Support the Gardens

Community Foundation of Mendocino County

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County (CFMC) is a county-wide nonprofit organization that administers permanent charitable funds established through gifts and bequests from individuals, families, businesses, and other organizations. CMFC provides a number of funding opportunities that have helped improve all aspects of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens such as technology to help us adjust our educational opportunities to a virtual platform, and an upgrade to our admissions and membership programs. CMFC grants also funded a portion of our Sprouts Educational Program through the support of DeLucia Family Fund. MCBG wants to thank the Community Foundation of Mendocino County's staff and dedicated board of directors for your continued support!

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Thanks to support from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County's Jack T. and Chatter C. Bishoff Capital Fund, we were able to improve and increase the Gardens' outdoor gathering areas with a slew of shiny new picnic tables. Most recently grants awarded by the Bishoff Foundation has provided funding for our development program, operating expenses, and trail improvements.

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In addition, the Gardens receives an annual gift from the Jack T. and Chatter C. Bishoff Fund in the form of a "designated fund" established within The Community Foundation of Mendocino County. In recent years, the funding has been used to purchase of mulch and newly planted specimens in the Heath & Heather Collection and Entry Garden. Funds were also used toward the purchase of new donor management software and for improvements to our front entry, gift shop, and admissions counter.

 

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Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust

Thanks to funding from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust (SSHT), you will soon notice more sustainable, earth-friendly plant labels throughout the Gardens’ 47 acres. MCBG currently creates and maintains labels for more than 3,500 recorded plant taxa. In spring of 2025, with support from the Trust, we purchased a new CO₂ laser engraver that will allow us to produce labels in anodized aluminum and painted brass—durable, non-plastic materials that uphold the integrity of our current system while reducing reliance on plastics.

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The Trust also funded the Heath and Heather Collection Improvement Project, which strengthens the preservation and development of this nationally recognized collection. The collection includes 125 living taxa of Erica, Daboecia, and Calluna. Funding supported the addition of new plants and improved trail accessibility, ensuring that this unique collection remains a valuable resource for research, reference, and public enjoyment.

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In the North Forest, SSHT support enhanced the Conifer Collection with new trails, a bridge, and additional conifers—further enriching this beloved part of the Gardens.

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SSHT’s impact stretches back more than a decade. In 2016, the Trust, together with Friends of the Gardens, made possible the purchase of a Kubota UTV. This nimble four-wheel-drive utility vehicle, equipped with a 4,000-pound winch and hydraulic bed lift, continues to improve efficiency and safety in hauling materials across the Gardens.

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The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust has played a vital role in helping MCBG preserve plant collections, improve visitor access, and adopt more sustainable practices—all while ensuring the Gardens thrive as a place of learning, beauty, and discovery.

 

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William and Inez Mabie Family Foundation

You may have noticed some commotion around the historic farmhouse at the east edge of our Vegetable Garden. Funding from the William and Inez Mabie Family Foundation allowed us to repurpose the Farmhouse into an education center. Plenty of work was required to renovate the 100+-year-old building, including work on the foundation, floors, windows, and stairs. Walls were removed to create a large meeting space and the first floor is now ADA-accessible. We thank the William and Inez Mabie Family Foundation for supporting the Gardens and encouraging us to increase our educational offerings to the community.

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The Education Center is being used for workshops, lectures, and events. Be sure to join us for one of the upcoming educational happenings in the newly refurbished 1890's farmhouse. The William and Inez Mabie Family Foundation is dedicated to providing philanthropic support to worthy causes, primarily in the areas of education and medicine.

 

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American Rhododendron Society

Thanks to funding from the American Rhododendron Society, we will be improving our facilities used to propagate rhododendrons. The improvements will allow the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden to preserve and enhance our Rhododendron Collection by propagating from our own unique specimens, helping us maintain and share our collection with our guests. All rhododendrons that are not needed for planting in the Gardens are made available to the public in the retail nursery, providing everyone with the opportunity to purchase locally propagated rhododendrons.

 

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Savings Bank of Mendocino County

Small Business Lending and Savings Bank of Mendocino County chose the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens as the beneficiary of the “Denim Days Donation” for the month of August 2023! This effort has made a significant impact; more than $100,000 has been donated to local non-profit organizations through Savings Bank’s Casual for a Cause – Denim Days Program since it began. We are honored to have been chosen and greatly appreciate the support.​