How to Donate to or Support the Society of American Mosaic Artists

Updated

The Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) accepts support through two clearly labeled paths on its website: a Donate link and a Ways to Donate page. Both appear in the site's main navigation, alongside Join/Renew, Membership, and Contact. If you want to give money, start with Ways to Donate; if you want to give time, expertise, or in-kind support, use the Contact page to ask what is currently needed. The site does not publish specific dollar amounts, payment platforms, or whether donations are tax-deductible, so confirm those details directly with SAMA before committing.

What SAMA Says It Uses Support For

The site's navigation and page structure point to the programs that member and donor support funds:

  • Exhibitions — including Mosaic Arts International (MAI) and its archive of past years (2025, 2024 in Detroit and Kansas City, 2023 in Buffalo, 2021 virtual, 2019 in Nashville, and earlier).
  • Scholarship Program — listed under Membership.
  • Publications — Mosaic & Glass Magazine, Groutline archives, exhibition catalogs, Mosaic City Guides, and the Behind the Mosaic podcast.
  • Member programming — the Andamento blog, Featured Members, Open Member Gallery, and Members in the News.
  • Regional Groups & Mosaic Art Communities and Instructors, Workshops & Schools under Resources.

Because these are the areas the organization publicly presents, they are the most reasonable places to direct a gift if you want your support tied to a specific activity.

Ways to Give

1. Direct donation

Use the Donate link in the main menu. This is the most direct route. The site does not state accepted payment methods or whether one-time and recurring gifts are both possible, so treat the Donate page as the place to find the actual form and options.

2. Read "Ways to Donate" first

The Ways to Donate page exists specifically to explain giving options. Check it before donating if you want to know whether there are named funds, memorial gifts, planned giving, or employer matching. If the page does not answer your question, the Contact page is the next step.

3. Membership as a form of support

Join/Renew and Membership are separate from donating but still fund the organization through dues. The Member Benefits page explains what members receive. If your goal is ongoing support rather than a one-time gift, membership may fit better.

4. Higher-level support: Visionary and Patron Members

The site lists Visionary and Patron Members as a distinct category. This is the closest thing to a published giving tier. The site does not state the contribution level or benefits attached, so ask SAMA directly if you are considering this route.

5. Non-financial support

  • Volunteer or contribute content — the Andamento blog publishes "Stories and News from our Members," and Members in the News and Featured Members highlight individual contributions.
  • Partner in the Arts / Business Member / Vendor — these categories under Resources and Membership suggest ways for organizations and businesses to support SAMA. Contact SAMA to ask which applies to you.
  • Spread the word — sharing exhibitions, the podcast, and publications supports the mission without a payment.

A Practical Sequence

  1. Open Ways to Donate and read the options.
  2. Decide whether you want a one-time gift, recurring support, or membership.
  3. If you want a named or higher-level role, check Visionary and Patron Members and then use Contact.
  4. If you want to support a specific program (scholarships, exhibitions, publications), say so when you contact SAMA.
  5. Keep a record of your gift for your own files, since the site does not publish receipt or tax information.

Common Sticking Points

  • No published amounts or payment details. The site shows that donation paths exist but not what they cost or how payment works. Do not assume any amount is suggested or required.
  • Donate vs. Join. These are different actions. Donating does not automatically make you a member, and joining is not the same as a charitable gift.
  • Tax status unclear. The site does not state tax-deductibility. If that matters to you, ask before giving.
  • Login may be required for some actions. A Login link appears in the navigation, but the site does not specify which actions need an account. If a form asks you to log in, that is expected rather than an error.

The most reliable next step is to visit Ways to Donate, then use Contact for anything the site leaves open.