Sustaining Our Future: Nearing the $5M Endowment Fund Goal

The Ramble Ribbon Cutting Event

Included in the Growing Boldly campaign is the goal of raising $5M for the Garden’s endowment. These funds are critical to the overall financial health and resilience of New England Botanic Garden and represent a crucial tool to managing organizational risk such as from climate change.  

After raising $500,000 in new endowment funds, Board President, Lisa McDonough and her husband, Neil set up a challenge, called the McDonough Match.  For every dollar raised for the endowment, the C. Jean and Myles McDonough Charitable Foundation would match every gift, dollar for dollar, up to $1.5 Million. We are thrilled to announce the community was inspired to help and the match was recently met! “We are grateful for the McDonough family’s long-time support, leadership and generosity which have made a lasting impression on the Garden and bring us close to the finish line of a major undertaking to strengthen our sustainability,” says Grace Elton, CEO. 

We are $1.5M from our overall endowment goal. Help us fund this gap through a gift today showing your commitment to sustaining the beauty of nature, support for children’s curiosity and exploration, and a peaceful place for all who love this special garden.

100% Raised

To donate please contact Sally Stanton, Manager of Philanthropic Engagement at sstanton@nebg.org, or call 508-869-6111 X 103

Growing Boldly

Growing Boldly is a comprehensive campaign to raise $28M to implement a long-range strategic plan transforming New England Botanic Garden into a world-class garden accessible to all. From capital projects that have reimagined our physical spaces to funding new gardens and investing in a resilient future, Growing Boldly supports New England Botanic Garden as we aspire to do and be more.

To date, the campaign has brought about much needed improvements that are already enhancing visitor experiences and advancing the Garden’s mission.

  • The Next Generation of Environmental Stewards
    Opened in April 2022, The Ramble, dedicated by the McDonough family, offers immersive and playful learning opportunities for children and families. This 1.5-acre garden is designed to be accessible, spark imagination, and teach children about the environment. Engaging kids early fosters their love of nature which fundamentally changes their relationship to the natural world. This has profound implications for both the local and global environment and our collective wellbeing. 
  • Accessibility for Visitors
    New pathways in The Ramble were created using the principles of universal design that meet accessibility standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, including specialized woodchip surfaces in the garden, and 100% water-permeable pathways made of recycled tires. The redesigned Entry Garden wraps an accessible path around the Entry Pavilion, making it easier for people of all mobility levels to go from the parking lot to the Visitors Center. A new boardwalk through Pliny’s Allée, made from native black locust lumber, is also fully accessible. 
  • Enhancing the Visitor Experience
    The parking lot expansion, made possible in part by the Cultural Facilities Fund of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, allows more people to visit, particularly during especially busy times—when the Daffodil Field is in full bloom, summer concerts, or during Night Lights. The Stoddard Visitors Center lobby and the Garden Shop have also been renovated to offer a more welcoming visitor experience. 

We need your support to finish this campaign by year-end!
CEO Grace Elton, says, “It is an exciting time, and we are immensely grateful to all who have invested in the Garden’s future with donations to the Growing Boldly campaign. The tremendous support we’ve received enables our garden to do and be more for our visitors and community. But we are not finished yet! There are naming opportunities and special projects that may be of interest to people who want to get involved. Any gift, no matter the size, will help us complete the campaign by year-end.”