Ithaca Children’s Garden announces endowment fund

Ithaca Children’s Garden (ICG) recently announced a new endowment fund in partnership with the Community Foundation of Tompkins County. This milestone ensures sustainable, long-term support for the Garden’s mission, programs, and joyful learning experiences for generations to come.

The fund was established with a lead gift from Beth Anderson, a longtime supporter and dedicated volunteer. The endowment will provide perpetual funding for ICG’s operations and programs.

“My grandchildren love visiting the Garden, especially for special events like Mud Day,”
Anderson said. “I wanted to help ensure this wonderful place continues to thrive for future
generations. From my own experience in fundraising, I know how challenging it can be for small
nonprofits to build and manage endowments. That’s why I’m so grateful the Community Foundation offers this powerful resource for donors and the causes they care about.”

Managed by the Community Foundation of Tompkins County, the endowment fund will provide
stability through annual distributions while preserving and growing the principal over time. It also
allows ICG to receive a wide range of gifts —including cash, stocks, cryptocurrency, real estate,
and estate gifts — offering flexible options for donors at all levels.

George Ferrari, Jr., Community Foundation CEO, emphasizes the accessible nature and
long-term benefits of the fund: “A gift of any size at any time is valuable to advance the vision of
Ithaca Children’s Garden. Part of the advantage of having a fund at the Community Foundation
is that we aggregate those gifts from multiple donors, making the fund larger than it could be
from any single donor.”

ICG’s executive director, Naomi Sukenik, reflected on the importance of the fund: “It’s truly
inspiring to step into an organization with an endowment fund already in place. It shows how
deeply our community believes in the Garden’s future. This fund ensures ICG will continue to
spark wonder, joy, and environmental connection for generations.”

“At Ithaca Children’s Garden, we dream in decades,” added Erin Marteal, Development Director
at ICG. “This endowment is about building the future our children deserve — one rooted in
nature, curiosity, and care. We’re deeply grateful to Beth and to every donor who helps us plant
seeds that will grow for generations.”

Contributions to the Ithaca Children’s Garden Endowment Fund can be made directly through
the Community Foundation’s website at https://www.cftompkins.org/giving/give-online/ or by
contacting any staff member at 607-272-9333.

For more information, visit https://www.cftompkins.org or www.ithacachildrensgarden.org.