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Donate to the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens

There are many ways people can contribute to the continuing success of the Iowa Arboretum. Every donation counts! Your donation helps support the Arboretum so it can continue to be a garden treasure for generations to come.

Other Ways To Give

Help us Build a Legacy

Your Support Makes a Difference

Iowa is not known for its trees but trees are an important part of the Iowa landscape. Currently, trees are being impacted by intense weather events, habit changes, and a growing population. The Arboretum’s role is to grow, preserve, and educate others about the importance of trees and how they improve one’s quality of life.

There are many ways to become involved with the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens. Become a member, volunteer, or donate to a specific project or need. Your support preserves one of Iowa’s great resources for future generations to enjoy.

Ways to Be Involved

Purchase an Arboretum Membership – Support the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens while receiving fantastic benefits that include free admission, discounts in educational programs and the gift shop, quarterly newsletter, and reciprocal benefits at other public gardens throughout the United States.

Sponsor an Event or Educational Program – Promote your business or let people know how much you support the Arboretum.

Garden Sponsorship – Honor your family or business by adopting a specific garden. A sign with your family or business name/logo will be installed in the sponsored garden. This is an annual fee program.

Memorial & Honorarium Sponsorships – Honor or remember a family member, friend, or special occasions with an engraved brick, tree, medallion, or bench.

Endowment Fund

Contributing to the Iowa Arboretum Endowment Fund is an excellent way to provide long term support to the Arboretum. The Endowment Fund is an investment fund established to grow annual income and support general operations. The Endowment Fund is overseen by the Endowment Committee which has experience with managing investments. All donations to the Endowment Fund must be specifically designated. The Endowment Fund is essential to the sustainability of the Arboretum.

Major Gifts

Major gifts are the largest gifts received by the Arboretum during the calendar year and help fund important projects, programs, and activities. Major gifts can fund capital improvements related to the master plan, new trees & gardens, equipment for maintaining the grounds, and educational programming. Major gifts help to improve the overall visitor experience.

Endow Iowa Fund

State legislators passed innovative legislation to create the Endow Iowa Tax Credit program to promote gifts to qualified permanent endowments and provide sustainable support to Iowa nonprofits. Endow Iowa Tax Credits may be available to donors who make qualified gifts through a qualified Iowa community foundation and their affiliates. A variety of gifts qualify for Endow Iowa Tax Credits including cash, real estate, farmland, appreciated securities, and gifts of retirement assets. Any size gift qualifies for Endow Iowa Tax Credits. Endow Iowa Tax Credits are available on a first-come/first-serve basis until the yearly appropriated limit is reached. If the current year’s tax credits have been exhausted, qualified donors are eligible for the next year’s Endow Iowa Tax Credits. All qualified donors have five years to use their Endow Iowa Tax Credits.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD’s)

Consider making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). Individuals who are 70 1/2 years old or older can donate up to $100,000 total to a qualified charity like the Arboretum directly from a taxable IRA as part of their required minimum distributions (RMD). There may be tax advantages available to donors. Check with your personal tax and financial advisors.

Consult your tax and/or financial advisor for additional specifics related to QCD’s.

Gifts of Stock

Please share the Arboretum’s broker contact information with your personal broker if you wish to give a gift of stock. For more information on providing an estate gift, contact the Executive Director at 515.795.3216.

Estate Gifts

Planned giving enables you to leave a legacy and meet your estate planning needs. It provides long-term financial stability for the Arboretum. For more information on providing an estate gift, contact the Executive Director at 515.795.3216.

Employer Gift Match

Your employer may have a policy of matching your gift to the Arboretum, though policies vary by employer. Contact your employer’s human resources department with questions. The Arboretum’s federal tax identification number is 42-6122889.

Other Gifts

Real estate, grain, life insurance, charitable remainder trust, and other tangible assets are great ways to support the long-term sustainability of the Arboretum. Contact the Executive Director at 515.795.3216.