Ways to Give 
Thank you for your interest in supporting Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens. We have listed some giving suggestions below. Lake Katherine greatly appreciates the generous gifts of our donors. With community support, Lake Katherine will continue to offer quality environmental education programs, care for the animals in our wildlife center, and provide the resources necessary for land management and restoration.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens is a registered public charity under section 501(c) 3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Donations made to Lake Katherine are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.
There are many ways you can make a tax-deductible gift to Lake Katherine:
Make a secure online gift.
Mail a Donation
PO Box 100,
Palos Heights, IL, 60463-0100
Matching Gifts
Many companies will double or triple employees' charitable contributions.
Shop to Help
You can help support Lake Katherine simply by doing your regular grocery shopping! Click on the link above for information.
Honorary and Memorial Gifts
Honor family, friends, or teachers or remember the legacy of a deceased loved one by making a gift to Lake Katherine.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens has created two lasting ways to honor or memorialize a special person
Planned Giving
Planned gifts include bequests, wills, and gifts of life insurance and retirement plans.
Special Event Sponsorship
Event sponsorships are a great way to increase visibility of your company while supporting Lake Katherine.
Become a Monthly Donor
Lake Katherine has implemented a new online system to offer supporters an opportunity to make a recurring gift. Lake Katherine will securely process your donation each month and you will receive an automatic receipt monthly by email for tax purposes. Click here and select the frequency of your recurring gift on the donation form.
Matching Gifts
Many companies will double or triple employees' charitable contributions.
You can make your donation to Lake Katherine go further if your employer or your spouse's employer offers a matching gift program. Here's how:
Contact the human resources department at your company to see if your employer has a matching gift policy. If they do, ask for a matching gift form and instructions.
Complete the employee portion of the form and send it along with your donation to:
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens
Attn: Matching Gift
PO Box 100,
Palos Heights, IL, 60463-0100
Gifts of Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds
Stock gifts provide an immediate income tax deduction and are not subject to capital gains tax.
If you have stocks or bonds which have appreciated in value, you may want to consider using them to support Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens.
Honorary and Memorial Gifts
Honor family, friends, or teachers, or remember the legacy of a deceased loved one by making a gift to Lake Katherine. Consider giving a meaningful gift that will be a tribute to a friend or loved one.
- Memorial donations are a special way to honor the memory of a friend or loved one who appreciated the natural splendor of Lake Katherine.
- Honorary donations can be made for numerous occasions, including retirement, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and graduations.
- Tree and Bench Dedications are two ways to create a lasting legacy.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens will acknowledge your gift to your honoree or the family of the deceased. Contributions can be in any amount
Making Honorary and Memorial Gifts
When an honorary or memorial gift is made at Lake Katherine, we notify the honoree or his or her next of kin. Any form of gift, such as one made through the transfer of stocks or through an outright cash donation, may be given in honor or memory of someone.
Mail an Honorary Gift
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens
PO Box 100,
Palos Heights, IL, 60463-010
Please include the name and the address of the honoree and, if you wish, the specific reason or occasion for the gift.
Online Honorary Gifts
Lake Katherine has partnered with JustGive.org to offer supporters an opportunity to make online gift in honor of that special person. Click here and fill out the “Dedicate my donation” box on the donation form. JustGive.Org will securely process your donation on behalf of Lake Katherine and you will receive an automatic receipt by email for tax purposes.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens
PO Box 100,
Palos Heights, IL, 60463-010
Please include the name of the deceased and the name and address of the next-of-kin you would like to notify about the gift.
Online Memorial Gifts
Lake Katherine has partnered with JustGive.org to offer supporters an opportunity to make online gift in memory. Click here and fill out the “Dedicate my donation” box on the donation form. JustGive.Org will securely process your donation for Lake Katherine and you will receive an automatic receipt by email for tax purposes. They will also, if you choose, send an email to a family member of the deceased to notify them of your gift.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens has created two lasting ways to honor or memorialize a special person. By dedicating a tree or a bench, there will always be a special place for you and your loved ones to enjoy the splendor and the beauty of Lake Katherine. A bench or tree can be dedicated in memory of someone special, to commemorate an event or special achievement or honor a friend or family member.
There are two methods of dedicating a tree:
- The first is selecting an existing tree on the southern side of Lake Katherine for $500.
- The second is planting a new tree which is factored at two times the cost of the tree, or a minimum of $500.
Donors may request a specific type of tree and/or location, but the final decision will depend on the needs of Lake Katherine.
A marker listing the type of tree and your special message will be placed in front of the tree.
There are also several methods of dedicating a bench
- A donation of $1,000 places a commemorative plaque containing your special message on an existing bench on the grounds of Lake Katherine.
- A donation of $2,000 places a commemorative plaque containing your special message on a new bench in a location agreed upon by the donor and Lake Katherine.
- There are also opportunities for benches in existing and new gardens under development. Further information on costs and locations are available on request.
Please contact Lake Katherine (708) 361-1873 to find out more about dedicating trees and benches.
Planned Giving
Planned gifts include bequests, wills, and gifts of life insurance and retirement plans. While each planned gift is different, these gifts can offer significant financial or tax benefits while ensuring that future generations will enjoy the splendor of Lake Katherine.
Your planned gift to Lake Katherine is a great way to leave a lasting natural legacy for generations to come. While not intended as financial or legal advice, this information is a general guide about some planned options.
Wills and Bequests
When writing a will, you have the opportunity to remember the Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens as one of the beneficiaries of your estate.
Using the right words is important when you write or revise your will. If you decide to include Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens in your will, here is some sample wording:
Percentage
"I give, devise and bequeath to Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, 7402 W. Lake Katherine Dr., Palos Heights, IL 60463, _____ % of my estate."
Dollar Amount
"I give to Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, 7402 W. Lake Katherine Dr., Palos Heights, IL 60463, $ ________."
Specific Property
"I give, devise and bequeath to Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, 7402 W. Lake Katherine Dr., Palos Heights, IL 60463, (describe the property)."
Residue of Estate
"All of the residue of my estate (or specify percentage) including real and personal property, I give, devise and bequeath to Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, 7402 W. Lake Katherine Dr., Palos Heights, IL 60463."
Life Insurance
When your needs change and you no longer feel you need a life insurance policy, designating the Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens as the beneficiary or sole owner of your insurance policy is an easy, tax-efficient way to give. After your lifetime, the benefits from your policy pass to Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens free of federal estate taxes.
Retirement Plan
Naming the Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens as the sole beneficiary or one of beneficiaries of your retirement plan is a simple way to support Lake Katherine. In addition, the proceeds would be tax free for Lake Katherine, whereas the income may be taxable for your family.
Information provided here is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Please consult qualified financial and legal advisers before making a planned gift.
Special Event Sponsorships
Lake Katherine’s special events attract thousands of visitors of all ages each year. Event sponsorships are a great way to increase visibility of your company while supporting Lake Katherine.
Sponsorship opportunities range from $100 to $15,000, with a variety of benefits – many of which are of special interest to businesses and corporations.
Contact Bridget Provost at (708) 361-1873 or bridget.provost@lakekatherine.org for more information. For a list of current sponsorship opportunities click here.
Photo courtesy of Paul Dacko
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