How to Support the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Through Membership or Donations

You can support the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks (BGO) in two main ways shown on its website: by donating or becoming a member through the "Support the Garden!" section, and by contributing to its newly established endowment and capital reserve fund. Membership also carries a concrete perk this season — members get complimentary access to Yoga in the Garden. The site does not publish membership tiers, donation amounts, or payment methods, so use the "Support the Garden!" and "Plan Your Visit" pages to confirm current options before committing.

The Two Direct Ways to Give

BGO's homepage places both options side by side under "Support the Garden!":

• Donate — a general giving option for visitors who want to contribute without joining.
• Become a Member — a membership option; the only specific benefit named on the page is complimentary access to Yoga in the Garden.

Both are presented as ongoing programs rather than one-time campaigns, so they are the right starting points whether you want a single gift or a recurring relationship with the Garden.

The New Endowment and Capital Reserve Fund

For the first time in its history, BGO has established an endowment and a dedicated capital reserve fund to support the Garden for years to come. The announcement was shared at the 2026 Autumn Gala.

This matters for donors because it signals a shift toward long-term financial stability rather than year-to-year fundraising. If your goal is to support the Garden's durability rather than a specific program, the endowment is the mechanism the site highlights. The page does not state minimum gift levels or how to designate a gift specifically to the endowment, so ask directly when you give.

The Koch Gift and What It Funds

BGO announced a $220,000 gift from Nancy (née Totemeier) and William D. Koch. According to the site, the gift helps launch two major capital projects:

1. Expanding BGO's growing capacity.
2. Revitalizing the Carl A. Totemeier Horticulture & Event Center.

The gift is framed as honoring the Totemeier family legacy while preparing the Garden for its next phase of growth. The site also references a video message from Nancy and a fuller account of the gift's impact.

For a donor weighing where support goes, this is a useful example of how a major gift is structured: named capital projects with visible outcomes, rather than unrestricted operating support.

A Membership Benefit You Can Actually Use

The clearest member perk on the page is Yoga in the Garden, held Saturdays from May through July and in October, led by Fayetteville Athletic Club instructors. Members attend complimentary. The page notes that non-members now also attend at no cost courtesy of Fayetteville Athletic Club, but registration is required for everyone.

That means membership's value here is convenience and support rather than exclusive access — worth knowing before you join purely for the yoga.

Choosing Between Membership and a Donation

Before You Give

• Confirm current membership levels, donation amounts, and accepted payment methods on the "Support the Garden!" page — none are listed in the site content available here.
• Check the "Plan Your Visit" page for hours and logistics if you plan to combine a gift with a visit.
• If you want your gift directed to the endowment or a specific capital project, say so explicitly; the site does not describe a designation process.

The Garden also runs ticketed and free events, including the Arkansas Gardening School (February 2027, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM), a horticultural symposium for beginner home gardeners — another way to engage if a financial contribution isn't your first step.