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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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We have two donation boxes.

The first is aimed at serious donations. It is a transparent plexiglass
column with a slot at the top. We provide envelopes for people who want
receipts for tax purposes.

The second has dynamic miniature fairground models under a 6 foot
plexiglass dome. Each model is activated by a coin in a slot (4 of
them). It is situated opposite the reception desk and is used by parents
to distract children while they queue to pay entry. It is clearly
labeled as a donation 'box'. Maintenance is high but since it serves a
double purpose as an exhibit it is still good value. I wish more of our
exhibits were 'self supporting'!

Glen Moore
Science Centre and Planetarium
Wollongong, Australia
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The takings in the first box were unaffected by the introduction of the
interactive one. William wrote:

>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>One other piece of anecdotal experience:
>Having a donation box near the gift shop cash register seems to work well to capture loose change people don't want to deal with...
>
>-William
>
>William Katzman                    "The important thing is to never stop questioning." -A. Einstein
>Director of Exhibits               "Are you sure about that Al?" -His wife.
>Catawba Science Center
>ph: (828) 322-8169 x307
>fax:(828) 322-1585
>[log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:   David Taylor [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent:   Thursday, August 26, 2004 10:50 AM
>Subject:        Re: donation boxes
>
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>Ben,
>        I have found a couple of things about donation boxes over the
>years...
>
>1. Ones that do something (like the gravity wells for coins) often attract
>more money even though it is in smaller denominations.  I have found that
>these  work best in places where people are waiting... particularly near
>restrooms where a mom or dad may be standing with one of the kids waiting
>for someone else in the family.  The kids will bug their parents for some
>coins to roll down into the well, and one coin is never enough to satisfy
>them.
>
>2. The other thing I found is that it is best to put a non-interactive
>donation box near a part of the museum people like and then label the box as
>donations to help support the operation of that part of the museum.  This
>has worked well for live animal areas, butterfly exhibits and planetariums
>in my personal experience.
>
>3.  Make the donation box transparent so others can see that others are
>supporting the mission.  Always leave a bit of money in the box to encourage
>others but not so much that it becomes an object of theft or vandalism.
>
>4.  Make the box freestanding so you can move it when you discover it's not
>in a place that is attracting donations, but big and heavy enough that
>someone can't walk off with it.
>
>Hope this helps...
>
>                  David Taylor
>        AHHA Museum Services
>             Now I Understand
>         1560 NW Woodbine Way
>             Seattle, WA 98177
>              (206) 363-8126
>    e-mail:   [log in to unmask]
> http://www.AHHA-MuseumServices.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>From: Gammon Ben <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 10:49:08 +0100
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Subject: donation boxes
>>
>>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>>*****************************************************************************
>>
>>Can anybody provide any advice or interesting case studies about how to
>>increase donations from visitors? We no longer charge an admission fee
>>except for special exhibitions and we are keen to increase the amount of
>>income from our donation boxes. Specifically I would be interested in any
>>advice or information on the following areas
>>i) research into what motivates or de-motivates people from giving money
>>ii) examples of successful donation box designs
>>iii) the best locations for donation boxes
>>
>>Any help or advice would be much appreciated
>>Ben Gammon
>>
>>Science Museum, London
>>
>>
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