Tanglewood Nature Center is a private not-for-profit; we are not a state or county park. That means we depend on every single donation from individuals, families, and businesses in the Twin Tiers and Finger Lakes to keep our nature center open for the community, for education, and for wildlife conservation. Your support is what keeps the animals fed, habitat preserved, and our doors open to everyone, free of charge!
Your contributions matter. We could not do this work without your help! Thank you for all the support.
Animal sponsorships help us to provide food, housing and veterinary care for our animals. It makes a great holiday or birthday gift, Scout or classroom project, or just as a way to support your favorite Tanglewood animal! For a list of animals available to sponsor, and more information.
Current Animal Sponsors
Angus Smart – Pedro the Bearded Dragon
Andrew Erickson – Orville the Turkey Vulture
Audrey Arnold Mitchell – Bernice the Tortoise
Ollie Carroll – Tilly the Chinchilla
Ewan Smart – Furby the Ferret
Eli Butters – Orville the Turkey Vulture
Robert Seymour – Furby the Ferret
Aylen, Eisley, Iliya Shaw – Soraya the Gecko
Kenny Smart – Hissing Cockroaches
Audrey Arnold Mitchell – Hissing Cockroaches
Giada Battisti – Neville the Bunny
In memory of Ellen Hyland – The Butterfly Garden
Gifts of Appreciated Stock – By using stocks, you can conserve cash for other uses and maximize the value of your charitable gifts. You can deduct the fair market value of qualified non-cash property and pay no capital gains tax on gifts of long-term appreciated property (held for at lease a year and a day). This can reduce the cost of making a charitable gift or increase the amount you can afford to give.
Gifts of Retirement Plans – Start your end-of-year gift planning and take advantage of tax-wise giving. If you are age 70 ½ or older, you are typically required to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) from your IRA. These distributions are taxable income to the taxpayer. Current tax law now allows you to make direct transfers (QCDs) from your IRA to Tanglewood Nature Center, and other qualified organizations. The amount transferred is not taxable and will not be counted as part of your adjusted gross income (AGI). This benefits taxpayers who take a standard deduction, and would otherwise not receive a tax benefit for the contribution.
Tanglewood suggests that you consult with your financial institution holding your IRA assets and discuss how QCD’s may be a wise decision.
Bequests in your Will – You can make a gift to Tanglewood Nature Center through your will or a codicil to your will. You can bequeath a specific amount of money, a percentage of estate, or specific property. A bequest enables you to make a legacy gift to Tanglewood, while retaining full control of your assets throughout your life and can reduce estate taxes. Consult your financial advisor for further information on bequests, wills and estate planning.
Charitable Trusts – Charitable Remainder Trusts provide you with an income, a charitable tax deduction and other special benefits. The trust may be a charitable remainder annuity trust or a charitable remainder antitrust. Charitable Lead Trusts are the reverse of charitable remainder trusts in that a stream of income is first paid to Tanglewood Nature Center for a term of years, after which the asset returns to the donor or a named beneficiary.
Life Insurance – You may name Tanglewood Nature Center as owner and beneficiary of a Life Insurance Policy. Donors may also wish to consider gifts of unneeded paid policies.
Endowment – Investment income from Tanglewood Nature Center’s endowment provides critical funding every year. An endowment gift can be designated towards a specific project or as an unrestricted gift for Tanglewood’s most important annual needs.
Gift Acceptance Policy – Gift Acceptance Policy.pdf
Corporate Eagle ($1000+)
Owl ($500-$999)
Hawk ($250-$499)
Falcon ($100-$249)
