Throughout the years, Shenandoah Conservatory has been grateful to receive donated instruments or gifts of personal property. While we wish we could accept all offered gifts, that is not always possible.
All gifts in kind are reviewed prior to acceptance to confirm that they meet the conservatory’s needs. Please understand that Shenandoah Conservatory reserves the right to decline any gift that does not further the conservatory’s goals or which would require special maintenance, impose a financial burden, or would otherwise impose other conditions the conservatory would be unable to satisfy.
Donors are responsible for packing, shipping or delivering gifts. All fees related to shipping, insurance and delivery are the donor’s responsibility.
Thanks to a vast collection of recordings, the conservatory is not able to accept LP records, CDs or audio cassettes.
Sheet Music Donations
To donate collections of sheet music, please first submit a complete inventory to be reviewed by the appropriate division of the conservatory.
Instrument Donations
Shenandoah Conservatory accepts instrument donations on a case-by-case basis. The conservatory currently maintains a large inventory in certain instrumental areas, and has limited space to accommodate most additional instruments. Instruments accepted by Shenandoah Conservatory must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- there is accompanying funding sufficient to ensure ongoing maintenance
- the instrument is of unusual quality and will be of value for instruction or student use
- the instrument is in an area underrepresented in the current instrument collection
Prop & Wardrobe/Costume Donations
Shenandoah Conservatory accepts donations of most prop and wardrobe/costume pieces. To confirm that the item(s) you wish to donate can be accepted into the Theatre division’s extensive collection, please first contact our Director of Development or a member of the Theatre division to discuss your intended donation.
Items of great interest: curtains, old antique-ish furniture, telephones, table lamps and sconces, old radios, CRT televisions smaller than 24”, architectural elements (columns, fireplace mantles, window valances, etc.), Christmas decorations, decorative area rugs, and oriental rugs and mats.
Items we are unable to accept: paint, stains and sealers, scraps of wood, brick, and stone, kitchen cabinets, old tools, couches and sectionals, wooden ladders, ceiling fans, carpet scraps, and fabric remnants less than a yard.
Appraisals & Tax Deductions
When donating an item valued over $5,000, an appraisal is required. Appraisals and associated costs are the responsibility of the donor. Shenandoah University cannot offer gift appraisals or valuations. For more details on making gifts in kind, please consult a tax advisor.
Library Donations
Visit the Shenandoah University Libraries FAQ donation page for more information on donations accepted by Shenandoah University.
For More Information
For more information on how to make an in-kind donation or to make an appointment to deliver your donation to Shenandoah Conservatory, please contact Melanie L. Mathewes, Assistant Vice President for Advancement & Major Gifts, at (540) 665-4733 or by email at mmathewe@su.edu.
