As the year comes to a close, we can’t help but think about the incredible momentum you’ve helped build. Every native seed planted, every garden that’s come to life, every person who’s discovered the beauty of native plants—you made it happen.
For your donation of $100 or more, you’ll receive a limited-edition T-shirt as a thank-you gift!*
Wild Ones exists because of people like you who believe that native plants have the power to heal our landscapes, support biodiversity, and bring people together. We often describe native gardening as sleep, creep, and leap. At first, things move slowly. But with time and care, the results take off in ways that are truly inspiring.
Thanks to your support, Wild Ones has grown to more than 135 chapters and over 13,000 members nationwide. Together, we’re nurturing the roots of a movement that’s now leaping forward.
But to keep this movement thriving, we need your continued partnership. Membership dues help cover a portion of what we do, but it’s your donations that let us keep saying “yes.” Yes to more communities ready to start a chapter. Yes to teachers who want to connect students with native plants. Yes to neighbors who dream of turning their yards, schools, and parks into thriving habitats.
How You Help Us Say “Yes”
Yes to youth and education
Because of you, the Wild Ones Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program funded 20 new native plant gardens, transforming schoolyards and community spaces into living classrooms that inspire future stewards of the land.
In 2026, as we celebrate the program’s 30th anniversary, we aim to expand its reach to even more schools and youth organizations, deepening learning outcomes and connecting the next generation to native plants.
Yes to accessible, inspiring garden design
Your support allowed us to add four new Native Garden Designs to our free library, helping thousands of people, from first-time gardeners to seasoned planters, bring habitat home.
Next year, we plan to release five more designs and offer new tools that help individuals and communities bring these plans to life.
Yes to sharing expert knowledge
You helped us bring nationally recognized voices to more than 40,000 people through our educational webinars and videos. These programs inspire, inform, and empower individuals across the country to make native plants part of their daily lives.
Your support will help us continue this work by hosting new webinars, developing additional learning tools, and bringing leading experts in native landscaping and climate resilience to even more audiences.
Yes to chapter growth and local impact
In the past year alone, Wild Ones has grown to 135 chapters and over 13,000 members. Adding 10 new seedlings, chartering 7 new chapters, and welcoming 3 new states onto the map. We also received more than 100 new chapter inquiries, a clear sign that the native plant movement is thriving and spreading. Your donations fueled the resources, guidance, and training that helped chapters thrive and communities connect.
Looking ahead, we’re investing in new systems and templates that make leadership easier and local engagement stronger—ensuring every chapter has what it needs to say “yes” to its community.
Yes to collaborative action
Collaboration is one of the pillars of the Wild Ones mission. This year we welcomed new national partners like Nurture Natives and the North American Land Trust, regional partners like Texan by Nature and Michigan Audubon, and special project partners such as the Less Lawn More Life Challenge.
Through these partnerships, we not only expand the reach of Wild Ones but also help other like-minded organizations achieve their goals, knowing that together we can accomplish so much more for our planet.
Your ongoing support allows us to keep building relationships with like-minded organizations and create more opportunities for shared action.
Yes to empowering diverse voices
“Diverse voices and backgrounds make us stronger.” This core Wild Ones value is taking root in meaningful ways. Thanks to your support, we’re expanding opportunities for inclusion, from increasing youth engagement to launching the Indigenous Voices Fund to support Indigenous-led programming.
Your generosity helps ensure that more perspectives are represented and more people are empowered to lead the native plant movement.
Yes to growing climate resilience
Through education, advocacy, and habitat creation, we’re helping communities respond to climate challenges with local action rooted in native plants.
Your gift will help us expand our climate-focused resources and develop new tool kits that connect native landscaping to resilience and biodiversity.
Yes to visionary leadership
Your generosity supports the voices shaping our future. With your help, we’re relaunching the Wild Ones Honorary Director program and connecting our mission with leaders who inspire innovation and public engagement.
Together, we’ll continue to amplify visionary leadership that moves the native plant movement forward
Thank you for believing in this mission, for standing with Wild Ones, and for making change possible. Together, we are growing something extraordinary.
Your gift can go further!
There are many ways to make your donation to Wild Ones go even further. You can give directly from your IRA through a Qualified Charitable Distribution, recommend a gift from your Donor-Advised Fund, or check if your employer offers a matching gift to double your impact. Non-cash gifts like stocks or mutual funds may also provide tax advantages while fueling our mission. And through planned giving or a lifetime membership, you can ensure your support for native plants and communities continues for generations.
Looking for other ways to support Wild Ones?
Beyond donating, there are many ways you can help support the Wild Ones mission. Check out some of the ways below!
- Become a member: When you become a member you are showing your support for a sustainable future. In addition, membership dues play a crucial role in maintaining the operations of Wild Ones.
- Give the gift of Wild Ones: Gift memberships are a great way to get your friends and family involved in Wild Ones.
- Shop for Wild Ones branded apparel and gifts: Show your support for Wild Ones by shopping from the Wild Ones Merch Store.
- Check out the Wild Ones Reading List: This list has been Wild Ones staff and volunteers to feature a wide variety of great titles. When you shop from the Reading List, you are not only supporting local bookstores, but a portion of your purchase is also donated back to Wild Ones.
- Certify your habitat: When you certify your habitat you are contributing to the larger vision of 5,000 gardens for the wild. Plus, when you certify you get an official sign to display, a great way to show your neighbors what you are doing and inspire them!
- Become a volunteer: Whether it is with your chapter, or through one of our national opportunities, Wild Ones relies on the hard work of volunteers to carry out our mission.
*Terms and Restrictions for Free T-Shirt
This limited-edition t-shirt is offered as a thank-you gift for donations of $100 or more made directly to Wild Ones National between October 15, 2025, and January 15, 2026, in support of the Wild Ones Annual Appeal. Membership dues and chapter-level donations do not apply toward eligibility. Limit one shirt per donation. Instructions to claim your shirt will be emailed to you 5-7 days after receipt of your donation. Shirt must be claimed within 45 days. The fair market value of this item is $15. Accordingly, if the shirt is claimed, only the portion of your contribution exceeding $15 is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. If the shirt is not claimed, your full contribution is tax-deductible. Offer available to U.S. residents only. Shirt availability and sizes are limited and offered while supplies last. No substitutions or cash equivalents will be provided. Questions? Contact: [email protected]
