Make an Investment for the Future
The Cook Museum Legacy Society is a special group of people who exemplify their values by making documented planned gifts to the Cook Museum of Natural Science.
Donors, who include the Cook Museum in their planned giving for a minimum of $10,000 and notify the Museum by completing a Legacy Society Commitment Form, will have their names placed on the Legacy Society signage, located inside the Museum. Upon the donors’ commitment being fulfilled, their names will be inscribed on a beautiful plaque in the Legacy Garden.
Debbie Newsom Moore Legacy Garden
Donors who contribute through planned giving at the Legacy Friends level or above are honored posthumously by having their names included in the Debbie Newsom Moore Legacy Garden.
In 2025, construction was completed on the Debbie Newsom Moore Legacy Garden, and was officially dedicated in a special ceremony with Debbie’s family, celebrating her life and the enduring influence she leaves behind. Now open, the Garden stands as both a place of reflection and a tribute to those who are investing in the Museum’s future through planned giving, carrying forward a legacy of generosity inspired by Debbie, who developed the Museum Store, served as a Cook Museum Director, and was a joyful friend to all.
| Legacy Society Planned Giving Levels | Donation Amount |
| Legacy Visionaries | $1,000,000+ |
| Legacy Partners | $300,000 – $999,999 |
| Legacy Leaders | $100,000 – $299,999 |
| Legacy Friends | $10,000 – $99,999 |
| Legacy Builders | $1,000 – $9,999 |
Cook Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services will be exchanged for donations made to the Legacy Society.
To discuss this further, please contact:
Dr. Jeanne Payne, Director of Development at 256-351-4507
Or email donate@cookmuseum.org