Membership
We encourage all individuals who believe in the mission of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center to show their support by becoming a member. Individual membership levels begin at $25, and business memberships begin at $50 annually. Please visit our online store to join online or download and mail in a printable mail-in membership form (.pdf file) with your tax-deductible dues and contributions.
As a member of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, you will enjoy several benefits of membership, including:
- Invitations to exclusive members-only events and priority registration for all events
- Discounts on all items in our nature shop and all program fees
- Email notifications about events
- Our unique membership magazines or newsletter*
- The satisfaction of supporting our nationally recognized conservation and education work!
*Friends receive our newsletter; all other levels receive Wildlife Activist and American Hawkwatcher magazines.
Other Ways to Give
Volunteer
Many of our members choose to actively give to the center by contributing their time, expertise, skills and resources to LGNC. These efforts are highly valued, and are important and critical to the success of the center and we welcome and encourage active member involvement in out activities at all levels. Examples of some of the numerous volunteer opportunities that our members choose to become involved with include:
- Participation in LGNC Cleanup Days
- Leaders of Nature Walks and Workshops
- Trail Maintenance and Improvements
- Design, Planting and Maintenance of the Habitat Gardens
- Organization and Assistance with LGNC Public Events
For more information on volunteering, check out our volunteer page.
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.
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.
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
Ways to give:
- 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!
Purchase membership or make a donation online
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