Membership

As a Member of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), you will provide direct support to the NMAI so that the museum can fulfill its mission to celebrate, preserve, and perpetuate the Native cultures and communities of the Western Hemisphere.

Annual dues begin at just $25, and all NMAI Members receive a one-year subscription to our exclusive, full-color quarterly publication, American Indian, as well as discounts on purchases at NMAI museum stores, and at the Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe. Additional benefits vary according to the level of support, and we invite you to choose a category of membership that represents the degree to which you wish to support the National Museum of the American Indian.

Please join or renew your existing membership online or by calling Member Services toll free at 1-800-242-NMAI (6624). You can also fax or mail your dues using our printable form.

Member Benefits & Levels

Golden Prairie Circle (individual membership) | $25

  • NMAI Member Card
  • A subscription to NMAI's full color, quarterly publication, American Indian
  • Free admission to the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (present your NMAI Member card)
  • Recognition on NMAI's Roll of Members and Donors, displayed electronically in the Washington, D.C., museum
  • A 10% discount in NMAI and Smithsonian Museum Stores*
  • Member alerts for museum programs, including films, music, art, and more
  • A portion of your contribution is tax-deductible

Riverbed Circle (individual membership) | $35

  • All of the above PLUS
  • A Certificate of Appreciation, suitable for framing
  • Monthly program updates mailed to members in the Washington, DC (DC, MD, VA) and New York (CT, NJ, NY) regions
  • Wall calendar featuring highlights from the museum's collections and exhibitions

Everglades Circle (dual/family membership) | $50

  • All of the above PLUS
  • Second NMAI Member Card, which includes all benefits of membership
  • Child's gift certificate, redeemable when you visit an NMAI Museum Store

Sky Meadows Circle | $100

  • All of the above PLUS
  • Enamel NMAI lapel pin, made exclusively for members
  • An invitation to a special welcome event for new members

Boundary Waters Circle | $250

  • All of the above PLUS
  • An annual invitation to a members-only presentation by a distinguished NMAI curator, scholar, or expert
  • A 10% discount at NMAI museum cafes and select Smithsonian dining facilities

Desert Sands Circle | $500

  • All of the above PLUS
  • Private tour of the museum in New York or Washington, D.C. (scheduling required)
  • Annual recognition in American Indian, NMAI's quarterly publication

Director's Council of Friends | $1,000

  • All of the above PLUS
  • A copy of the NMAI publication Do All Indians Live in Tipis? Questions & Answers from the National Museum of the American Indian when you join
  • Invitation to an exclusive annual Director's Council of Friends event
  • A 20% discount in NMAI and Smithsonian Museum Stores*
  • A $500 per person discount off one Smithsonian Journeys trip**

Director's Council of Friends | $2,500

  • All of the above PLUS
  • Sterling silver lapel pin, custom designed by renowned artisan Ray Tracey (Navajo)
  • Gift Membership in the Sky Meadows Circle for a family member or friend
  • Recognition in the Smithsonian's Annual Report

*Discount is good only on purchases up to $200. Discount valid only in select Smithsonian Museum Stores.
**Offered to one member and one travel companion on same tour booking, one time only. Not combinable with other offers. Nontransferable Must be a direct booking with Journeys. Does not include private jet or tailor-made tours. Membership benefits are subject to change.

Membership Level Names: The indigenous peoples who first inhabited the Americas, from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego, respected and protected the land. In recognition of this special relationship to natural surroundings, our categories of membership have names that are evocative of the prairies, riverbeds, everglades, meadows, boundary waters, and deserts of the Western Hemisphere.

The Wellspring Society

If you would prefer to support the NMAI with monthly donations instead of annual membership renewals, please consider joining the Wellspring Society of NMAI Membership. Wellspring Society Members designate a specific amount—as little as $8 or as much as $50 or more—to be automatically deducted from their banking account or charged to their credit card by NMAI each month. Since this type of membership never expires, Wellspring Society Members never receive renewal notices. Please visit our Wellspring Society page to learn more.

How you can increase the size of your gift: Many companies will match their employees' contributions to the NMAI. Please inquire with your Human Resources office and submit a matching gift form with your membership donation.

The NMAI occasionally exchanges the names and addresses of its donors with other reputable organizations. By allowing us to exchange your name and address, you will be helping to encourage the support of new donors in a cost-effective manner. If you do not wish your name and address to be exchanged, please notify Member Services.