Support the Arboretum
Your generous support will help the Scott Arboretum to delight, inspire, and educate the public with beautiful horticultural displays and educational programming. Please see below for information about specific giving opportunities.
Please contact the Scott Arboretum Offices for additional information. You can charge a gift by phone, call us at 610-328-8025 or e-mail scott {at} swarthmore (dot) e d u.
Membership to Scott Associates
Support the Arboretum by becoming a member of the Scott Associates.
ShopforMuseums.com
The Scott Arboretum is excited to announce its involvement as a Museum Partner with ShopforMuseums.com . As a Museum Partner, anyone shopping online with their favorite national retailers can have a portion of their purchase directed the Scott Arboretum at no additional cost.
Honorary Gifts and Memorial Dedications
You can make a meaningful gift that will be a lasting tribute in honor or in memory of someone.
These honorary and memorial gifts can be a dedicated tree, a dedicated bench, an adirondack chair, or contribution to our library book purchasing fund.
The Gertrude Wister Society
The Scott Arboretum established the Gertrude Wister Society in 2003 to honor donors who have chosen to support the Arboretum through a bequest in their will or through a planned gift during their lifetime. Gertrude Wister was the assistant director of the Scott Arboretum for thirty years. Her contributions of time and resources to the Scott Arboretum during her life helped nurture the Arboretum to its current beauty. Her 2001 bequest valued at $480,000 significantly contributes to the continued health of her beloved Arboretum.
As a Gertrude Wister Society member you will enjoy the following benefits:
- Satisfaction of being a part of the Arboretum and supporting its mission.
- Recognition in a special section of the Year in Review, our annual report.
- Invitations to special Arboretum Events held especially for our donors.
- An acknowledgment gift honoring you as a member of the Gertrude Wister Society.
Planned Gifts & Bequests
Providing a bequest to the Scott Arboretum is a meaningful way to ensure that its variety of plants and many specialized programs continue to grow and thrive.
Bequests from Gertude Wister and others who loved the Arboretum have helped form the basis for the Arboretum's current endowment. Endowment funds supporting horticultural endeavors currently generate over $850,000 a year for operating support.
The Arboretum uses planned gifts as you designate. If you specify a bequest be treated as endowment, the funds will be invested and will grow over time.
You may tailor a bequest to fit your individual needs and wishes and may save substantial amounts in estate, gift, income, and capital gains taxes while supporting the Arboretum.
How to make a Bequest
You may make an unrestricted bequest to allow the gift to be applied where the need is greatest. You may also earmark a bequest for a specific cause, such as endowment funds for a specific garden or special project. Funds of $50,000 or greater may be named and managed as separate funds; gifts of less than $50,000 specified as endowment will be added to existing restricted Arboretum endowment funds. If you are considering restricting your gift, we would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your ideas and the language you plan to use before you finalize the gift to ensure your aims are realized.
It is important to give your attorney our full name and address, as well as specifying that the gift is to go to the distinct mission of the Arboretum. An example of appropriate language follows:
"I bequeath the sum of $__ (or __% of my residuary estate) to the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College located at 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081, for its distinct mission as determined by the Director of the Scott Arboretum."
If you have already made a bequest to the Scott Arboretum or would like additional information, please contact Claire Sawyers, Director of the Scott Arboretum at 610-328-8025 or via e-mail at scott {at} swarthmore (dot) e d u.
Annual Giving Appeal
Another opportunity to support the Arboretum, in addition to membership dues, is to contribute to the Annual Giving Appeal. Funds given to the annual appeal may be designated for a project such as our internship program, or building fund for a new facility. Members automatically receive the annual appeal mailing; to receive annual appeal information as a nonmember, please call our office at 610-328-8025 and ask to be placed on our mailing list.
Evenings in the Arboretum Appeal
You may support the Evenings in the Arboretum program during its direct appeal or at the concertsl. Contribute as an individual or business. Advance donors are recognized in the programs for the concerts held in the Scott Arboretum Ampitheater in June, July, and August.
Special Friends of the Plant Sale
Help make the biggest fund-raising and educational event sponsored by the Scott Associates a success by becoming a Special Friend of the Plant Sale. In recognition of your support in underwriting the costs of the sale, you will be invited to the Special Friends of the Scott Associates' Plant Sale preview reception. To learn more call 610-328-8025 or contact scott {at} swarthmore (dot) e d u.
Education Center and Greenhouse Building Fund Donations
In 2004, on the occasion of the Arboretum's 75th Anniversary, we unveiled plans for the future: Construction of a new Education Center and Greenhouse.
The original greenhouse is an aging facility which is no longer adequate to serve our educational and horticultural needs. The Scott Arboretum staff is working with Archer & Buchanan Architectures, Ltd., to design the new facility to fulfill our potential. Fund raising for this project is anticipated to continue to 2010. As of mid-2006, over $950,000 has been raised towards the goal of $2.5 million.
Matching Gifts
If you work for a company that matches charitable gifts, please submit a matching gift form to add to the impact of your gift.