Giving Back to the Garden for Every Budget
A family makes their way through the Children’s Garden to the Waterway splash pad. Photo by Caroline Martin.
Want to give back to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden? There are many ways to do it, starting at zero dollars! Help us continue to connect people to plants by inspiring communities to explore and conserve nature. Your support enables us to continue being a place of beauty, love and peace. Check out the following options–beginning with no cost to you–and get started!
1. Volunteer – Over 600 volunteers work with staff to contribute to the mission of the Garden. They are necessary for the day-to-day operations — from weeding, planting, and pruning, to welcoming guests, giving tours of our Garden, and helping with community favorite events like Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights and annual Plant Sales. After volunteers earn a certain number of hours, they qualify for benefits in the next calendar year, like a 15% discount in the Garden Shop and Garden Cafe! Learn more about becoming a volunteer.
Sara and Johnny get engaged in the Garden! Photo by Johnny Throckmorton.
2. Share your story – Tag us in your social media posts and share about your visit to the garden! What did you learn? What did you see?
3. Borrow from our Seed Library – The Lora Robins Library offers a Seed Library: a circulating collection of seeds that people can borrow, plant, harvest, save, and—if all goes according to plan—return to the library for others to borrow.
4. Community partners – We’re proud to partner with FeedMore, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Native Plant Society, and many more outstanding organizations. To see the full list, click here. Learning about these organizations, volunteering with them, and supporting their work is a fantastic way to strengthen both our community and our mission.
5. Bring a friend – Bringing a friend to the Garden can unlock a lifetime passion for the outdoors, horticulture, education, etc. The Garden is a top regional attraction and is a hit with out-of-town guests of all ages. Plan your visit today.
6. Purchase a Garden Shop gift card – Our Shop is known for carrying distinctive and finely-crafted items! With an ever-evolving selection through the seasons, you’re sure to find something new with every trip. Pick up items for the home and garden or a fun and educational game for the kids. All proceeds from the Garden Shop benefit the Garden’s mission. Gift cards can also be put towards Garden Membership and/or regular daily admission. You can purchase them in-person at the Garden Shop or order online and have them mailed directly to the recipient with a message! These make especially great birthday and holiday presents.
Families having fun at our Flowers After 5 concert series!
7. Come to our events – Visiting us is one of the easiest ways to continue supporting us! Whether it’s the Fall or Spring Plant Sale, a Flowers/Fidos After 5 concert, or our fan-favorite holiday tradition Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights, there’s always something planned at the Garden. Check out our full calendar of events.
8. Become a member – General Garden membership has so many benefits from daily free visits to discounts on classes, camps, and the Garden Shop. Returning time after time, the membership pays for itself and helps fund the mission-based work of the Garden. Already a member? Consider increasing your membership level for more perks and exclusive invites. Learn more about becoming a member.
9. Gift a membership – Surprise the special people in your life with a gift of membership to the Garden! You’ll be giving experiences for every season – the changing beauty of the gardens through the seasons, nature-based education, holiday celebrations, dining and shopping, butterflies, and more. Treat your loved one to a year’s worth of extraordinary moments in the Garden.
10. Honor a loved one with a tribute gift – Gifts can be made to the Garden in honor, memory, or recognition of the special people and moments in your life! We can notify your friends or family of your kind gesture and your gift is fully tax deductible. Get started here.
Curious campers check out the creek during summer!
11. Make a gift to the Annual Fund – A gift to the annual fund supports our daily operations, from the native landscapes and water stewardship efforts to artist exhibits and nature-based education. Many community households donate to the annual fund to show their generosity for the central Virginia community. Your gift will be put to immediate use where it is most needed. Gifts of cash, check, credit cards and securities are accepted. Gifts of all forms and sizes are welcome and appreciated!
Give $40 for 40! All throughout 2024 we’re celebrating 40 years of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden – and as a nonprofit organization, we rely on the support of members like you to continue our path of success, growth and connection. You can help us flourish in our 40th year by making a $40 gift today!
12. Stock – The Garden accepts gifts of publicly traded stock! As a registered 501c3 organization, you may donate stock to lower your capital gains taxes you would otherwise have to pay if you sold your stock outright to donate the cash. For gifts of stock, the Garden’s DTC# is 0226 and Brokerage Firm is National Financial Service.
PLANNED GIVING
13. Donor Advised Funds – Donor Advised Funds have become increasingly popular because of the ease of administration and abundant tax advantages. Consider setting up a Donor Advised Fund to strategically manage your charitable giving. DAFs are easy to set up and receive immediate tax benefits upon contributions. Once set up, you can recommend grants to support Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Click here for next steps.
14. Charitable Gift Annuities – A charitable gift annuity provides fixed annual payments for life in exchange for a monetary gift to the Garden. The balance is used to support the mission. This donation may also qualify for a variety of tax benefits, depending on funding. Contact us to learn what a charitable gift annuity with the Garden would look like for you!
A couple enjoys lunch at the Garden. Photo by Caroline Martin.
15. Bequest – The easiest way to give nothing now and support the garden through your legacy is by including the Garden in your estate plans through a simple bequest. Receive potential tax savings for your estate by including Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in your will or trust for a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or another type of provision. If you prefer to restrict your gift to a particular program or area of the Garden, please let us know.
16. Qualified Charitable Distributions – A Qualified Charitable Distribution is a direct transfer of funds directly from your IRA custodian paid directly to the Garden. QCDs are a useful tool when planning for strategic philanthropic goals. These distributions exclude the amount donated from taxable income which can lower your taxable income and reduce the impact to certain tax credits and deductions. Learn more about a Qualified Charitable Distribution with the Garden.
17. Beneficiaries – Non-profits like our Garden can be designated as a beneficiary in many property documents such as a fully paid life insurance policy, retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, bank accounts, and other financial products.
As always, consult a tax advisor or another trusted financial planner of your choice before making financial decisions.
Gifts to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, are tax-deductible as permitted by law. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Inc.’s tax ID number is 54-1273467.
For more information about these and additional giving options, please contact:
Chelsea Mahaffey, Director of Planned and Leadership Giving
804.262.9887 x221
[email protected]