As a not-for-profit public charity, Taltree Arboretum & Gardens relies on contributions from the community. As you read below, you will see some of the ways you can contribute to build and maintain the most unique public garden in the South Lake Michigan Region. Taltree Arboretum & Gardens, a Natural Inspiration in Northwest Indiana's Biggest Backyard.

Annual Fund

Taltree Arboretum & Gardens is a 300-acre complex of gardens, woody plant collections, and restored and preserved native areas. Created in 1997 for the benefit of the entire South Lake Michigan community Taltree is an island of nature amid the inexorable tide of development, a quiet and peaceful place where visitors can enjoy the beauties of creation and reconnect with nature.

Since its creation, private donations, program fees membership and admission fees, and a few grants have funded our operating expenses. But as we grow, our expenses increase, and today we need additional financial support and commitment.

The Taltree Arboretum & Gardens Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3) non profit Private Operating Foundation in 1997, but we are now in the third year of an IRS-sanctioned five-year transition to a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. This is a major change in status that will be essential for Taltree so we must make every possible effort to achieve the requirements for a public charity. Among these are more stringent requirements for public support. The most significant of these is that fully one third of our financial support must come from public donations. Your involvement and the involvement of your families and friends are critical for our success.

You will have noticed the new gardens, natural restorations, and facilities that we have added in the last couple of years. As more gardens and facilities are constructed there is an increased need for operational funds to maintain them. Each year we conduct an Annual Fund Campaign to raise funds for operations. We need financial gifts first, but we'll also need volunteers to assist with the tracking of donations and to follow-up with each of our generous supporters. If you would like to find out more about the Annual Fund Campaign or be involved, contact Jim Hitz at
(219) 462-0025.

We are proud of our accomplishments and, with your kind and generous financial contribution, we will continue improving. Your gift to Taltree makes Taltree the gift it is to the entire community.

Please make our Annual Fund campaign a success by making a contribution. And thank you for your continuing support of Taltree!

Tax-wise Charitable Giving

Taltree very much appreciates your generosity, particularly your gifts to our annual fund campaign. As Taltree is now operating as a public 501 (C) 3 charitable foundation, it is even more vital that we cultivate a broad base of charitable support in order to grow and maintain the Arboretum and Gardens you enjoy. Here we'll highlight some ways of giving that are both generous and tax wise.

For example, if you own stock, it may be tax wise to make your gift to Taltree with stock rather than cash because a gift of appreciated stock generally has two tax advantages:

1. You avoid paying the capital gains tax on the increased value of the stock
2. You receive an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock at the time of your gift

The example below illustrates these benefits. If you purchased some stock more than one year ago (defined as a "long-term" holding) for $500, and it is now worth $3,000, an outright gift of the stock would result in a charitable gift deduction of $3,000. In addition, you would avoid paying the capital gains tax due on the $2,500 appreciation in the stock's value.

Here's how it works:

Gift of cash (25% bracket):
Cash Gift		$3,000
Charitable Deduction		$3,000
Tax Benefit (25%)		$750
"Cost" of $3,000 Gift		$2,250
Benefit to Taltree		$3,000
Gift of appreciated securities (25% bracket):
Current Market Value		$3,000
Original Cost		$500
Capital Gain		$2,500
Charitable Deduction		$3,000
Tax Benefit (25%)		$750
Capital Gain Tax Avoided (15%)		$375
Total Tax Benefits		$1,125
"Cost" of $3,000 Gift		$1,875
Benefit to Taltree		$3,000

To qualify for these significant tax advantages in the current year, your gift must be postmarked by December 31 of that year. A stockbroker or trust officer also can arrange for a year-end gift of stock from your account.

If you are interested in making a gift of stock to Taltree, we encourage you to contact Jim Hitz at (219) 462-0025 to discuss your gift and to receive instructions on how to transfer the stock. When Taltree receives confirmation that the stock transfer has been completed, we will send you a gift receipt for tax purposes, as well as our heart-felt thanks for your generosity.