Experience more of what you love

I Want to Join the MSV

As an MSV member, you will enjoy many membership benefits including:

  • Free year-round general admission to the MSV,
  • Free or reduced admission to MSV events and programs,
  • Free admission to over 380 gardens through the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program,
  • Free one-year membership to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond,
  • Subscription to Compass Points mailed bi-annually,
  • Invitations to exhibition previews,
  • 10% discount in the MSV Museum Store and 20% admission discount to the MSV Makerspace Studio, and more!

See Full List of Benefits

More than a great deal

As a member, you are also helping to preserve and protect over 15,000 objects in the MSV’s collection, maintain care for the Glen Burnie Gardens and The Trails at the MSV, and connect our diverse community through the MSV in innovative adult and children’s programming. You are an essential part of the MSV.

Frequently Asked Questions

No! Members enjoy unlimited free general admission to all ticketed areas during normal open hours. Admission to programs and events may have a fee associated, but members always enjoy discounted registration fees.

Please feel free to list anyone as the second adult on your membership! Each person will receive a membership card mailed to your address. Each member will enjoy the benefit of unlimited free general admission, along with the full list of membership benefits. Family, Senior Family, Valley Neighbor and Donor Circle memberships work well for spouses, extended family members, or friends that enjoy visiting the MSV!

No! If you have an active membership, your renewal begins on your current your expiration date and your new expiration date will be 365 days later. For example, a membership with expiration date 5/5/2023 that is renewed on 4/10/2023 will have a new expiration date of 5/5/2024.

No, you are not required to provide an email address, but we strongly recommend it! if you choose not to provide an email address, you may miss out on some information about your membership benefits and the MSV! Members receive occasional emails with reminders about special events upcoming at the MSV.

The MSV is a participant in the AHS reciprocal admission program; therefore, MSV members enjoy free admission at more than 300 gardens in North America. Click here to view a map that details the gardens participating in the reciprocal admission program.

 

I Want to Join the MSV

One Membership, 1000+ Museums

Be a Donor Member

When you give $500 or more to the MSV, you’re automatically enrolled as Donor Member. Your gift provides vital support to MSV exhibitions, educational programming, garden maintenance, community events, and the operation of The Trails at the MSV.

As a Donor Member you will enjoy all MSV membership benefits, and—exclusive to Donor Members—you will receive free admission to more than 1,000 institutions via the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) and much more:

  • Free admission to over 360 gardens through the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program,
  • Free one-year membership to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond.
  • Free year-round general admission to the MSV,
  • Free or reduced admission to MSV events and programs,
  • Subscription to Compass Points mailed bi-annually,
  • Invitations to exhibition previews,
  • 10% discount in the MSV Museum Store and 20% admission discount to the MSV Makerspace Studio,
  • 4 One-time use MSV admission passes for guests,
  • Benefits for two named adults and children (under age 18),
  • Recognition in the MSV Annual Report and additional benefits.

For questions please contact MSV Associate Director of Annual Giving Jennifer Sweetapple at jsweetapple@theMSV.org or 540-662-1473, ext. 211.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Donor Members receive invitations to special events and experiences throughout the year, often themed around special exhibitions.

NARM, or North American Reciprocal Museum Association, is a special designation provided to our Donor Circle members ($500+.) The NARM designation on your membership card allows the card holder to take advantage of free or discounted admission to over 1,000 cultural institutions in North America. Please see the full list of participating institutions at narmassociation.org.

Your gift provides vital support to MSV exhibitions, educational programming, garden maintenance, community events, and the operation of The Trails at the MSV!

Be a Donor Member

Share what you love about the MSV

Buy a Gift of Membership

Are you searching to find the perfect gift? Give someone special an MSV Membership where they can expand their mind, explore new spaces, and connect with others.

A membership to the MSV gives yearlong access to special exhibitions, benefits, and so much more!

See All the Gift of Membership Benefits
Printable Benefit List

Frequently Asked Questions

Upon purchase of a gift membership, the MSV assembles a gift package that includes a welcome letter, membership cards, and an MSV Now calendar of events. The purchaser has the option to have the package mailed directly to the recipient or to receive the package to their own address. The latter option is popular around the holidays for in-person gifting.

If the gift membership recipient has an active membership, the gift membership will extend their current membership by a full year. If the gift membership recipient is a new member or has a lapsed membership, the gift membership will expire 365 days after purchase. For example, a gift membership purchased on December 5th, 2021 will expire December 5th, 2022.

While we can’t alter the fulfillment and mailing timeline of 10-14 days, we recommend that if you would like to delay the delivery, you choose “Send to Me” at checkout, in lieu of “Send to Gift Recipient.” That way, the package will be delivered to you to mail or hand deliver at the perfect time!

Gift a Membership

Questions on your Membership?

Please contact the Membership Department at Membership@theMSV.org for any MSV Membership inquiries, or call 540-662-1473, ext. 213.

Information for Donors

The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley reports on and celebrates the financial standings of our exhibitions and Collections, educational programming, and general operation activities. The release of the annual report provides information on the fiscal year, July 1 through June 30 and is available for download below, along with the 990 IRS filing and Financial Report. The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

 

FY 2022–23 Annual Report (PDF)

Download

FY 2022 Financial Report (PDF)

Download

FY 2022 Form 990 (PDF)

Download

For information, please contact Associate Director of Annual Giving Jennifer Sweetapple at jsweetapple@theMSV.org or 540-662-1473, ext. 211.

Donor Privacy Policy

The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) is committed to respecting the privacy of donors. The types of donor information that it collects and maintains are as follows: contact information to include name, address, telephone number and email address; giving information including information on events attended, publications received and special requests for program information; and information provided by the donor in the form of comments and suggestions. The MSV uses donors’ information to understand their interests in its mission and to update them on the organization’s plans and activities. This information is shared with staff, board members, volunteers and consultants only on a “need-to-know” basis. The organization also assures donors that their names and addresses will not be shared with any third party unless permission has been granted. If you have comments or questions about the MSV’s donor privacy policy, please contact Senior Director of Institutional Advancement Laura Wiley at lwiley@theMSV.org or 540-662-1473, ext. 217.