Ways of Giving
There are a variety of ways to make a financial gift to Selby Gardens. You can become a member, make a financial contribution, honor a loved one with a memorial gift, or include the Gardens in your estate plans. However you choose to give, you will be helping us to protect the legacy Marie Selby gave to Sarasota – a garden “for the enjoyment of the people.”
- Donations
- Memorial
- Stewards of the Earth
- Chairman's Circle
- Corporate Support
- Planned Giving
- Matching Gifts
- FAQ
In addition to being a world-class botanical garden, Selby Gardens is also a non-profit organization that relies on a variety of funding sources to carry out its mission. In the spirit of giving and with the love for gardening embodied by Marie Selby, the mission of the gardens is to further the understanding and appreciation of plant life and to provide enjoyment for all who visit the Gardens.
A gift to the Gardens supports this effort in a variety of ways. It helps ensure that our living collection continues to thrive, and that the Gardens experience is a rich and rewarding one for every visitor. Gifts fund salaries for world-class researchers; pay operating costs; and ensure the health and longevity of the Gardens. As we look to the future, we are more dependent than ever on your support and enthusiasm in order to continue to inspire a passion for gardens, plants and botanical science.
How Can I Contribute?
(1) Selby Garden's Online Donation Form
(2) Phone (941)-366-5731 x231
(3) Mail us your printed form (bottom of page)
(4) Visit our Welcome Center at 811 South Palm Avenue
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Through a contribution to the Gardens, you can honor a loved one’s memory or pay tribute to a special person. A memorial in the Gardens offers a quiet place for reflection in our lush tropical setting on Sarasota Bay. We have an array of opportunities to choose from. For more information, please contact the Development Office at (941) 366-5731, ext. 224
Tribute and Memorial Gifts
Non-designated donations in any amount in the name of a loved one are always appreciated and greatly aid the Gardens by providing income toward our operating expenses. Your contribution is fully tax-deductible and will be recognized in our newsletter, the Tropical Dispatch. You may designate a relative or friend to receive notification of your gift.
Brick Walkway in the Butterfly Garden
Honor a loved one or special occasion with an engraved brick that will become a permanent part of the Gardens, on the walkway surrounding our Butterfly Garden. Your brick can be engraved with names, dates, places, or personal messages. Purchasing multiple bricks gives you more space to create the perfect message. A single brick is available for a donation of $250. Two bricks are $225 each, and three or more bricks are $200 each. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Contact the Development Office at (941) 366-5731, ext. 224 for more information.
Memorial Benches
Memorial benches are a beautiful way to honor a loved one’s memory. Picture yourself resting in a peaceful setting, reliving happy memories and cherished moments as you enjoy the calm and serenity of the Gardens. Your personal message will be inscribed on a plaque that is affixed to the bench. Benches are available for donations of $3,000 and are designated for the life of the bench. Contact the Development Office at (941) 366-5731, ext. 224 for more information.
Memorial Trees
Create a living memorial by purchasing a tree at the Gardens. Your tree will be labeled with an attractive plaque recognizing your loved one, a brief inscription, and the species scientific and common names. Your donation is fully tax-deductible and the designation is valid for the life of the tree. Contact the Development Office at (941) 366-5731, ext. 224 for more information.
Memorial Services
Many people choose to hold memorial services in the Gardens. For more information, please contact our Events Department at (941) 366-5731, ext. 230 or visit the private events area of the website.
Cremains Policy
You may want the Gardens to be your loved one’s final resting place. Our Director of Horticulture will choose an appropriate place, and you will be notified when the process is complete. A $500, tax-deductible donation is required. Please note: cremains will be distributed at the Gardens’ discretion, and not as part of a memorial service.
For more information on any of these options, please contact the Development Office at (941) 366-5731, ext. 224.
Stewards of the Earth is Selby Gardens’ premier membership program. Stewards share a common vision: to discover and preserve wild places, to cultivate a reverence for the living world, and to generously support the mission of the Gardens. Exclusive benefits include invitations to special events and exhibits; discounts on facility rentals; behind-the-scenes tours; and free admission for an unlimited number of guests when you accompany them to the Gardens. With an annual contribution of $1,000 you can become part of a very dedicated group of individuals whose support sustains Selby Gardens’ programs. Please consider joining us as a Steward of the Earth. For more information, please call the Development Office at (941) 366-5731, ext. 266. You may also become a steward of the Earth online.
$1,000 Defender
- Free admission for an unlimited number of guests when accompanied by a member
- 20 Guest Passes to share with family and friends (value $340)
- 10% discount on weekday rental of the Mansion or Great Room by the Bay (subject to availability)
- Two complimentary tickets to a select Selby Gardens special event.
- 10 free distribution plants at our annual Members’ Day in November
- Subscription to the Tropical Dispatch (published three three times per year)
- 10% discount in The Garden Shop
- Recognition in the Tropical Dispatch
- Invitations to special events and exhibits
$2,500 Protector
- Free admission for an unlimited number of guests when accompanied by a member
- 20 Guest Passes to share with family and friends (value $340)
- 10% discount on weekday rental of the Mansion or Great Room by the Bay (subject to availability)
- Four complimentary tickets to a select special event.
- 10 free distribution plants at our annual Members’ Day in November
- Subscription to the Tropical Dispatch (published three times per year)
- 10% discount in The Garden Shop
- Recognition in the Tropical Dispatch
- Invitations to special events and exhibits
$5,000 Guardian
- Free admission for an unlimited number of guests when accompanied by a member
- 20 Guest Passes to share with family and friends (value $340)
- 10% discount on weekday rental of the Mansion or Great Room by the Bay (subject to availability)
- Private guided tour of the Gardens for four people, hosted by the CEO (arranged on request)
- Six complimentary tickets to a select special event
- Two tickets to the annual Orchid Ball gala
- 10 free distribution plants at our annual Members’ Day (annually in Fall)
- Subscription to the Tropical Dispatch (published three times per year)
- 10% discount in The Garden Shop
- Recognition in the Tropical Dispatch
- Invitations to special events and exhibits
$10,000 + Champion
- Free admission for an unlimited number of guests when accompanied by a member
- 25 Guest Passes to share with family and friends (value $425)
- Up to a $1,000 credit toward one weekday rental of the Mansion or Great Room by the Bay (subject to availability)
- Private guided tour of the Gardens for four people, hosted by the CEO (arranged on request)
- Four complimentary tickets to a select special event
- Two tickets to the annual Orchid Ball gala and to the Orchid Ball Patron Party
- 10 free distribution plants at our annual Members’ Day in November
- Subscription to the Tropical Dispatch (published three times per year)
- 10% discount in The Garden Shop
- Recognition in the Tropical Dispatch
- Invitations to special events and exhibits
The Chairman’s Circle is an opportunity for Selby Gardens’ most dedicated contributors to provide annual support for one or more Gardens activities about which they are especially passionate. The Chairman’s Circle supports the activities that are the bedrock of Selby Gardens’ mission:
- Botanical research that adds to the body of knowledge about the world’s dwindling wild places
- Education and interpretive programs that deepen our visitors’ understanding and appreciation of nature
- Care and display of our unparalleled collection and the lush tropical foliage that makes Selby Gardens one of Sarasota’s greatest escapes
- Artistic expression – music, dance, visual arts, theater, and more – in one of our community’s most magnificent outdoor settings
- Inspiring children to become the future stewards of our planet
By sponsoring this important work, Chairman’s Circle supporters ensure that one of our most treasured local resources continues to flourish and grow. An annual gift of $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 or more admits each contributor to an exclusive group of donors who enjoy an insider’s view of one of Sarasota’s cultural gems.
Chairman’s Circle donors join a community of supporters who want to ensure that the things they value most about the Gardens endure. Chairman’s Circle supporters also have the opportunity to direct their contributions to underwrite one or more of Selby Gardens’ cornerstone activities: Botanical Research, Education and Interpretation, Horticultural Display and Collections Care, and Artistic Expression in the Gardens.
There are four levels of Chairman’s Circle sponsorship:
- Benefactors at $2,500 to $4,999 – sponsorship of one cornerstone activity
- Patrons at $5,000 to $9,999 – sponsorship of two cornerstone activities
- Co-Sponsors at $10,000 to $19,999 – sponsorship of three cornerstone activities
- Sponsors at $20,000 and up – sponsorship of all the Gardens’ cornerstone activities
For more on the types of gifts and the benefits they can bring, please call the Development Office at (941) 366-5731, ext. 266.
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There are several ways for your business to support the Gardens.
Event Sponsorship
Membership
Volunteer
Book your next Meeting or Event at the Gardens
Create a lasting legacy by remembering Selby Gardens in your estate plans. Planned giving helps maximize the tax benefits of your charitable giving, while providing a gift you may not have thought possible. Regardless of age or income, you can benefit from estate planning, and a planned gift can be an important tool in your overall financial strategy.
There are many ways to provide a contribution to the Gardens, while enhancing and safeguarding your own financial situation. Examples include bequests:
- Gift Annuities
- Charitable Trusts
- Retirement Assets
- Life Insurance Policies
For more information, please contact your financial advisor, or the Development Office at (941) 366-5731, ext. 266.
Joe and Rogene's Story
Joe and Rogene Maher loved talking about plants with Kevin Walker, who worked weekends for many years in the Selby Gardens Welcome Center. “He was so knowledgeable. And he liked to be there at the Gardens – it wasn’t just a job. If it wasn’t too busy, he’d jump right off his stool and say, ‘I gotta show you this!’ and he’d take us out to see some fascinating plant.” Kevin has since passed away, but Joe and Rogene are still frequent visitors—and they recently decided to include Selby Gardens in their wills.
Joe and Rogene agree that this bequest is a gift from their hearts. When they thought about the places that mattered most to them, Selby Gardens was the one they wanted to remember in their wills. “It’s a jewel in the middle of the city,” says Joe.
The Mahers are now Founding Members of the Marie Selby Legacy Society, which recognized them—along with Marie Selby and many other legacy donors—at its first annual luncheon in November, 2011. Becoming a member is easy: just let us know that you plan to make a future gift to Selby Gardens. You can do so in your will, through an insurance policy or retirement plan, or using more modern mechanisms, some of which pay an instant return on your investment in the Gardens.
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. Some companies match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses. If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer, and send it completed and signed with your gift. We will do the rest. The impact of your gift to the Gardens may be doubled or possibly tripled!