FamilySearch accepts some donations of books and other materials. The Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accepts other materials.
How do I donate literary materials to the FamilySearch Library?
We appreciate your support and interest in the growth of our collection. We accept published, self-published, or privately produced books containing information that supports genealogical research, such as:
- Family histories
- Local and county histories
- Indexes
- Transcriptions
Please review our Gifts and Donations Policy for additional information on our current criteria. Questions about our Gifts and Donations Policy may be sent to books@familysearch.org.
It is our goal to make the donation process as smooth as possible for you. We recommend connecting with us before mailing or dropping off any materials. Sending us the details of your donation helps us confirm it's a good fit for our collection and saves you the cost and effort of sending materials we may not be able to accept. If we wish to receive your donation for further review, we will respond with the next steps and any paperwork needed.
To learn more about donating items to the FamilySearch Library, visit the Library Donations page to submit a Physical Donation Inquiry or Digital Donation Form. You may also reach out to us directly at books@familysearch.org
Where do I find the materials I donate?
Physical donations can be searched in the FamilySearch Library Catalog. Digitized materials can be searched in the FamilySearch Digital Library.
Processing times vary, and it may be some time before your donation appears. If you would like an update on your donation, please contact us at books@familysearch.org.
Can I donate an old missionary journal or other artifact?
The FamilySearch Library cannot accept donations of historical artifacts. Please contact the Church History Department.
How can I donate a GEDCOM file to FamilySearch?
You can upload a GEDCOM file directly to the Pedigree Resource File on FamilySearch.org. Please refer to How do I upload my GEDCOM file?
Can I donate money to FamilySearch?
Yes, you can donate cash or goods. Please visit https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/contribute/familysearch. Under the address fields, click to check the box next to Comments. In the text box, indicate that the donation is intended for FamilySearch.
Can I donate programming skills to FamilySearch?
To donate programming skills, go to https://familysearch.org/developers
What volunteer opportunities are available at FamilySearch?
These are examples of volunteer opportunities currently available:
- Indexing historical records
- Grow the Family Tree
- Improving FamilySearch place-names
- Volunteering in genealogical research
- Translating FamilySearch content
- Testing FamilySearch products
Steps (website)
- Go to Volunteer on the bottom of most FamilySearch screens.
- Click a description of the volunteer opportunity to learn more about it.