Your Gifts are Essential

​Thank you for your interest in supporting the Garden Club of Virginia. The Garden Club of Virginia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1920, and is Virginia’s oldest environmental organization. Contributions are tax deductible and support the conservation of Virginia’s natural resources and the funding of historic landscape and garden restorations.

How is the GCV serving Virginia?

The GCV restores historic landscapes and public gardens across Virginia and supports environmental projects in communities across the state, as it has for 100 years. Currently, GCV members are preserving habitats, promoting waterway health, and decreasing river bank erosion at sites along the James, Rappahannock, Maury, Nansemond, Potomac, Lynnhaven and Elizabeth Rivers. The GCV partners with Monticello to restore Jefferson’s mountaintop landscape, and plans are underway to begin garden restorations at Belmont in Fredericksburg. Continuing projects include: Poplar Forest in Lynchburg, Green Spring in Alexandria and the historic Henry County Courthouse in Martinsville. ​

You may choose to support GCV’s general mission or you may designate your gift to sustain the endowment, to restore historic gardens, to support conservation initiatives and more. Every gift is important to the mission. Support and further GCV’s mission in the way that best fits your individual financial plan.

Annual Fund

GCV’s Annual Fund was established in 2009 and helps support daily operations for staffing, projects and programs management, accounting, finances, communications, and more. Member dues cover only a portion of the budget needed to maintain effective and responsive operations of our statewide organization.  This fund creates a stable base of support for the business of GCV and helps to keep member dues low; provides for enhanced communication via the GCV website and for publications such as the Journal and Year in Review; assures current technology; offers guidance and direction for Historic Garden Week; and help and support to member clubs. Be a yearly supporter of the Annual Fund. Donors for three or more consecutive years are recognized as “Perennials.”  And we all love those steadfast bloomers!  

Levels of Support

Alpine Garden $5,000 - $10,000
President’s Parterre $1,000 - $4,999
Boxwood Maze $500 - $999
Healing Garden $250 - $499
Annual Border ​$100 - $249

GCV Endowment

The GCV Endowment was established in 1998 and might be described as the fund to grow on whereas the Annual Fund could be described as the fund to live on.  The Endowment is set aside to provide on-going support to the organization through limited use that is carefully monitored and wisely budgeted to protect the corpus for long term furtherance of the GCV mission well into its second century of service.

Common Wealth Fund

This fund was established in 1979 and gifts annual grants to support and promote the community projects of members clubs with areas of focus in conservation, beautification, horticulture, preservation and education. Its name is plays on Virginia’s designation as a Commonwealth and was intended to describe the wealthin nature that is common to all Virginians.  

Conservation Fund

This fund supports several conservation efforts. 

  • Advocacy - As an early advocate of protecting the environment, GCV stands today in support of a number of current legislative efforts in the Virginia Assembly including bills to address climate change and coastal resiliency, clean energy opportunities, conservation and protection of natural resources, preservation of historic viewsheds, and more.  
  • Educational programming - GCV holds an annual Conservation Forum to educate and inform the membership and public on best practices and individual impact with recycling, use of compostable products, management of run off, limiting fertilizers and pesticides, use of organic products, planting and propagating natives, and more. 
  • Fellowships – The Conservation and Environmental Studies Fellowship was established in 2014 to support college level research projects in areas that directly impact Virginia.  

Restoration

GCV’s Annual Historic Garden Week (HGW) provides funding to restore landscapes and gardens of historical interest across the Commonwealth. The first restoration was in 1929 at Kenmore in Fredericksburg with proceeds from the signature HGW event.  There have been more than 50 such projects and each garden is now open to the public. Funding also supports two fellowships in landscape architecture, designed to provide graduate level students the opportunity to document historic landscapes.

Other Designated Funds

In addition to these 5 primary funds, there are also other designated funds to address specific programs, restoration and preservation work such as preservation of the Kent Valentine House, Virginia State Parks, and more.

Make your gift today!

Online: Complete the form below in a safe and secure transaction.

Check: Print a contribution form and mail your check to The Garden Club of Virginia, 12 E. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219.  Make your check out to the Garden Club of Virginia and designate how you would like your gift used, i.e. annual fund, endowment, conservation fund, restoration fund.

Planned Giving: Planned Giving offers the donor a way to make substantial gifts without depleting income or retirement assets while also reaping significant tax advantages.  Will bequests, insurance beneficiary designation and gift annuities are some planned approaches. A planned gift also distinguishes one as a member of the Green Arrow Society. Named for one of GCV’s enduring and familiar symbols, this is a group of loyal members, past members, and friends who have pointed the way to a 2nd century of service with their planned gifts.  

Stock Transfer: Gifts of stock are fully tax deductible and based on the fair market value of the stock on the date it is transferred to GCV.  To initiate a transfer, notify your broker or bank that you would like to donate the stock to GCV and have them contact us for detailed instructions.

IRA Transfer: If you are 70-1/2 years or older you can make a gift through your IRA payout. The Charitable IRA Rollout allows you to give up to $100,000 each year to a charity of your choice.

Matching Funds: Your employer may match your annual charitable contribution. The Garden Club of Virginia is a 501(c)(3) organization and so eligible to receive matching funds from corporations. If you or your spouse’s company participates in a matching gift program, make your gift to the GCV today and coordinate a matching gift with the company.

The Garden Club of Virginia is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and gifts are tax deductible