Donate an Item

The full process can take several weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the item and staff workloads. We will notify you when it is complete.

Thank you for your generosity—your donation helps preserve and share Ukrainian history for generations to come!

Your donation helps preserve and share the rich history, culture, and experiences of Ukrainians, Ukrainian Canadians, and the greater diaspora. The Museum maintains a comprehensive collection of artefacts, ensuring their conservation, exhibition, and educational use for generations to come.

When you donate an artefact, you are not only safeguarding its story but also contributing to a legacy that deepens public understanding of Ukrainian Canadian heritage. The Museum exists because of the generosity of donors like you, and we are committed to preserving these treasures for the benefit of our community.

Like other museums, the Ukrainian Museum of Canada follows a Collections Policy for all collections-related decisions.  If you’d like to review this policy, we’re happy to provide a copy—just reach out to us.

When evaluating potential donations, we consider the following criteria:

• Exemplary sample of an aspect of Ukrainian Canadian and/or Ukrainian history currently not represented in the collection;
• Directly relevant to current research, exhibition, or education programs and events;
• Well-documented;
• Good condition.

When you submit an item for donation—either through our online donation inquiry form or a Temporary Deposit Form—you’ll specify how you’d like it to be used. The following options are available:

• Permanent Collection – Preserved as part of the Museum’s core collection (artefacts, library, or archives).
• Education Collection – Used in research or hands-on programming, including workshops and dress-up activities.
• Transfer to Other Museum (or non-profit organization) – Some items are best suited to another institution’s collection.
• Sold, Donated to Charity, or Disposed Of – All proceeds will be funnelled back into our collection.

If we accept your donation, we will only use it in the ways you have consented to. Your preferences matter, and we are committed to honouring them.

Yes! As a registered non-profit organization, we are able to issue tax receipts for accepted donations.

How tax receipts work:

• For donations valued up to $500: We can issue a tax receipt without an external appraisal. Our staff will assess the item internally, compare it to similar artefacts, and determine its fair market value.
• For donations over $500: An independent appraisal is required. The donor must cover the cost of the appraisal, and this sum cannot be included in the tax receipt.

When will you receive your tax receipt?

Tax receipts are issued only after:

• The item is officially accepted into the collection
• A Deed of Gift is signed
• An external appraisal (if required) is completed

If you have any questions about appraisals or the donation process, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help!

Absolutely. At the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, we take the care of artefacts seriously. Our team consists of trained museum professionals who follow best practices in artefact handling and conservation.

Protective Measures

We have protective measures in place to ensure the long-term safety of all items in our care, including:

• Climate control to regulate temperature and humidity
• Integrated pest management to prevent damage from insects and other threats
• Specialized storage and display solutions tailored to different materials
• Meticulous cataloguing to document and track every item

Depending on the object, we may use bubble wrap, foam, archival boxes, or acid-free paper to ensure its protection. Your donation will always be handled with the utmost respect and care.

If you have any concerns about the preservation of your item, we’d be happy to discuss our conservation methods with you!

While we deeply appreciate every donation, contributing an item does not guarantee it will be included in a public exhibition. The Museum plans its shows months in advance, and with limited gallery space, only a selection of artefacts can be displayed at any given time.

However, exhibitions change regularly, and an item that is not on display today may be featured in the future. Even if it is not exhibited, your donation remains a valuable part of our collection.

If you have questions about how your item may be used in the Museum, we’re happy to discuss!

Unfortunately, the Ukrainian Museum of Canada does not accept artefact loans, whether short-term or permanent. To ensure the long-term care and management of our collection, we only acquire items through official donation, which means that legal ownership and all associated rights are permanently transferred to the museum.

If you have an item of historical significance that you’d like to see preserved, we’d love to discuss whether it’s a good fit for our collection. Feel free to reach out with any questions!

If you change your mind before your donation is finalized, please contact us immediately, and we will cease the acquisitions process and return your item as it was.

However, once the Deed of Gift has been signed, ownership is permanently transferred to the Museum, and you forfeit all rights to the item. Additionally, according to Canada Revenue Agency regulations for registered charities, donated cultural property cannot be returned to the original donor—even if a tax receipt was not issued.

If you have any questions before making a donation, we encourage you to ask! We want you to feel confident in your decision to contribute to the Museum’s collection.

Unfortunately, the Museum cannot accept every donation. We are constrained by physical space, staffing availability, funding, and resources. Generally, the items we decline meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Outside the scope of our Collections Policy and Procedures Manual
• Already well-represented in the collection
• Unable to be effectively cared for
• Poor condition or hazardous to staff, visitors, or other items in the collection
• Unethical or illegal provenance; inconclusive proof of ownership
• Contains restrictions or binding conditions
• Duplicate of an item already in the collection

Nevertheless, we are extremely grateful for your interest and are happy to review other items you currently own or acquire in the future.

If we are unable to accept your donation, we will thank you for your generosity and, whenever possible, suggest alternative options. These may include other cultural organizations, historical societies, public sales, second-hand stores, or private collections that may be better suited to house your item.

We appreciate all offers and carefully consider each one to ensure it aligns with our Collections Policy.

When the Museum accepts a donation, we do so with the intention of preserving it for the foreseeable future. As long as the item remains in good condition, does not pose a hazard, and continues to meet the criteria outlined in our Collections Policy, it will remain in our care.

If the item no longer aligns with our needs, it may be considered for deaccessioning (permanent removal from the collection). This process is conducted with great care and in accordance with best practices and ethical guidelines.

If you have questions about how your donation will be managed long-term, we’d be happy to chat!

Absolutely! While our collection focuses on Ukrainians, Ukrainian Canadians, and the greater diaspora, we recognize that meaningful artefacts can come from individuals of all backgrounds.

We welcome donations from anyone who wishes to contribute to the preservation and sharing of Ukrainian culture and history. Your generosity helps foster intercultural knowledge-sharing and ensures that these stories are accessible to all.

If you’re unsure whether your item is a good fit for our collection, feel free to reach out—we’d love to hear from you!