Ways to Give
Director’s Circle
for annual support
Barratt Society
for annual leadership commitments
1985 Society
for cumulative lifetime giving
Legacy Society
for planned gifts
- Honor or Memoralize a Friend or Family Member
- Take Advantage of Stock Appreciation
- Make Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) from IRAs
- Donate via Your Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
- Endowment Gifts
- Gifts in Kind
Sponsorships
Support your favorite programs or initiatives by becoming a sponsor!
Donate Now
Donate to Support The Bascom
Your support of The Bascom makes it possible for The Bascom to offer free access to state of the art exhibitions, to recruit talented artists as teachers in our arts classes, and to continue vital outreach to the communities of Macon and Jackson counties in partnership with other nonprofits. Through the generous philanthropic support of our donors, we advocate to keep the visual arts a vibrant part of the community and our creative economy.
Make a Donation
All gifts are appreciated! Make your gift securely online, make a distribution from your retirement account, or mail a check to 323 Franklin Road, Highlands, NC 28741. If you wish to transfer appreciated stock, please contact Holly Alligood at 828.526.4949 for instructions. There are many ways to support The Bascom. Feel Free to contact us at 828.526.4949 with any questions.
Join the Director's Circle $1,000 and above
Donors who make gifts of $1,000 or more are recognized as Director Circle patrons. Bascom Membership is included as recognition of your gift.
Each year, we offer VIP Director’s Circle opportunities such as exclusive receptions and sales. All Director’s Circle Donors are offered unlimited 10% discount in The Bascom Shop.
Director’s Circle patrons can choose to support The Bascom with unrestricted gifts, exhibition sponsorships, Three Potters Symposium sponsorship, special event sponsorships, or restricted gifts that are in accordance with The Bascom’s Gift Acceptance Policy.
Director’s Circle Recognition opportunities are listed below:
Join the Barratt Society with gifts of $10,000 and above for three consecutive years and help us meet the Thompson Challenge
Donors who make a three-year pledge of $10,000 or more per year for three years (total of $30,000 or more) are recognized as Barratt Society patrons. Barratt Society donations support the sustainability of The Bascom by offering a renewable stream of donation revenue. Barratt Society patrons are recognized as the most generous members of our Director’s Circle and are invited to attend a special event annually to honor their philanthropic leadership.
Mary and Greg Thompson Challenge
Thanks to a generous challenge gift from Mary and Greg Thompson, The Bascom will receive $75,000 annually once we confirm our annual goal of new Barratt Society members. Your gift and pledge ensures that their vision and investment become a reality.
Director’s Circle - Diamond Level $10,000 and above (current year gift)
- Emphasized Listing in the Annual Report and Donor Board
- Invitation to the Annual Benefactors Breakfast
- Invitations to Special Diamond-Level Opportunities
- Pledges of $10,000 or more per year for three consecutive years are eligible for the Thompson match and The Barratt Society, see details below.
Platinum Level $5,000 and above
- Listing in the Annual Report and Donor Board
- Invitation to the Annual Benefactors Breakfast
- Invitations to Special Platinum-Level Opportunities
Gold Level $2,500 and above
- Listing in the Annual Report
- Invitation to the Annual Benefactors Breakfast
- Invitations to Special Gold-Level Opportunities
Silver Level $1,000 and above
- Listing in the Annual Report
- Invitation to the Annual Benefactors Breakfast
- Invitations to Special Silver-Level Opportunities
Honor or Memorialize a Friend or Family Member
Make a donation to The Bascom in honor or memory of someone you love. Simply include that information with your donation when you make a donation online. All individuals honored will receive notification from The Bascom.
Take Advantage of Stock Appreciation
Transfer appreciated stock to The Bascom and avoid paying capital gains on the stock you transfer. PLUS, you make an impact on the Highlands community by supporting The Bascom's programs. To transfer stock, contact Holly Alligood at 828.526.4949 for instructions on how to transfer stock.
Make Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) from IRAs
Make required minimum distributions from IRAs and other retirement accounts as donation to The Bascom. By transferring your RMD from a retirement account directly to The Bascom, you can avoid increases to your taxable income.
Donate via Your Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
A donor-advised fund is a centralized charitable account that allows philanthropic individuals, families and businesses to make tax-deductible donations of cash or publicly traded stock to their favorite charitable organizations.
If you are considering planned or estate giving, please contact Billy Love, Interim Executive Director for more information on ways to support The Bascom with your estate plans.
The Bascom is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit institute. All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Please consult your tax advisor for more information.
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We at The Bascom believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in art experiences. Scholarships may be available to anyone who demonstrates a need of financial assistance. Full and partial scholarships are offered. Bascom Scholarships are sponsored by the Cullasaja Women’s Outreach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please read the following before submitting your Scholarship Application.
How do I qualify for a scholarship?
Applicants qualify for scholarships in one of two ways:
- Need-Based: For need-based scholarships, students who demonstrate that they do not have the means to cover class tuition qualify. Factors that may contribute to scholarship approval may include the student’s household size, minority status, annual household income, or personal hardship that has affected your financial status.
- Merit-Based: For merit-based scholarships, students are required to submit an art portfolio, statement, and references for review by Bascom staff.
What expenses are covered by scholarships?
Scholarships are applied to tuition fees for workshops and ongoing classes. Students are responsible for any additional expenses, such as meals and housing.
How much scholarship support may I receive?
Students may apply for partial or full student tuition for one or multiple programs. Individuals are allowed to receive a maximum of $650 in total scholarship awards per year.
What do I owe The Bascom in return for my scholarship?
Scholarship recipients do not owe The Bascom anything, except promptness and good conduct while participating in our programs. There is no debt to The Bascom and no work exchange requirement. However, we welcome students to give back to The Bascom by participating in our Volunteer program!
Why am I stuck on the workshop wait list?
Some workshops give registration priority to students who are paying the full tuition amount. In those cases, the scholarship applicant will be placed on the wait list and then contacted two weeks prior to the workshop if there are still spaces available. The best way to ensure enrollment in these classes is to pay the full tuition amount. All workshops have a minimum enrollment number that must be met with students who are paying the full amount before scholarship recipients are allowed to register.
Do I have to provide financial records in order to receive a scholarship?
No, however, applicants applying for more than $200 must provide their annual household income. The Bascom considers annual household income and household size to determine the applicant’s eligibility for a scholarship award.
What is the deadline for submitting my scholarship application?
Scholarship applications are accepted on a rolling basis. They must be received at least two weeks prior to the start of the given program.
How may I contribute to The Bascom’s Scholarship Funds?
Support The Bascom’s students by creating a scholarship fund in your name or in honor of someone you know. Scholarship funds ensure that students of all socio-economic backgrounds are eligible to participate in The Bascom’s educational programs. Scholarship funds may be for general dissemination or they may be reserved for students meeting specific criteria. Examples of restricted scholarship funds are – need-based, merit-based, minority groups, teachers, children, teens, art therapy students, college students, local or regional residents, international students, veterans, and students practicing in a specific medium.
Ready to Apply?
Complete the Online Application
Registration & Participation
Public participation in The Bascom's classes, workshops and other events is encouraged, but some events will require discussion with the instructor prior to approving your registration. This is to ensure you get the most of your Bascom experience. In some cases, an instructor may determine that another opportunity is better-suited to where you are in your artistic journey.
Refund Policy (Updated 2020)
50% of your tuition payment is a non-refundable deposit. In the event that a student requests cancellation prior to 45 days of class/workshop commencement, he/she will be offered a course transfer or refund of 50% of the tuition payment. If a student cancels within 45 days prior to the first day of class, no refund will be made. The Bascom reserves the right to cancel any program that does not meet minimum enrollment, and full refunds will be issued.
Financial Aid
Art classes can be costly, but we do not want financial constraints to prevent you from participating in our educational offerings. That is why we offer need-based scholarships. If you need financial aid, please download the Scholarship Application or contact our Community Outreach Department. Scholarships are generously sponsored by the Cullasaja Women’s Outreach.
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Visit: 323 Franklin Road
Highlands, NC 28741 (Map It)
Call: 828-526-4949 (Main)
828-787-2892 (Ceramics Studio)

This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Learn more at NCArts.org

Funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Learn more at SouthArts.org.

Funding is due in part to a Tourism Grant with Visit Highlands, NC. Learn more HighlandsChamber.org