The University of Arizona Gem & Mineral Museum contributes to tourism by bringing globally renowned scientists to Tucson, centering the University in the Earth sciences universe and unifying the mineralogy community that revolves around it.
There are a number of ways you can help support the Museum.
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations help us share our collection with the public, preserve and care for our collection, improve our educational programs, enhance, expand and maintain our exhibits and purchase new specimens.
Donations by Mail
Please make checks payable to:
The University of Arizona Foundation -GMM
and addressed to:
The University of Arizona Foundation
P.O. Box 210109
Online Donations
Secure online donations can be made at the University of Arizona's Foundation website.
Specimen Donations
Specimen donations help us to improve our collection with better or different examples of minerals from new and diverse localities. If you would like to donate specimens, please contact our Curator, Susan Leib at sleib@arizona.edu.
Alfie and Allan Norville Endowment
Alfena Norville (Alfie) was widely known as Tucson's Diamond. She was the founder and catalyst, in 1993, for the Gem & Jewelry Xchange Show (GJX). At a time when there was serious talk of Tucson losing the gem show, her vision and foresight provided key elements and an outstanding venue for the globe's top gem dealers. GJX is now the leading wholesale gem and jewelry show and showcases many of the world's finest dealers in gems and jewelry.
The love that Alfie had for the Tucson Community was exemplified by her numerous philanthropic endeavors and volunteer work. For all of these reasons it is appropriate and fitting, to carry on and respect her memory, that Tucson's new state-of-the-art gem & mineral museum be named in her honor. The Alfie and Allan Norville Endowment supports the ongoing operating costs of the museum.
The Arthur Roe Micromount Collection and Memorial Endowment for Conservation and Education
A master micromounter, Arthur Roe started collecting micromounts – which are collections of very small specimens – almost 90 years ago and was inducted into the Micromounters Hall of Fame in 1983. The children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Arthur and Barbara Roe made the commitment to establish the endowment in Arthur Roe's name. The endowment will support expanded research opportunities, development of educational programming, specialized training for graduate and undergraduate students, and staffing for cataloguing and maintaining the collection.
The Bob Jones Fund for Youth Education and Outreach
Bob Jones spent a lifetime educating children as a teacher, mineral collector and author. It all began with a school field trip in 1936, where Bob saw the mineral exhibit at Yale University. The Bob Jones Fund for Youth Education and Outreach at the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum has been created to provide school age children the same opportunity to be inspired by experiencing museum exhibits, hands-on activities, and tours, tailored to their school curriculum and age-appropriate development. You may support Bob’s legacy by making a tax-deductible donation to the fund.