Nourishing Everyone’s Need for Nature

The Campaign for Dodge Nature Center and Preschool

The Vision & Goal

Beautiful, accessible environmental spaces close to urban centers are rare, yet they are critical to the health and well-being of people and communities. All people should be able to nourish their need for nature, without regard to background, life experiences, geography, or socioeconomic status.

Dodge Nature Center and Preschool is an oasis in the midst of a busy metropolitan area, a place that has inspired curiosity and wonder for more than 50 years as an essential destination and educational resource for high-quality, nature-based learning.

This $40 million fundraising campaign for Dodge Nature Center and Preschool will address three vital areas:

Access

Increase access for all

Funding through this campaign will allow Dodge Nature Center and Preschool to reduce and remove barriers so that everybody has access to the nourishing power of nature.

Access takes many forms and requires an inclusive, equitable, and holistic approach to our physical spaces and programming, including our forward-thinking preschool, growing educational offerings, and activating our new Shepard Farm location in Cottage Grove.

Campaign Impact

» Update trails and gathering spaces at the Main Property and new Shepard Farm with environmentally friendly designs that increase access and create a better experience for guests with disabilities and limited mobility.

» Expand outreach to historically excluded populations to make our natural spaces and nature-based learning accessible to all in our community.

» Make the preschool affordable and accessible to all families who want to take advantage of nature-based education.

Sustainability

Sustain our places and spaces

This campaign will ensure that our historic buildings are updated and properly maintained, our natural spaces are preserved and available free of charge, and our staff can meet demands for programming. We will strengthen connections with surrounding communities, share the power of nature with more people, and protect more than 460 acres of prairies, forests, and wetlands.

Campaign Impact

» Update the historic buildings, barns, classrooms, and other spaces at all properties in alignment with environmentally conscious standards.

    • Renovate existing buildings at Shepard Farm to create functional classroom and program space.

    • Install solar panels at the Main Property to reduce Dodge's carbon footprint and provide a natural way to teach visitors about the benefits of alternative energy and the impacts of climate change.

    • Upgrade Farm Kitchens to provide new educational opportunities for adults and older children.

» Grow capacity to preserve our most precious asset—the land—with a new restoration specialist who will provide conservation oversight and develop systems to minimize the environmental impact of visitors and other natural challenges across all properties. This is a vitally important position as we increase the number of visitors at all of our locations.

» Meet increasing demands for programming for adults and youth from historically excluded communities through the addition of a new naturalist position who will focus on outreach to schools in underserved communities and on a new adult education program.

Legacy

Extend the legacy of Olivia Irvine Dodge

More than 50 years ago, Olivia Irvine Dodge had the vision to preserve this beautiful nature center in the midst of a rapidly expanding urban area. Through this campaign you can share YOUR legacy with future generations to ensure that Dodge Nature Center and Preschool remains a relevant nature sanctuary in the middle of a busy metropolitan area.

Campaign Impact

» Welcome an ever-increasing number of children, adults, and families for generations to come.

» Provide more resources to support the volunteers whose dedication of time and talent to preservation, programming, and restoration projects contributes to the legacy of this amazing nature center.

» Secure the future of Dodge Nature Center and Preschool by expanding legacy giving opportunities and increasing the endowment.

Give to the Campaign

Your gift of any size matters

With questions, contact Brenda Teats, Development Director at 651-789-5218 or
BTeats@DodgeNatureCenter.org

Donate Online

Campaign To Date

$3.8 million

left to raise

90%

toward $40 million goal

The Nourishing Everyone's Need for Nature Campaign began as an investment in the next 50 years of Dodge. And now—it’s an action plan. It’s the most ambitious project since the creation of Dodge, which is needed now more than ever to help people and nature thrive together in a rapidly changing world.

This gift to the future is a collaborative effort—and we can’t do it without you!

All donations and commitments made to this campaign will help finish the construction work in the year ahead and sustain new environmental education programming at both our West St. Paul site and the new facilities at Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove.

Accomplished

Access
✓ Installed a solid-surface elevated boardwalk through the Farm pond
✓ Paved parking lots for school groups to safely arrive at Dodge
✓ Created pride programs for the LGBTQIA+ community

Sustainability
✓ Continue welcoming guests every day from sunup to sundown, free of charge
✓ Hired a Restoration Specialist to preserve our most precious asset—the land
✓ Added an Outreach Naturalist position to expand education to underrepresented communities
✓ Created a Farm Manager position to support operations at Shepard Farm
✓ Constructed a new pole barn and turkey pen at Shepard Farm for quality animal care and encounters

Legacy
✓ Grown the number of children, adults, and families served at Dodge
✓ Established an endowment to support the longevity of Dodge Nature Preschool

Read About Access

In Progress

✓ Renovation of existing buildings at Shepard Farm to create functional classroom and program space
✓ Addition of a new teaching kitchen at Shepard Farm to provide new educational opportunities for adults and older children
✓ Continuous outreach and partnership-building with people, schools, and organizations to grow access to nature for all who have an interest in learning about the natural world
✓ Increasing Dodge's endowment by expanding legacy giving opportunities to sustain Dodge into the next 50 years

Coming Fall 2023
Dodge's new Education Center at Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove will be a fully-functioning learning center, allowing even more people to have exceptional experiences in nature. There continues to be high demand for Dodge camps, classes, and programming, and this new facility will allow us to serve more people in a new community.

Donate Now

Egret Society

As a planned giving donor, you'll be welcomed as a member of the Egret Society, receiving recognition and special event invitations throughout the year. A planned gift to Dodge allows you make a meaningful donation while providing for your family in a tax-effective way.

Learn More

Wildflower Society

Wildflower Society donors sustain environmental education and ensure that Dodge Nature Center and Preschool will always be here for our community. Your annual gift of $1,000 or more will welcome you to this recognition club for leadership-level supporters.

Learn More

Ways to Give

Online

Donate Now

Mail a Check

Checks can be made out to:
Dodge Nature Center

Mail To:
Dodge Nature Center
365 Marie Ave W
West St. Paul, MN 55118

Stock

Do you have appreciated stock? Avoid paying capital gains taxes by transferring the gift of stock directly to Dodge.

To transfer shares to our account, use the following information:

Broker: UBS Financial Services
DTC Number: 0221
Account Number: LO27255 (please note the second character is the letter O)

If you’ve initiated a gift of stock, please reach out to us to let us know the number and type of shares of your stock, so we can be on the lookout for it and ensure the gift is properly credited to you.

Contact:
Brenda Teats, Development Director
651-789-5218
BTeats@DodgeNatureCenter.org

Please consult your tax adviser for tax information.

IRA Rollover

A rollover gift from you IRA may maximize tax savings. If you are age 70 1/2 or older, you can roll over all or a portion of your required minimum distribution directly to Dodge. Contact your IRA administer and ask them to send your rollover to Dodge Nature Center. Please consult your tax adviser for tax information or reach out to us to explore this option futher.

Contact:
Brenda Teats, Development Director
651-789-5218
BTeats@DodgeNatureCenter.org

Donor Advised Fund

A donor advised fund (DAF), which is like a charitable savings account, gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to Dodge Nature Center and other qualified charities. You can recommend a grant or recurring grants now to make an immediate impact or use your fund as a tool for future charitable gifts.

You can also create a lasting legacy by naming Dodge Nature Center as the beneficiary of the entire account or a percentage of the fund. With a percentage, you can create a family legacy of giving by naming your loved ones as your successor to continue recommending grants to charitable organizations.

Contact your fund administrator for more information.

Pledge

Plan your support of Dodge for the next three to five years by committing a pledge. Your entire pledge total will count toward the remaining funds left to raise for the campaign while giving you the flexibility to pay your commitment over time. Please reach out to discuss your pledge options and considerations.

Contact:
Brenda Teats, Development Director
651-789-5218
BTeats@DodgeNatureCenter.org

Review the pledge commitment form here: Pledge Form

Planned Giving / Future Gifts

Plant your legacy at Dodge through a variety of planned giving options, such as:

» Bequests through your will
» Charitable gift annuity
» Retirement plan
» Charitable trusts
» Life insurance

By committing a planned gift in support of Dodge, you will also be welcomed into the Egret Society, receiving recognition and special event invitations throughout the year in thanks for your support.

We would be happy to discuss these options further with you.

Contact:
Brenda Teats, Development Director
651-789-5218
BTeats@DodgeNatureCenter.org

Campaign Materials

For more details about the Nourishing Everyone’s Need for Nature Campaign, read our full Case Statement.

Download PDF

Thank You Donors

$10,000,000+

Anonymous

$5,000,000+

Si and Vicki Ford

$500,000+

Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation
The FS Foundation

$250,000+

The Driscoll Foundation
Slaggie Family Foundation

$100,000+

Anonymous (3)
Kari and Scott Anderson
Chadwick and Margaret Dayton
Ecolab Foundation
Hardenbergh Foundation
Virginia and John McCain
David Schmidt and Sara Klasky

$50,000+

Anonymous (2)
Butler Family Foundation
Dellwood Foundation
Gigi Doerr Simmons
Litton and Anne Field
Allan Klein and Harriet Lansing
Nicholson Family Foundation
McNeil and Mary Seymour

$25,000+

Anonymous
Thomas Good
Horace H. Irvine III
Alice Mairs
Marathon
Paco and Alma Medina
Jason and Heather Sanders
The Toro Company Foundation
Donald Weesner Charitable Trust

$10,000+

Anonymous
Hugh J. Andersen Foundation
Sara and Clint Beckstrand
Deluxe Corporation Foundation
Peter and Christine Garretson
Jean and Bruce Johnson
Esther Kellogg
Thomas and Anne Marie Peltier
Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation
Stanley and Lucy Shepard

Thank you for your consideration

Contact us with any questions

Jason Sanders | Executive Director
Dodge Nature Center and Preschool
365 Marie Avenue W
West St. Paul, MN 55118
651-789-5235
JSanders@DodgeNatureCenter.org

About Camps

Scholarships

Minnesota Undiscovered

Friday, Dec. 8th

Preschool Information Session: Onsite

Tuesday, Dec. 12th

Reptiles and Amphibians of Minnesota

Wednesday, Dec. 13th

Nourishing Everyone’s Need for Nature

The Vision & Goal

Access

Increase access for all

Sustainability

Sustain our places and spaces

Legacy

Extend the legacy of Olivia Irvine Dodge

Give to the Campaign

Your gift of any size matters

Campaign To Date

$3.8 million

left to raise

90%

toward $40 million goal

Accomplished

Accomplished

In Progress

In Progress

Egret Society

Wildflower Society

Ways to Give

Online

Mail a Check

Stock

IRA Rollover

Donor Advised Fund

Pledge

Planned Giving / Future Gifts

Campaign Materials

Thank You Donors

$10,000,000+

$5,000,000+

$500,000+

$250,000+

$100,000+

$50,000+

$25,000+

$10,000+

Thank you for your consideration

Contact us with any questions

Stay connected to Dodge by joining our mailing list

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