Whether you’re a member of the TMN Program, a member of the public, or representing an estate, organization or corporation, your gift to the Texas Master Naturalist Endowment can help us reach our goals and help provide a lasting contribution to education, conservation and stewardship of Texas’ natural resources.
Please make a generous contribution today!
Chapter Challenge
A FUNDRAISING CHAPTER CHALLENGE FOR THE TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST ENDOWMENT
The Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) Heartwood Chapter announces a fundraising Chapter Challenge to benefit the TMN Endowment.
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the Heartwood Chapter and 15 other chapters. We would like to challenge all of the chapters to join us in raising $20,000 for the TMN Endowment this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of many chapters and the 27th anniversary of the TMN program.
WHAT: The Texas Master Naturalist Endowment was created in 2015 to provide funding to support the growth and sustainability of the TMN program. A contribution to the TMN Endowment will provide the ability to expand the TMN program through additional administrative support, regional program coordinators to support local chapters, enhanced advanced training, curriculum, and youth program development. The TMN Endowment will help provide a lasting contribution to education, conservation and stewardship of Texas’ natural resources.
WHY: The TMN program has outgrown the federal funding available. The Texas Master Naturalist Endowment exists to create a self-sustaining funding source for program expansion and support for local chapters. The goal is to have the endowment double our resources. It would not replace the current funding but would be supplemental.
Why do we need a fully funded TMN Endowment? A fully funded TMN Endowment ensures the sustainability of the program without relying on state or federal funding. The current level of funding the program receives now allows for a minimum level of functionality, specifically the office run by three incredible staff members. Volunteers are utilized to accomplish many projects, so if resources are not available, the projects are not done, no matter their importance. With a fully funded endowment, the state organization would be able to do such things as fund Master Naturalist projects across the state, hire additional staff for program support, improve members’ access to useful technology and many other improvements statewide in support of the important volunteer work we do.
GOAL: The goal is to create a $5 million dollar TMN Endowment. The annual budget for the TMN program is approximately $200,000. Reaching $5 million in funding for the TMN Endowment would generate a guaranteed minimum 4% return annually, providing $200,000 back to the TMN program. These funds would be used to bolster the TMN program, duplicate its efforts across the state, and support the local chapters in ways that cannot be done with the current funding and capacity.
Currently, the TMN Endowment has about $175,000 in it so we have a long way to go to reach that sustainability target. The entire statewide program benefits from a sustainable TMN program with funds to perpetuate the Master Naturalists goals for many more years and for future generations.
HEARTWOOD CHAPTER CHALLENGE:
The Heartwood Chapter has committed to raising $2,000 of the $20,000 goal. We encourage each chapter to set their own target in this effort. You may choose to meet or exceed our commitment, to pledge $10 per member of your chapter, or $100 for each year your chapter has been active. We all win because a stronger state organization benefits all of us.
Each chapter can raise money internally from chapter funds available, request donations from chapter members, use funds raised from public events, or if local partnership organizations want to contribute to your chapter. Then your chapter can donate to the TMN Endowment, selecting to name your contribution in honor of your chapter. Many companies have a matching gift program.
Contributions can be made in memory or honor of someone. Below are some ideas.
- in honor of your chapter or a partner organization
- someone instrumental in your TMN journey
- a parent or teacher who inspired your love of the outdoors
- the founding members, trainers, advisors or leaders of your chapter
- in honor of the TMN staff that has worked tirelessly for years to establish and build this program
HOW: Donations are tax-deductible and can be made online at https://masternaturalistendowment.org/steward/donate-now/. Gifts of cash, stock, real estate, mineral rights and so on are accepted. Additionally, you can set up a charitable remainder trust, gift annuity or other options designated to the TMN Endowment. If you are interested in different giving options, please contact Brandi Kines, BKines@txamfoundation.com.
WHEN: A tally of chapters donating and rising to this Chapter Challenge will be presented at the TMN Annual Meeting in October 2025. The aim is to reach or exceed the goal of $20,000 by October to report the results. Of course, donations will be received throughout the year and beyond. The whole TMN program benefits from a sustainable state program with funds to perpetuate the Master Naturalist goals for future generations.
Please donate to this worthy effort to help ensure the sustainability of the TMN program. Thank you!
Past Chapter Challenges
Alamo Area Chapter Challenge - 20th Anniversary of the Program - 2018 The Texas Master Naturalist Alamo Area Chapter has officially announced their Chapter Challenge: A Fundraising Challenge 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) Program. With 48 chapters statewide and over 11,000+ trained volunteers, the TMN Program has made enormous contributions to the management, conservation, and restoration of Texas’s natural wonder as well as educating our communities about the natural world. Without the work of Master Naturalists our state would be qualitatively poorer and many of its ecosystems more degraded. The Alamo Area Chapter feels a certain pride in our role as the first Texas chapter and a special responsibility to help grow and strengthen the state organization. That is why we would like to challenge the other state chapters to join us in raising $20,000 for the TMN Endowment Fund over the following one year period to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the TMN Program. Why do we need a fully funded TMN Endowment? In short, because the current level of funding the program receives now only allows for a minimum level of functionality, specifically the office run by Michelle and Mary Pearl. Pretty much everything else is volunteered. And if volunteer resources are not available, projects are not done, no matter what their importance. With a fully funded endowment, the state organization would be able to do such things as fund Master Naturalist projects across the state, hire additional staff for program support, improve members’ access to useful technology, and many other improvements statewide in support of the important volunteer work we do. The fully funded TMN Endowment target is $5 million. Currently, the endowment has about $15,000 in it so you can see we have our work cut out for us. But difficult tasks are nothing new for Master Naturalists! So let’s get to work! Each chapter can raise money internally from chapter funds available, taking donations from chapter members, using funds raised from public events, or if local partnership organizations want to contribute to your chapter. Then your chapter can make a donation to the Endowment, selecting to name your contribution in honor of your chapter. Donations can be made online, linked here: https://masternaturalistendowment.org/steward/donate-now/. A final tally of chapters donating and rising to this challenge will be presented at the TMN Annual Meeting in 2018. But again, the whole program benefits from a sustainable state program with funds to perpetuate the Master Naturalists goals for future generations and another 20 years to celebrate! Chapter Challenge Letter available to Download: A Fundraising Challenge – final More Ways to Give Search if Your Company Matches Gifts
The Alamo Area Chapter will commit to raising up to $1,000 of that goal. We encourage each chapter to set their own target in this effort. You may choose to meet or exceed our commitment, to pledge $10 per member of your chapter, or $100 for each year your chapter has been active. There are many ways to choose your target and they’re all good!
This is a competition in which we all win because a stronger state organization lifts all boats.
Planned gifts can be developed with Brandi Kines, Senior Director of Development, Texas A&M Foundation, bkines@txamfoundation.com
Fund name: Texas Master Naturalist Endowed Fund
Address: The Texas A&M Foundation
401 George Bush Dr.
College Station, TX 77840
EIN: 74-2245072