Support FriendsYour generosity enables Friends of Nachusa Grasslands to restore and protect our native prairies, woodlands, and wetlands.
Our mission is to build endowments, fund research, promote stewardship, and protect land at Nachusa Grasslands. |
Giving LevelsSupporter
– $1 to $999 Conservation Champion – $1,000 to $4,999 Restoration Benefactor – $5,000 or more Friends of Nachusa Grasslands has been evaluated by Charity Navigator, the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit evaluator. Friends of Nachusa Grasslands' score is 96%, earning it the highest possible Four-Star rating. If our organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence. |
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Ways to Give
There are many ways to make a gift to protect tallgrass prairie —whether you prefer a direct contribution, a gift from your IRA or Donor Advised Fund, a stock donation, or a legacy gift from your estate. All gifts are used in accordance with your wishes.
Please help our volunteers by letting them know who you are when giving from a Donor Advised Fund, donating securities, or setting up a Legacy Plan. Friends strives to thank all our supporters and keep in touch with them throughout the year. If you send a gift and don’t hear back from us, please contact us.
Give Now - Credit/debit card
To make a gift by credit card or E-Check, please use our secure online giving form.
Become a Recurring Donor by giving monthly, quarterly, every six months, or annually via credit card or E-Check.
To update a recurring donation or ask questions about donating online, please contact Friends ([email protected]).
Give by check
If donating by check or money order, please use this form, make your check payable to Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, and mail it to:
Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
8772 S Lowden Road
Franklin Grove, IL 61031
Designate Your Gift
Fund operations in perpetuity
The Friends Endowment for Nachusa Grasslands and The Nature Conservancy’s Endowment for Nachusa Grasslands support the conservation and preservation of native plants, animals, and natural communities at Nachusa by providing permanent funding of stewardship at the project. Click here for more information on Friends’ endowments.
Fund grassland research in perpetuity
The Friends Endowment for Nachusa Science will permanently provide $40,000 annually toward the Friends grasslands research awards program.
Friends Fund for Science
The Friends Fund for Science supports current research projects at Nachusa Grasslands.
Friends Land Protection Fund
The Friends Land Protection Fund assists The Nature Conservancy with land acquisition costs.
unrestricted gift
Your gift will be used in the area of greatest need.
VOTING MEMBERS AND PRAIRIE PERENNIALS
Become a Voting Member by volunteering 40 hours annually and making a financial gift of your choosing.
Be a “Prairie Perennial” by giving at a consistent or higher level each year. Your generosity will be recognized in our Annual Report.
Estate and Gift Planning
Making a planned gift is a wonderful way to show your support and appreciation for the Friends and its mission while accommodating your own personal, financial, estate-planning, and philanthropic goals. See Heritage Heroes for details on this initiative.
Make a Legacy Gift
Creating a legacy gift will leave a lasting impact on the landscape, but costs nothing today. It’s also an easy way to join the "Heritage Heroes" who have provided for Friends in their estate plans or as a beneficiary of a life insurance or retirement account. Heritage Heroes are recognized in our Annual Report and hold a special place in this community, so please let us know if Friends is part of your estate.
Sample language for your will
To designate Friends as the beneficiary of your will, trust, insurance policy or retirement account, we should be named as Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under laws of the State of Illinois, with the name and address of: Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, 8772 S. Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, IL 61031.
Our tax identification number is 26-3303031.
Our tax identification number is 26-3303031.
create your legacy – Free will-making tool
Most Americans do not have a current will. With this tool, it's easy to create an official legal document. It's free to you and a smart, thoughtful way to shape the future of the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands. This software tool is operated by FreeWill Co.:
https://www.freewill.com/will/basics/personal/get-started
https://www.freewill.com/will/basics/personal/get-started
Give from Your IRA
If you are 70 and ½ years of age, you may make a tax free distribution called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA to a not-for-profit.
What are Qualified Charitable Distributions?
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are funds from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) that can be donated to a nonprofit organization without first recognizing it as income.
QCDs are also sometimes referred to as IRA Charitable Rollovers.
Up to $100,000 in IRA funds can be counted as QCDs annually, or $200,000 for married couples.
QCDs are also sometimes referred to as IRA Charitable Rollovers.
Up to $100,000 in IRA funds can be counted as QCDs annually, or $200,000 for married couples.
Who is Eligible?
If you are above the age of 70 and ½ and have a Traditional IRA, you are eligible to make a QCD.
What are the benefits?
QCDs reduce your taxable income
Normally, funds that are withdrawn from a Traditional IRA count toward your annual income, which will increase your overall tax burden. In some cases, this increase may also move you into a higher tax bracket. However, QCDs are an exception to this rule—funds go directly from your IRA to your chosen charitable organization without needing to be withdrawn, thereby helping you avoid higher income taxes.
Normally, funds that are withdrawn from a Traditional IRA count toward your annual income, which will increase your overall tax burden. In some cases, this increase may also move you into a higher tax bracket. However, QCDs are an exception to this rule—funds go directly from your IRA to your chosen charitable organization without needing to be withdrawn, thereby helping you avoid higher income taxes.
QCDs satisfy Required Minimum Distributions (RMD)
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are amounts that you must withdraw annually from your Traditional IRA once you reach a certain age. As of January. 1, 2023, this age is 73.
If you do not withdraw your RMD, you will face a penalty tax of 50% of the required withdrawal amount. QCDs can be used to meet this RMD requirement and avoid penalties.
Read more about RMDs on the IRS website.
If you do not withdraw your RMD, you will face a penalty tax of 50% of the required withdrawal amount. QCDs can be used to meet this RMD requirement and avoid penalties.
Read more about RMDs on the IRS website.
QCDs maximize your charitable impact
Because QCDs do not need to be recognized as income, charitable organizations receive the full amount of the transfer tax-free.
It’s a win-win situation that both supports you and Friends of Nachusa Grasslands.
It’s a win-win situation that both supports you and Friends of Nachusa Grasslands.
Give Stocks and Securities
Making a gift of appreciated securities can be a great tax-efficient way to support Friends, as you may be able to reduce or eliminate capital gains tax. To obtain brokerage information on donating securities to Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, please submit this form, and we will reply to you from info(at)friendsofnachusa.org.
Note that brokerage companies do not always disclose donors’ names. By notifying us of your plan to donate stock, we will be sure to recognize your gift with a receipt and our thanks.
Note that brokerage companies do not always disclose donors’ names. By notifying us of your plan to donate stock, we will be sure to recognize your gift with a receipt and our thanks.
give from your donor-advised fund
Ask your sponsoring organization to send your gift to Friends of Nachusa Grasslands. Our EIN is 26-3303031.
It's possible your sponsor will not share your information with us. Please send us a note at [email protected] when you've made a gift so we can thank you and ensure that your gift gets to where it is intended.
Note that you can make your DAF gift a recurring one.
It's possible your sponsor will not share your information with us. Please send us a note at [email protected] when you've made a gift so we can thank you and ensure that your gift gets to where it is intended.
Note that you can make your DAF gift a recurring one.
MAKE MATCHING Gifts
Many companies and foundations sponsor matching gift programs for their employees’ philanthropic interests. These entities may be willing to double or even triple the value of charitable gifts made by employees or their spouses. You will be recognized for the full amount of your gift plus any employer match as permitted. Speak with your employer today to learn if you are eligible.
Give an honor or memorial gift
Remember or honor a person, event, or milestone by donating to Friends of Nachusa Grasslands. All honor and memorial gifts will be recognized in our annual report.
In appreciation for leadership gifts, Friends may name a scientific research grant or our annual Science Symposium for your tribute. Please call 708-406-9894 for details.
In appreciation for leadership gifts, Friends may name a scientific research grant or our annual Science Symposium for your tribute. Please call 708-406-9894 for details.
Free Will-Making Tool and Sample language for your will
Most Americans do not have a current will. With this tool, it's easy to create an official legal document. It's free to you and a smart, thoughtful way to shape the future of the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands. This software tool is operated by FreeWill Co.:
https://www.freewill.com/will/basics/personal/get-started
To name the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands in an existing will or one being prepared for you: we should be named as Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under laws of the State of Illinois, with the name and address of: Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, 8772 S. Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, IL 61031.
The tax identification number (EIN) for Friends of Nachusa Grasslands is 26-3303031.
https://www.freewill.com/will/basics/personal/get-started
To name the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands in an existing will or one being prepared for you: we should be named as Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under laws of the State of Illinois, with the name and address of: Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, 8772 S. Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, IL 61031.
The tax identification number (EIN) for Friends of Nachusa Grasslands is 26-3303031.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING OR GIVING IRAS, STOCKS, OR MUTUAL FUNDS?
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, the trusted manager of two of our endowments, can answer questions about all of these methods of giving. Please complete this form, which will go directly to the Foundation. Note that Friends of Nachusa Grasslands does not offer financial advice.
Friends of Nachusa Grasslands is a nonprofit registered 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax identification number is 26-3303031. Your gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law.
UPDATED 12/2025