Ways to Give

Together We grow

More Ways to Give

Be a part of shaping the Gardens’ future. Click below to find out more.

Support an upcoming project. Click here.

"Adopt" a Plant Collection

Support an upcoming project. Click here.

Bench & Plaque Program

Benches in the Gardens are available to honor or celebrate loved ones – currently there is a waitlist. Benches can be dedicated for $25,000 for 10 years.

Check out our sponsorship list to see if you might like to fund a project in honor or memory of someone!

Contact our Development Office by email at 970-306-7616.

donation to Gardens in lieu of flowers

Families often choose to have donations made to the Gardens in lieu of flowers. These donations supports the beauty and mission of the Gardens while creating a lasting remembrance.

You can make a donation in someone’s memory using the link below. If you’d like us to notify a member of the family of your thoughtful gesture, please include the family member’s name and contact information in the comments box when you donate.

Our Development Office can create a personalized donation link for you to share with friends and family. Contact our Development Office here to request your custom link.

Make a Gift to Honor Someone

A living gift that blooms year after year.

Give a gift that Grows. Celebrate a loved one. Mark a meaningful occasion. Honor someone’s memory.

Plant bulbs in the Gardens through this dedication program.

Leave a Gift in Your Will

Bristlecone Pine Legacy Society

Leaving a gift to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in your will is the most common way that individuals ensure the work of the Gardens’ continues for the next generation.

These gifts often take the form of:

Cash
Closely Held Stock
Real Estate
Appreciated Securities
Tangible Personal Property

Your tax advisor can guide you on the best way to take care of your family and the Gardens. Oftentimes, with strategic planning, you are able to do more with your assets because of the tax implications of different types of giving.

Our gift acceptance policy states that all undesignated gifts to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens are put into capital reserve fund. If you would like to discuss different plans for your gift, please reach out and let us know.

Our Tax ID # is 74-2395097

*If you have made a plan for the Gardens in your estate plans, we invite you to share this information with us and join the Bristlecone Pine Legacy Society. We hope to celebrate this decision with you and understand your goals and intentions to make sure your wishes happen.

Make a Donation to the Endowment

Endowment gifts offer a meaningful and lasting way to support Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. When you contribute to the Endowment, your gift is permanently invested, with only a portion of the earnings used each year, ensuring the principal remains untouched. This ensures that your legacy will endure, providing vital support for the Gardens for generations to come.

Gifts to the Endowment are often made through a donor’s will, allowing individuals to leave a lasting impact on a cause they care deeply about. Our Endowment is managed with care through an actively overseen investment portfolio, designed to protect and grow our assets, ensuring the Gardens thrive long into the future.

Endowment Policy:
The Gardens annually withdraw up to 4.5% of the Endowment’s earnings to support our mission.

Contact Development Office at 970-306-7616 or email to explore possibilities.

The Case for Support: Protecting the High Altitude Heart of Vail

A World-Class Sanctuary, Privately Powered

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is a crown jewel of Vail, but it is often misunderstood as a public park. While we are proud to be a cornerstone of the community, we are not a municipal entity.

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit that relies on private visionaries to maintain our $1.3 million annual operation. Every meticulously cared-for bloom and every piece of world-class research we conduct is funded not by taxes, but by people like you who believe that “life above the treeline” is worth protecting.

The Need: The Cost of Excellence Maintaining the highest botanical garden in North America is an alpine feat in itself. Our annual budget ensures that this sanctuary remains free to the public, providing a world-class experience for 200,000+ visitors while leading global efforts in alpine plant conservation.

However, the misconception of municipal funding often leaves a gap in our potential. A gift of $25,000 or more is transformational here—it doesn’t just pay for “upkeep”; it secures the future of our rare seed bank and ensures that the next generation of hikers and families will find the same inspiration you do today.

The Invitation: Your Legacy in the Gardens We invite you to move beyond the donation box and become a Stakeholder in our mission. Whether through a personal foundation, a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), or a direct gift, your $25,000 contribution cements your role as a “Guardian of the Treeline.”

At this level, you are not just a donor; you are a partner in our independence. Your investment allows us to remain a free, world-class resource for all, ensuring the beauty of the alpine world remains as resilient as the plants we protect.

Ready to make a difference? Donate today

Legacy Giving

Just as plants need good soil and a strong foundation to grow, so does Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. Leaving a gift to the Gardens in your estate plans protects the Gardens you love and continues the work to protect the alpine environment into the future. Read more below.

Helen Fritch Endowment Fund

A Tribute to Helen Fritch: A Legacy of Love for the Gardens

In honor of the visionary founder of Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Helen Fritch, this named fund continues her legacy of passion, dedication, and commitment to preserving the beauty of our natural world. The fund provides essential support for the Gardens, educational programs, and conservation efforts, helping to sustain the Gardens for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

We are deeply grateful to the Fritch family and to all who have contributed to the matching challenges over the last four years. Your generosity has made a lasting impact, and your support ensures that the founder’s dream of a thriving, vibrant Garden will continue to flourish.

Contact Development Director, Melissa Ebone at 970-306-7616 or email to explore possibilities.

Contact Our Development Team

Nick courtens fund

Gardens’ late curator Nick Courtens lived to share his alpine plant knowledge and build community connections. To honor his vibrant spirit, we’re created the Nick Courtens Fund—ensuring his passion for bringing people together continues around plants continues forever.

Just as Nick shared his knowledge wherever he went, this fund will support projects that inspire environmental understanding and create the meaningful connections he cherished.

Help us keep Nick’s legacy alive—where learning and community flourish together.

[Read the Vail Daily article] | [Donate in Nick’s Memory]

Read the Vail Daily article here: Betty Ford Alpine Gardens to start community educational series in honor of Nick Courtens.

Donate link: Donate In Nick’s memory

Funding Progress:

65%

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens