THE FERNWOOD FUND
Unrestricted operating income is essential each month of the year. Contributing to the Fernwood Fund directly supports our education and community engagement programs, impacting more than 5,000 students and educators annually. Your gift provides important resources for the maintenance and growth of the gardens, arboretum, prairie, and preserve and the care and maintenance of our facilities and guest amenities for nearly 30,000 annual visitors.
Revenue from admissions and sales from our Gift Shop cover only a portion of our $1.4 million operating budget. Charitable contributions to the Fernwood Fund help balance our budget and maintain our financial health and stability. This annual campaign provides funds that may be used where they are needed and matter most.
Give to Grow: Your Gift Unlocks $5,000 on Giving Tuesday!
This Giving Tuesday, December 2, 2025, your generosity can make a significant impact on Fernwood Botanical Garden. We’ve been offered an exciting challenge:
When we receive gifts from 25 brand-new donors—online or in person—an anonymous donor will match with a $5,000 gift!
That’s right, your first-ever gift to Fernwood can help secure an additional $5,000 to support the gardens, trails, and educational programs that welcome and inspire thousands each year.
Who Counts as a “New Donor”?
Anyone who has never made a gift to Fernwood before—including members! If you’ve enjoyed the gardens, visited with family, attended a program, or simply believe in the power of nature to connect us, this is the perfect moment to make your first donation.
Every Gift Helps Fernwood Thrive
While this challenge focuses on new donors, we warmly welcome and sincerely appreciate all gifts on Giving Tuesday. Every single contribution—new or returning—helps advance Fernwood’s mission:
To welcome and inspire all to explore, discover, and connect with nature and one another.
Your support strengthens our conservation efforts, enhances our visitor experiences, and ensures that Fernwood remains a place of beauty, discovery, and community for generations to come.
Be One of the 25 Who Make a Big Difference
Help us meet—and exceed!—our Giving Tuesday goal. Your gift today will help grow Fernwood’s future.
Donate at fernwoodbotanical.org/donate on December 2 and help unlock $5,000 for the garden we all love.
Theresa M. Richter Internship Fund
Support Fernwood’s educational efforts and summer internship program in horticulture, natural areas management, education, and marketing. Your gift keeps Fernwood growing!
“I am very thankful for the opportunity that I have had to be both a Marketing Intern (Summer 2024) and Horticulture & Education Intern (Summer 2023) at Fernwood Botanical Garden. As an intern at Fernwood, I was given the opportunity to receive hands-on experience, serve my local community and environment, and explore my interests for my future career path. I grew in my knowledge of marketing, horticulture, visitor services, and education while also growing as a young adult by working with an incredibly supportive staff and volunteer base that makes up this nonprofit organization. Donations to the Internship Fund truly help make the wonderful experience that I have had interning at Fernwood possible for other students like myself!
— Sarah Jannings, Saint Mary’s College ND ‘25
ADDITIONAL GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Memorial & Tribute Gifts
Support Fernwood while honoring a loved one, paying tribute to a friend, or marking a special occasion. Click here for more information and to make a memorial or tribute gift to Fernwood.
Stock Gifts
A gift of appreciated securities is an easy and mutually beneficial giving opportunity for individuals who wish to make a charitable contribution to Fernwood and minimize capital gains taxes on securities that have appreciated significantly in value.
IRA Gifts
If you are 70 ½ years old or older, you can use a simple way to support Fernwood and receive tax benefits in return. You can give up to $100,000 from your IRA directly to Fernwood without paying income taxes on your gift.
In-Kind Gifts
Fernwood relies on products and services for many programs and our daily operations. In-kind support lowers Fernwood’s expenses. Please contact us if you have a product or service that would benefit Fernwood’s operations.
Endowment Gifts
You can help Fernwood remain strong into the future by making a financial contribution to the Fernwood Endowment Fund. Special designated gifts also can ensure that Fernwood’s summer internship program will remain strong in perpetuity.