Supporting exhibitions, education, and collections through legacy gifts
OKLAHOMA CITY (August 1, 2025)—The Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) is proud to introduce the Nan Sheets Society, a new legacy giving society designed to ensure lasting support for the Museum’s exhibitions, educational programs, and permanent collection. This initiative provides opportunities for donors to sustain the Museum’s mission of enriching lives through the visual arts for generations to come by including OKCMOA in their will or beneficiary plans.
“A legacy gift helps secure a vibrant future for the arts, ensuring that future generations can experience the transformative power of art,” said CC Phenix, Development Officer. “This form of generosity ensures that OKCMOA can continue to be a resource for art and creativity for years to come.”
As OKCMOA celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2025, the Museum reflects on the leaders who helped shape its legacy. Among them is Nan Sheets, a pivotal figure in the Museum’s history. Her leadership and vision for a permanent art institution led to the establishment of the Oklahoma Art Center in 1945, which later became the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Nan Sheets served as the director of the Museum from its inception until her retirement in 1965. During her tenure, she worked tirelessly to expand the Museum’s collection, enhance its educational offerings, and increase community engagement with the arts. Her legacy is evident in the Museum’s continued growth and its status as a cultural cornerstone in Oklahoma City, thus inspiring the name “Nan Sheets Society” for this legacy-giving initiative.
A bequest is often the simplest way for donors to make an impact on the Museum while maintaining control over their assets throughout their lifetime. By including a gift in their will or trust, supporters can designate a specific dollar amount, a particular asset, or a percentage of their estate to go to the Museum. There are many other ways to give to the Museum, including IRA distributions, lifetime gifts of appreciated stock, donor-advised funds, beneficiary designations, and endowments.
To discuss a gift, or to learn more about the many ways to support OKCMOA, potential donors can download the gift commitment form on our website at okcmoa.com/legacygiving, or contact us at 405.278.8227.
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Image Credit: Nan Sheets and Menaggio on Lake Como, 1950. Photo by Ronald Pyer, courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society
