About Donating a Collection

The Sand Donation Program helps collectors, their heirs and others pass along a sand collection to other collectors and educators so the beloved collection can be appreciated into the future. ISCS does not maintain a sand museum at this time. Donated collections are processed and then distributed directly to members or to educators through our programs. ISCS does not sell collections nor sand. 

You do not need to be an ISCS member to donate a sand collection. Due to logistical considerations, ISCS in only accepting collections within the United States.

For each donated collection, ISCS will photograph some samples from the collection and create a legacy page on the ISCS website to recognize the collection and collector. Please view previous donations as examples. 

About Requesting Donated Sand

Donated sand is only available to ISCS members as a benefit of membership. Being a participant on the ISCS Facebook page is NOT club membership. Learn more about becoming an ISCS member: How to become a member.  

Donated sands are distributed as "lots" as they become available. Members interested in receiving notifications should check "YES" for "Receive Notice of Donated Sands" on their membership renewal form. Available lots will be announced by email to members and via the ISCS Facebook page. Lots will be listed for several days. If multiple individuals request the same lot, the lot will be awarded by a random drawing. 

Sand samples are provided free of charge. Members are only required to pay a shipping and handling fee for lots. 

About the Sand Donation Committee

The Donation Committee is responsible for accepting, handling, and distributing donated sand collections. It decides if the collection is appropriate for ISCS programs, helps the donor get the collection to one of our locations, and then processes the collection and sands for best uses by ISCS. Large samples (jars and bags) are removed from glass containers and broken down into collectable sizes. Samples are set aside for member distribution or educational programs. Lots are prepared and then offered and sent to members.