A well-researched and strategically targeted collections plan guides the acquisitions activity of the International Quilt Museum. The museum's Acquisitions Committee directs the growth of the collections. Committee members are guided by a collections plan, which outlines the collection's strengths and weaknesses. This helps committee members identify priority areas for collecting, as well as areas where the center has significant representation. Acceptance of a quilt is determined by a majority vote of Acquisitions Committee members.

Decisions are based on documentation of the quiltmaker, date and location made, the historic value of the quilt, the fit of the quilt in the collection, the condition of the quilt and the outlined collecting goals.

The museum has expanded its art and international collections in recent years. Telling the global story of quilts is an important part of our mission. We are building a collection which reflects quilt making traditions from around the world.