Ways to Help – an explanation of options

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View the Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center’s Donor Policy.

How can you help?

The joy and laughter of a birth, birthdays, weddings, and graduations or the tears and emptiness that mark the passing of those we cherish are milestones of our lives that deserve to be remembered. The Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center provides multiple opportunites for you to get involved as a supporter of the programs and operations. Make a gift to our general fund or to the Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center Endowment Fund.

  • Make a memorial gift in the name of a loved one.
  • Dedicate one of our beautiful Benches ($1,000).
  • Make an honor gift in memory of the event — a birth, marriage, graduation, straight A’s on a report card, or a birthday.
  • Become a Business Partner by supporting an event, a program, or general operations.
  • Help us build a meaningful endowment fund with a Legacy Gift.
  • Become a member of the Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center.
  • Shows your strong belief in our effort with an annual gift.
  • Create your legacy! Add the Friends of Silver Lake to your will to make a bequest.

Memorial Gift: There are two ways to remember a loved one. Donors receive a note of confirmation, and the family of the deceased receives a confirmation of any gift, large or small. If the family/friends desire, gifts can also recognized in our Honors and EcoGarden books. Donate Now.

  • Make a gift to the Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center’s Endowment Fund and it will support the good works of the Center in perpetuity.
  • Dedicate your gift to the EcoGarden Fund. Proceeds from this fund are used to maintain the landscaping around the building.

Honor Gift: Recognize the birth of a child, a great report card, a marriage, a graduate, or any other of a host of reasons to celebrate. There are two ways to remember a special event: a gift to the endowment fund or to the EcoGarden Fund. Donors receive a note of confirmation, and the person being recognized receives a confirmation of any gift, large or small. If desired, gifts can also be recognized in our Honors and EcoGarden books. Donate Now

General Donation: Did you enjoy yourself while visiting SLNC? Do you like what we do and what we believe in? Want to help us reach more people with better programs and services? General donations provvide much needed funds to provide staff, equipment, and program material. Donate Now

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Legacy Donor: To provide for the continued success of the Silver Lake Nature Center, consider making a gift to the Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center Endowment Fund. A gift of $1,000 generates $50 in interest every year. Those who make a $1,000 donation are considered Legacy Members and are recognized as such with annual invitations to our special events like our Fall Fling. Donate Now

Business Partner: Businesses and corporations support our many special events, like the Silver Lake Green Fest and the Annual Pond Tour. They also support programs to schools, underserved audiences, children of the community and our volunteers. Click here to learn more about our Business Partner Program. Donate Now

Member: As a member, you receive discounts on programs and in the store; our quarterly newsletter; advance notice of upcoming programs; and discounts at Nature Centers across the country. Click here to learn more about memberships or to join.

Annual Appeal: Make an annual commitment to support the programs and operations of the Center. About 30% of our members support the Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center with an additional gift to our Annual Appeal. Donate Now.

Endowment Fund: The Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center Endowment Fund has been set up within the Philadelphia Foundation. This non-profit organization manages the fund to maximize return on investment. Each year they can return just the interest to the Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center for use by the Friends as needed. The money within this fund cannot be withdrawn or spent on anything other than the Center. All donations will be maintained for the future growth of the Center and none of the amount bequested will be used for day-to-day expenses.

Bequest: If you have been inspired by your experiences at the Silver Lake Nature Center or wish to help the Center continue to maintain the resources to inspire others, make a bequest to the Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center. Simply designate the “Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center” as a beneficiary in your will: either a fixed amount or a percentage of your estate.  Bequests build the endowment fund from which the Friends take just the interest earned to help with operating expenses.

Click here for more details on Leaving a Legacy!

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Donations are tax deductable to the extent allowed by law.

A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling toll free within PA 1-800-732-0999 or at this link.