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Giving
As a nonprofit organization, the National Steinbeck Center depends on contributions from donors like you to ensure the preservation of the Museum for generations to come. Your support helps to inspire, educate, and cultivate curiosity through the work of John Steinbeck.
Give a gift today to help ensure a vibrant future for the National Steinbeck Center.
To donate by mail, please send your contribution to
The National Steinbeck Center
1 Main Street, Salinas, CA 93909
For questions please email info@steinbeck.org
Or Donate Online Today!
With events and programs each year and visitors from over 74 different countries sponsorship of the National Steinbeck Center is an effective way to gain community and national visibility while supporting one of the country’s top literary museums.
Corporate sponsorship opportunities provide cross-promotion and marketing opportunities, as well as benefits for your employees and clients. These may include discounted or complimentary Museum tour admission, discounted tickets to events and programs, VIP access, and more.
If you or your organization is interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, please email info@steinbeck.org
What Legacy do you wish to leave for future generations?
Planned Giving is an excellent opportunity to protect assets for yourself and those you love. It’s also a great way to give back to your community and create a legacy that reflects your life’s work, your values, and your commitments.
There are many ways to leave a personal or family legacy to help sustain the National Steinbeck Center for future generations, while at the same time providing individual and family (or other beneficiaries) with significant tax benefits.
A gift that is given through your will or trust. Special tax considerations may mean you can provide for your family and still leave a significant legacy gift.
These include charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and others. You can enjoy a steady income for your lifetime and benefit the National Steinbeck Center later. All or a portion of this income can be tax-free, depending on your age.
Including a gift of a remainder interest in a home where you live.
Donate Stocks and Securities. Making a donation of publicly listed securities and mutual funds to the National Steinbeck Center is an easy giving option that also provides the opportunity for tax savings. You’ll see the results of your gift today, receive a tax receipt for the value of your gift, and be exempt from capital gains tax.
Donate from your Registered Retirement Savings Plan or Registered Retirement Investment Fund. Your estate will receive a charitable donation tax credit and the funds are not subject to probate.
Estate planning involves important decisions. The National Steinbeck Center wants you to feel secure knowing your family’s legacy of care will continue for years to come.
We strongly encourage you to seek professional legal, estate planning and/or financial advice when making decisions about your gift to the National Steinbeck Center. If you should have any questions please email info@steinbeck.org
Membership
JOIN US!
When you become a member, not only will you enjoy the benefits of visiting the museum, but you become part of something really special! Together, we promote John Steinbeck’s legacy and expand upon his ideas. As a member, you play a critical role in our ability to advance our education programs, which improve literacy and critical thinking skills for thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students every year.
Member Benefits
- 10% Discount in the Museum Store
- Discounts on events, public programs, education workshops, and lectures
- Free admission to Exhibition Openings
- Invitations to “Members Only” events
- Early bird invitations to special events
MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
Teacher
$
35
- 1 Membership Card
- 1 One-Time Guest Pass
Individual
$
50
- 1 Membership Card
- 1 One-Time Guest Pass
Dual/Family
$
75
- 2 Membership Cards
- 2 One-Time Guest Passes
Virtual
$
30
- Exclusive Custom Curated Online Content
Virtual Add-On
$
20
- Available addition for any membership level
Join Our Premium Circle of Members and Really Make A Difference!
View the full list of participating NARM museums that are included
with your Premium Membership!
- 2 Membership Cards
- 2 One-Time Guest Passes
- Invitations to exclusive “member-only” previews and receptions
- NARM Reciprocal membership 1000+ museums nationwide*
- 20% Museum Store Discount
- 4 Membership Cards
- 4 One-Time Guest Passes
- Invitations to exclusive “member-only” previews and receptions
- NARM Reciprocal membership 1000+ museums nationwide*
- 20% Museum Store Discount
- 10% off Gift Memberships
- 40 Minute Archive Showing (by appointment)
- 6 Membership Cards
- 4 One-Time Guest Passes
- Invitations to exclusive “member-only” previews and receptions
- Recognition in Annual Report
- NARM and ROAM Reciprocal memberships 1000+ museums nationwide*
- Invitation to exclusive Insider Talks
- 40 Minute Archive Showing (by appointment)
- 20% off gift memberships
- 20% Museum Store Discount
- 6 Membership Cards
- 4 One-Time Guest Passes
- Invitations to exclusive “member-only” previews and receptions
- Recognition in Annual Report and on NSC website
- Invitation to exclusive Insider Talks
- NARM and ROAM Reciprocal memberships 1000+ museums nationwide*
- 40 Minute Archive Showing (by appointment)
- VIP Invitation to exclusive “Meet the Artist “previews and receptions
- 20% off gift memberships
- 30% Museum Store Discount
- 6 Corporate Membership Cards (unlimited use and they are transferable)
- 20 Complimentary One-Time Passes ($300.00 value, adult general rate)
- Recognition in Annual Report & on NSC Website
*Reciprocal Benefits: National Steinbeck members at the Literary Circle level and higher may enjoy free admission to more than 1000 museums throughout Canada and the U.S. through the North American Reciprocal Museums (NARM) program, and at the Publisher’s Circle Level and higher also include Reciprocal Organization of Associated Members (ROAM) program. Reciprocal benefits vary at each participating museum. We recommend calling ahead or visiting the program websites to verify the institution’s participation status before visiting to ensure policies and benefits have not changed.
What is a Virtual Membership?
The National Steinbeck Center is excited to announce the launch of its Virtual Membership, which offers a content-rich, interactive way to experience the Center from anywhere in the world! Take a deeper dive into the museum’s private archival collection, go behind the scenes, view new exhibitions from our arts and culture gallery, access historical photos and clips from the audio-video library and more.
Additionally, through your Virtual Membership you’ll be supporting the preservation of the National Steinbeck Center’s nationally and internally recognized collection, and the growth of innovative programming and educational outreach initiatives.
Our Virtual Members will receive an email every Monday that grants them private access to exclusive members only content, and an online Virtual Membership Portal is currently in the works to further enhance your virtual membership experience.
Become a part of the National Steinbeck Center’s global community for just an annual membership fee of $30 to begin enjoying exclusive benefits and privileges created just for you! Contact us at membership@steinbeck.org for more information.
Contact us at membership@steinbeck.org or (831) 775-4721 ext: 106 for more information.
eMembership
eMembership Cards
The National Steinbeck Center is excited to introduce eMembership Cards as a benefit of Membership! Please see answers to frequently asked questions below. Additional questions can be directed to membership@steinbeck.org or (831) 775-4721 ext: 106.
eMembership Card FAQ's
You will be able to access your Membership card in the eMembership Card app or your smartphone wallet. Follow these few, easy steps:
1. In your mobile app store, search for and download the “eMembership Card” app. Download from the Apple App Store here. Download from the Google Play Store here. 
2. Open the app. Tap the magnifying glass in the top right corner and search for “National Steinbeck Center”. Click on the National Steinbeck Center icon. 
3. Click “Find my Membership Cards,” then enter your phone number or Membership ID to locate your card. You can then add these cards to your smartphone wallet app or access it directly through the eMembership Card app.
4. When you arrive at the National Steinbeck Center, open the eMembership Card app and click “Show My Cards” or show the card in your smartphone wallet. Your Membership card will pop up on the screen with the barcode.
If the family member is listed as the second adult on the Membership, they can download the eMembership Card app and follow the same procedures to locate their card. Children’s names will not be on digital cards, but the total number of children is listed.
Open the eMembership app and click “Show My Cards.” If it does not pop up on the screen screen, please contact the Membership department at (831) 775-4721 ext: 106 to help resolve the issue.
The eMembership card replaces your paper Membership card. Show your digital card at any of our Museums when you arrive. All Museum Members can use the app to access their Membership cards at partnering NSC Reciprocal Museums.
You can also use the digital card to check on your Membership expiration date and to verify what adult names are listed.
Yes, we will verify the name on your Membership card matches your photo ID.
Yes! The eMembership card will automatically update when your Membership information changes. For example, your expiration date and Membership level will automatically update the next time you renew or upgrade. This means that you only have to download the card once!
When visiting other Museums, you can pull up the eMembership app, click “Show My Cards” and access your Membership card with the NSC logo. The participating Museum will process your admission with the published benefits.
Yes! Please contact us at membership@steinbeck.org or (831) 775-4721 ext: 106 and we will resend the email. You may also want to check the junk/spam or unwanted folders of your email.
Please contact us at membership@steinbeck.org or (831) 775-4721 ext: 106 to request a printed Membership card.
To verify we have the correct information, please reach out to our Membership department at membership@steinbeck.org or (831) 775-4721 ext: 106.
Careers
The National Steinbeck Center is a museum and non-profit dedicated to the legacy of Salinas-born, Nobel-Prize winning author John Steinbeck. The NSC museum runs cultural and literary programming year-round and welcomes thousands of visitors both locally and internationally to its museum. We are a close-knit, inclusive team that works hard to fulfill our mission and make every visitor’s experience memorable.
There are no employment opportunities at this moment, but if you should have any questions please email info@steinbeck.org
Volunteer
An organization is only as good as its volunteers! To join our volunteer team, fill out our Volunteer Application. To submit applications or to request more information, email info@steinbeck.org
Volunteer Application or Youth Volunteer Application: Please email education@steinbeck.org
Please see a list of available volunteer opportunities below:
Steinbeck Young Authors Writing Coach
Now Accepting Applications for the Day of Writing 2025
We are always recruiting Volunteer Writing Coaches for the Steinbeck Young Authors Program. To learn more about the Volunteer Writing Coach position, please email education@steinbeck.org
Docent Tour Guide
Currently Accepting Applications
Greet and guide visitors through our interactive exhibits and lead thematic tours.
Education Assistant
No Longer Accepting Applications
Work closely with the Education team to create and implement educational programming for students and visitors.
Exhibit Technician
No Longer Accepting Applications
Aid the Exhibits Curator with the installation and de-installation of exhibits as well as exhibit maintenance and care.
Archives Assistant Researcher
No Longer Accepting Applications
Assist with the research, inventory, and organization of the Center’s archives collection.
Events/ Front Desk Assistant
No Longer Accepting Applications
Participate in the setup and breakdown of events at the center, assist front desk staff, and promote upcoming events and programs.
Internships
The National Steinbeck Center offers internship possibilities to emerging museum, library, and non-profit professionals who are interested in the Center’s mission to build community and celebrate creativity, inspired by the words of John Steinbeck. Internships are all unpaid and offered during spring, summer, and fall. All potential applicants should have a basic knowledge of John Steinbeck, his contributions to literature, and the context of Salinas and its history to be considered.
Requirements for Applying
- Ages 18 or older
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate student, or recent grad at an accredited college or university
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Have strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, ability to follow directions and be able to stay on task to complete projects independently
How to Apply
- Complete the online application (use the link on the existing site) and indicate which internship opportunity you are interested in
- Submit a resume including relevant courses and/or experience
- Submit a cover letter detailing your desire for the position and the trajectory of your anticipated course of study or career
- Include at least 2 references’ contact information in the cover letter
If you have questions about the intern application process or any of our current opportunities, please email info@steinbeck.org
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1 Main St, Salinas, CA 93901
831.775.4721
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