each donation made to the Carson House & Museum — large or small — directly supports our mission to restore and preserve this important National Historic Landmark and to help educate the public on the critical exploration of the complicated history and consequences of the cultural encounters of the American Southwest — particularly the history and ongoing story of Native communities for whom this region was and continues to be home.

Offline Donations

To make an offline donation please follow these instructions:

  1. Make a check payable to Kit Carson House, Inc.

  2. On the memo line of the check, please indicate that the donation is for Kit Carson House, Inc.

  3. Please mail your check to:
    The Carson House & Museum
    113 Kit Carson Road
    Taos, NM 87571

All contributions are tax-deductible

Other Ways To Give

Cash Donations

A gift of cash is a simple and easy way for you to support The Carson House and Museum and preserve a national historic treasure. You will receive a charitable tax deduction that will provide you with savings on this year's tax return.

Estate Planning & Legacy Gifts

Leave a legacy and provide support for The Carson House and Museum. By including the museum in your estate planning, you can preserve Taos’ rich cultural history with the gift of a planned donation.

  • How do I make a bequest?
    A bequest is an easy gift to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to the Carson House and Museum as part of your estate plan.

    What are the benefits of making a bequest?
    • You leave a legacy to be remembered.
    • You lessen the burden of taxes on your family.
    • You may receive estate tax savings.

  • Like most people, it's likely that you will not use all your retirement assets during your lifetime. A gift of your retirement assets, such as a gift from your IRA, 401k, 403b, pension or other tax-deferred plan, is an excellent way to make a financial contribution. By making a gift of your retirement assets, you will help further our mission.

    Benefits of gifts of retirement assets :
    • Avoid potential estate tax on retirement assets.
    • Your heirs will avoid income tax on any retirement assets funded on a pre-tax basis.
    • Receive potential estate tax savings from an estate tax deduction.

    Please consider using your IRA to maximize charitable impact and minimize taxes by making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to Kit Carson House, Inc. instead of taking your Required Minimum Distribution. You may also name Kit Carson House, Inc. as your charitable beneficiary of your IRA(s).

If you are interested in discussing Estate Planning & Legacy Gifts with us, please email museum@kitcarsonhouse.org

Gifts of Life Insurance

A gift of your life insurance policy is an excellent way to gift The Carson House & Museum. If you have a life insurance policy that has outlasted its original purpose, consider making a gift of your insurance policy to The Carson House & Museum.

  • Receive a charitable income tax deduction.

    • If The Carson House & Museum retains the policy to maturity, you can receive additional tax deductions by making annual gifts so that we can pay the premiums.
    • If The Carson House & Museum cashes in the policy, you will be able to see firsthand how your gift supports our charitable work.
    • If we retain the policy to maturity, or you name us as a beneficiary, once the policy matures, the proceeds of your policy will be paid to our organization so that we can use the proceeds to further our charitable work.

If you are interested in discussing Gifts of Life Insurance with us, please email museum@kitcarsonhouse.org

Stocks, Bonds, & Investment Funds

Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to The Carson House and Museum. Just as with cash gifts, you will receive a federal income tax donation for the full market value of any securities you donate, if you have owned them for at least one year. By making a gift of your appreciated securities, you can avoid paying capital gains tax that would otherwise be due if you sold these assets.

  • • Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of appreciated stock.
    • Receive a charitable income tax deduction.
    • Support historic preservation and further our mission today.

To transfer investment assets to Kit Carson, Inc. please call our local community foundation at 575 770 9300 for instructions.  All donations will go to our fund.

Property & In-kind Donations

Beyond giving cash, there are plenty of other ways you can support The Carson House & Museum. You can donate property and other valuables, including your time as a volunteer.

  • Donating appreciated real estate, such as a home, vacation property, undeveloped land, or commercial property can make a great gift to The Carson House & Museum.

    Benefits of gifts of real estate

    • Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of the real estate
    • Receive a charitable income tax deduction based on the value of the gift
    • Leave a legacy to The Carson House & Museum

    How to make a gift of real estate

    Your real property may be given to The Carson House and Museum by executing or signing a deed transferring ownership. Your gift will generally be based on the property's fair market value, which must be established by an independent appraisal. If you're interested in donating land or real estate, we'll help with all the logistics.

  • If you are interested in volunteer or donating in-kind donations, please contact us directly and we’ll chat!

If you are interested in discussing Property & In-kind Donations with us, please email museum@kitcarsonhouse.org