The Hellenic Maritime Museum depends directly on the donations and sponsorships it receives in order to cover its operational expenses, enrich its collections, improve its building facilities, promote its activities, organize publications and events and finally promote its scientific and educational actions.
Many benefactors and donors have supported the Maritime Museum from its foundation till today. A characteristic example is the fact that the present building as well as the greatest part of the collections comes from donations. All donors and donations are published (unless the donor wishes otherwise) in the Quarterly Journal “Periplous of Maritime History” and their names are entered in the Museum’s donors book.
According to the donor’s wish each donation can be characterised as offered to the memory of a person as a way to acknowledge their contribution.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Museum needs only inform the Board of their intention orally or in written.
The Maritime Museum needs the following types of sponsorships-donations in order to be able to continue with its action undisrupted:
• Money donations.
They are the key source of income for our institution and they contribute substantially and directly to the smooth financial operation. Money donations –sponsorships are acceptable from natural and legal entities, banks, companies and foundations. They can be given as a form of general financial support or, after special arrangements with the Board, they can cover a specific need or action of our institution. Examples are:
- Purchase of objects for the enrichment of the Museum collections.
- Covering the expenses of a temporary exhibition
- Covering the expenses for the creation of a particular educational programme.
- Covering the salary of one or employees of the Museum or even the wages of temporary
staff hired for the implementation of a particular programme.
- Technical building Maintenance.
- Expenses for the preservation of part of the exhibits
- Expenses for the creation of a publication
• Object donations.
These donations have been the basic and for many years the only way to enrich the collections, archives and library of the Museum.
After being delivered to the Museum the objects are registered in the record book and the database. They then undergo a preservation process, if necessary and they are exploited depending on scientific research.
The entry log for incoming objects includes an explicit description of the way they came to the Museum’s possession and the donors personal data. The donor then is informed of his/her donation’s entry code. If the donated articles are displayed or published, the donor’s name always appears at the annotations depending on the donor’s wish.
In the case of a donation of a large collection which will be valued for its great artistic or historical value, the Board examines the possibility of organizing a special event in honour of the donor.
• Donations of real estate or movable property.
The Maritime Museum accepts donations of real estate such as pieces of land, apartments or detached houses which it either sells or exploits to the follow its objectives. It might also use them to house certain services. With regard to the time and manner in which the person interested wishes to make the donation, the donor should better contact the Museum’s legal advisor in order to settle the legal issues which will occur.
An equally important contribution to the operation and the purposes of the Museum are donations of movable property, such as bonds, shares or intellectual rights, which, can be exploited as far as the law and the character of its operation as a non profitable organization permit it.
• Donations in kind
The free service or provision of material which have been occasionally contributed, have been an equally important help for the daily operation of the Museum.
For example:
- Offering expendable supplies or printing services
- Technical building and material maintenance
- Free insurance services
- Provision of personal computers and software
- Provision of catering services or a temporary provision of equipment to cover the needs of
particular events.
- Free promotion in the media.
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