Make an Impact for Nature and People in the Capital Region
By donating to Nature Forward, you become a member and an important part of our vision to create
a larger and more diverse community of people who treasure the natural world and work to preserve it.
Nature Forward is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.
As a Nature Forward Member, at any level, you help:
- Support environmental education for people of all ages and abilities - Advocate for important environmental issues locally and regionally - Prepare 25,000 children a year to become the nature stewards of tomorrow - Preserve local habitats for endangered and threatened native species
Frequently asked questions
Is my donation secure?
Yes. Your security and privacy is our highest priority. We use industry-standard SSL technology to keep your information safe and secure.
Do I get a receipt?
Yes, we’ll send a receipt to the email address you provide when donating. The receipt will include your donation details, such as the date, amount, and any beneficiary information.
How is my personal data handled?
Your personal data is processed in accordance with our privacy policy and also in accordance with the privacy policy of GoFundMe, our website partner.
What is changing about Nature Forward memberships?
We're excited to make it easier to become a Nature Forward member, and in a way that recognizes supporters at all levels of giving. With these changes, any 100% tax-deductible gift greater than $5 will make the gift giver a Nature Forward member at whatever level best suits them. And now, membership categories are dynamic. If you make additional donations during the year (e.g. Birdathon or year-end appeal donations), your membership can be upgraded and expiration date extended.
Why are we making these changes?
These changes encourage both loyal donors and new givers to support Nature Forward at the level best suited to their unique ability to give.
Growing our membership strengthens our Nature Forward community by ensuring financial stability and sustainability. These outcomes are important to all stakeholders who care about our organization’s health and future. A robust member base increases Nature Forward’s impact and influence across the Capital Region.
Do these changes help current Nature Forward members and donors?
Yes! These changes ensure clarity and simplicity for members and donors. Previously, some donors expressed confusion about whether a gift counted toward a membership. With these changes, if you give a 100% tax-deductible gift of $5 or more, you are automatically considered a Nature Forward member. Additionally, your expiration date will extend to one year after your last qualifying donation. Memberships are now dynamic and additional donations during the year can advance your membership tier.
Will Nature Forward’s updated membership tiers provide better options for members?
While still offering a great variety of member benefits, we are streamlining our membership categories from seven to four. This is an improvement over previous tiers like Student ($15) and Senior ($35) that were based on age or family status. The new structure allows us to welcome new supporters at an entry point as low as $5. Now, supporters can determine their membership tier, and its associated member-benefits, based on their individual ability and desire to give.
What qualifying donations count toward my Nature Forward membership?
All 100% tax-deductible gifts (of at least $5) including general donations, Birdathon donations, year-end appeal gifts, membership contributions (join/renew), and recurring giving donations count toward a Nature Forward membership.
Purchases at the Woodend Nature Shop, program and tuition fees, event tickets, sponsorships, and in-kind donations do not count toward membership.
I am a recurring giver. How does this change affect me?
As a recurring giver (thank you!), you will be a Nature Forward member for as long as you are actively enrolled in the program.
Membership tiers and their associated member benefits are based on your total annual contributions. For example, if you are a monthly giver at $6 per month, your total annual contribution is $72 , so you will enjoy member benefits at the Nature Protector level.
Will I still get membership renewal notices?
Membership terms will still be 12 months, with your membership expiring one year after your last qualifying donation.
For example, if you donated to the year-end appeal on December 31, 2026 and then made a Birdathon on May 1, 2027, your membership will expire on May 1, 2028, one year after your last qualifying gift.
You will receive a renewal notice when needed and as appropriate based on the date and amount of your most recent gift.
