Introducing Collections Feature
At Museum Exchange, we are constantly striving to enhance the donor experience with the aim of making philanthropic giving easier and more accessible. Over the years, donors have presented us with countless remarkable works which it has been our honor to place among our member institutions. Each donation is unique and we are focused on ensuring that the objectives of both the donor and institution are satisfied and that the artworks go on to the best possible homes so they can be fully appreciated by the public.
We quickly discovered that sometimes the best outcome required artworks to be donated together. This was often the case with paintings and their preparatory studies or groupings of related works such as photographs, prints, and videos. These past experiences with multi-object donations inspired us to create a more flexible and intuitive way to present and process such offerings.
Today we are thrilled to announce the launch of Collections, a new feature designed to give donors the ability to group multiple objects within a single listing and, in turn, for institutions to accept them as gifts. Donors can now create individual records for each object and then list them together in a catalogue. Institutions can view the collection as a whole and then click through the respective objects to learn more about them.
It is our belief that this feature will not only streamline the donation process but also elevate the way artworks are presented on the platform, enabling donors to more effectively showcase their collections and for institutions to better understand and appreciate the full context of individual artworks. These updates directly serve our mission to transform philanthropic giving and expand the canon of art history. But Collections is just the start. In the coming months, we’ll be releasing several further enhancements that we’re excited to share with you.
New Features for Donors
Collections
We’ve added the ability to offer objects together as collections. Donors can now group multiple objects within a single listing, with the complete information for each object viewable individually. This feature ensures that all objects are properly represented while providing greater context through the presentation of related objects. Note that objects can only be listed together if they are saved in the same folder and have the same pick up location.
Updated Donor Dashboard
We’ve made it easier for donors to track their progress through the donation process. The new dashboard layout improves navigation by moving the folders to the left-hand side and adding dedicated tabs for each step of the process: Objects, Listings, and Donations.
Updated Listing Process
We’ve made the listing process more intuitive and flexible by separating it into two distinct steps:
Create Object: Create and save objects to your account, viewable in the Objects tab.
Create Listing: Create and submit listings of saved objects from your account (individually or as collections), viewable in the Listings tab. Submitted listings are reviewed by our team and approved for the next appropriate catalogue.
Updated Match Forms
We’ve improved the clarity, sequencing, and flexibility of the match forms that are completed upon selecting a proposal. Donors can now specify the desired donation year and whether they plan to file for a tax deduction. Those opting out of a deduction will skip the Appraisal and Form 8283 steps, simplifying the process further.
Auto-Fill Match Forms
We’ve made it simpler to complete multiple donations by adding automation. Information from previous donations will now auto-populate the match forms, saving donors time and ensuring accuracy across multiple donations.
December 2024 Product Release - Donor Dashboard & Collections
New Features for Institutions
Collections
We’ve added the ability to consider and accept objects together as collections. Institutions can now review multiple objects grouped within a single listing, with the complete information for each object viewable individually. Collections are marked with a stacked rectangle icon for easy identification.
December 2024 Product Release - Collections Catalogue View