Membership

Plant the Seeds of the Future

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Your gift is more than a membership – it’s a testament to your commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, ensuring that mountain environments continue to thrive for generations to come.

Your generosity can play a vital role in our mission to conserve and celebrate the beauty of alpine plant species and their habitats. Nestled in the heart of the Rockies, our Gardens offer a breathtaking sanctuary that not only enchants visitors but also serves as a crucial resource for local ecosystems and community education.

Discover the impact you have on protecting the alpine environment in our video below.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We depend on the generous support of our members and donors to continue the important work of protecting the alpine habitats of the world. The native plant species, and the birds and animals that rely on them for survival, are being threatened by effects of climate change such as drought, rising temperatures, and invasive species. We need your support to continue the scientific research, education and conservation efforts that are the foundation of the Gardens.

There are many ways to support the Gardens

Please consider an Annual Membership at any level; it is the best way to ensure the continuation of our work. Each level offers additional benefits, from complimentary event tickets to special tours.

Leadership gifts have a profound and lasting impact on the Gardens, helping to secure its future and enhance its ability to thrive. These significant contributions provide vital support for ongoing programs, conservation efforts, and capital projects, allowing the Gardens to continue its mission of education, research, and public enjoyment. When you make a leadership gift, you’re helping to preserve and expand the Gardens’ legacy for generations to come.

We have an active volunteer community that lends support in many ways throughout the year, and creates an atmosphere of belonging and connection to the Vail community. We welcome new volunteers all the time and would love to see you in our Gardens.

Member Benefits

Included with all memberships – Your generosity plays a vital role in our mission to conserve and celebrate the beauty of alpine plant species and their habitats.

Membership Card that provides reciprocal free admission to over 300 member gardens nationwide.
Early access to purchase Chefs In The Gardens tickets.
10% discount on all purchases in Garden Gift Shops
Member discounts on select Speaker and Workshop Series events
eNewsletter with news, advice, and announcements about current happenings in the Gardens

Membership Levels

Help save our Alpine habitats. Annual memberships power the Gardens and are one of the best ways to show your support of our mission, our education programs, and conservation work.

Memberships renew on an annual basis and you will receive a renewal reminder the month prior to expiration. Or you may choose to support the Gardens with a monthly gift.*

*Some members choose to use Donor Advised Funds and decline the benefits associated with membership. Our Tax ID is #74-2395097.

$50 - Friend

1 membership card
Free Admission to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

$75 - Friends and Family

Two Membership Cards
Free admission to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

$125 - Supporting

2 Membership Cards
Free Admission to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Complimentary Snowshoe Rentals in the Winter

$250 - Sustaining

2 Membership Cards
Free Admission to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Complimentary Snowshoe Rentals in the Winter
2 Complimentary Tickets to Summer Workshop

$500 - Advocate

2 Membership Cards
Free Admission to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Complimentary Snowshoe Rentals in the Winter
2 Complimentary Tickets to Summer Workshop
Invitation to Garden Soiree, exclusive Donor Appreciation Party

$1000 - Champion

2 Membership Cards
Free Admission to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Complimentary Snowshoe Rentals in the Winter
2 Complimentary Tickets to Summer Workshop
Invitation to Garden Soiree, exclusive Donor Appreciation Party
Invitation to Director’s Coffee, Morning Updates in the Summer

$2500 - Fellow

2 Membership Cards
Free Admission to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Complimentary Snowshoe Rentals in the Winter
2 Complimentary Tickets to Summer Workshop
Invitation to Garden Soiree, exclusive Donor Appreciation Party
Invitation to Director’s Coffee, Morning Updates in the Summer
Complimentary Tour with Curator (put to 8 guests)

$5000 - Ambassador

2 Membership Cards
Free Admission to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Complimentary Snowshoe Rentals in the Winter
2 Complimentary Tickets to Summer Workshop
Invitation to Garden Soiree, exclusive Donor Appreciation Party
Invitation to Director’s Coffee, Morning Updates in the Summer
Complimentary Tour with Curator (put to 8 guests)
Discounted Rate for Rooftop Terrace Rental

Member Plant Sale Preview Party

June 12

1-4pm

All Members

Garden Soiree

July 22

4-6pm

Advocate+

Special Tours

July & August

Champion+

Gift Memberships

For a gift that lasts the entire year, you can purchase a year-long membership that connects the gift recipient with nature!

GIFT A MEMBERSHIP

How Your Donations Help

We rely on your donations to support our mission to protect and preserve Alpine plants and their habitats. Your support is needed to help us with research, programming, acquisition of plants, collection and preservation of native seeds, and special events to help educate and broaden awareness of the importance of alpine environments. Below are just a few of the ways your donations have helped protect Alpine habitats around the world.

Alpine Plant Conservation Strategy

Beginning in 2020, we partnered with Denver Botanic Gardens to author the North American Botanic Garden Strategy for Alpine Plant Conservation. Through a series of Objectives and Targets we have created a plan for protecting North America’s alpine plants, with a view to collaboration across North America between various research organizations and individuals who can lend support. You can view the Alpine Strategy to better understand our work.

Special Exhibits

Special Exhibits in the Education Center. Additional funding through donations and grants helps us stage important educational exhibits about topics such as pollinators, climate change, and the evolution of birds from dinosaurs. Our most recent nationally acclaimed exhibit, Dinosaurs Among Us, was made possible through the support of our members and community.

Colorado Alpine EcoFlora Project

The Colorado Alpine EcoFlora Project is helping us understand and document Alpine plant diversity. Primary to this project is knowing where the plants are, and when they are blooming. This is a community-science botany project powered by iNaturalist, the free, easy-to-use nature identification app. The two goals of this project are:

Increase awareness of and appreciation for alpine plants in Colorado; and
Obtain research-grade observational data from around the state that will help us understand distributions of alpine plants.

Workshops and Speaker Series

Our Workshops and Speaker Series help educate and deepen understanding of the importance of Alpine plants and the animals, insects, and birds that rely on them for survival. Each summer, the Gardens seeks out and finds unique speakers, authors, and experts on relevant topics to host affordable educational events that also bring our community together in a beautiful and pristine mountain environment.

Leadership Giving

Leadership circle
$10,000+

Leadership gifts are significant contributions provide vital support for ongoing programs, conservation efforts, and capital projects, allowing the Gardens to continue its work of education, research, and public enjoyment. When you make a leadership gift, you’re helping to preserve and expand the Gardens’ legacy for generations to come.

Donate Here

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens