Membership

LGNC Endowment Fund

Thanks to numerous donations, memorial gifts, bequests, leaf tile sponsorships, designation of Thrivent Dollars and Amazon Smiles purchases, quilt raffle proceeds, and a major donation to the Endowment Fund from an anonymous source, the LGNC Memorial/Endowment Fund now exceeds $1 million in value. We have reached our medium-term goal for the Fund, and now have our sights set on a long-term goal of $2 million. The current Board and staff are very interested in building a sufficient endowment fund to ensure the long-term sustainability of Lehigh Gap Nature Center. Donations go to the main endowment fund unless designated for one of our two special sub-funds – Internship and Arboretum/Gardens. The Internship sub-fund supports our internship opportunities, particularly support for our long-standing Autumn Hawkwatch Internship on the Kittatinny Ridge at Bake Oven Knob. The Arboretum/Garden sub-fund has been established in support of our nascent arboretum, on the West/East Penn/Bowmans side of our property, and the habitat gardens surrounding the Osprey House.

Anyone can help build the Endowment Fund by making donations in memory or honor of family members and friends. Please consider naming the Lehigh Gap Nature Center as the charity of choice for memorial donations, or to honor someone on a birthday, holiday, or special occasion. We accept memorial gifts online or you can send a check or contact us to make a gift in person.

Individuals can obtain significant tax benefits from donations of such items as appreciated stocks, real estate, whole life insurance policies or other valuable assets that would be taxable if sold or redeemed by the owner. You may also want to talk with us about charitable remainder trusts and other planned giving opportunities that allow you to donate assets in return for a lifetime annuity. A couple who are members of LGNC recently informed us that they have set up a trust and that the Nature Center will receive the capital invested in 2020.

Planned Giving

Another way of helping the financial needs of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center is to include our organization in your will. Donations can include anything of value such as real estate, stocks and bonds, works of art, or coin and stamp collections. Suitable language could include the following: “I give, devise and bequeath to the Lehigh Gap Nature Center (Wildlife Information Center, Inc.), a nonprofit corporation exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), whose present address is PO Box 198, Slatington, PA 18080-0198, the sum of $______ and/or (specifically describe property).” Or you may decide to designate a percentage of your estate as a bequest to LGNC.

Endowment Fund donations are gifts that permanently help generate income for the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s operations. This is one of the most important ways you can help LGNC — donate to the endowment fund now and/or make a bequest to us in your will. Thank you for your support!

Corporate Giving

Aside from purchasing a Business Membership (which we offer in our online store), there are many ways in which business owners might show their support for conservation through Lehigh Gap Nature Center:

• Donate funds through the EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) Program to support LGNC’s educational programming
• Host business meetings and retreats at LGNC
• Complete a group volunteer project
• Arrange a guided hike or nature walk for your group
• Make a gift to support a special project or program
• Have another idea? Give us a call and let’s talk!