Planned Giving

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Give Today. Inspire Tomorrow.

Binder Park Zoo inspires connection, care, and conservation — today and for generations to come. By including the zoo in your estate or financial plans, you help ensure that endangered species continue to thrive, families continue to connect with nature, and our mission to preserve wildlife endures well into the future. Planned gifts of any size create a lasting impact, providing the stability and resources needed to care for animals, advance conservation initiatives, and inspire the next generation of wildlife champions.

Discover how your legacy can make a difference for the wild world we share.

Your Legacy, Our Mission

As Binder Park Zoo celebrates over 50 years of conservation, we thank our community for the decades of support that made this milestone possible. You can deepen your impact and create a lasting legacy by joining our Planned Giving Program. Your commitment ensures quality care for animals, protects endangered species, and supports education programs for future generations. By including the Zoo in your estate plans, you help protect wildlife and inspire wonder for years to come. Let’s shape the future of conservation together. There are many ways to give—now or through planned gifts that secure your legacy at Binder Park Zoo.

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Consider a gift for the future...

By including Binder Park Zoo in your will, you create a meaningful legacy that protects endangered species, supports conservation education, and inspires future generations. Your planned gift may offer valuable tax benefits, and—if you choose—you’ll be recognized as a member of our Legacy Society, joining others who share your lifelong commitment to wildlife and the natural world.

You can direct a gift of cash, securities, real estate, or personal property to the Zoo. Choose what best fits your needs and intentions. Additional planned giving options include:

Binder Park Zoo is one of Michigan’s premier cultural destinations, welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests annually to experience its immersive Wild Africa exhibit, nationally acclaimed giraffe feeding deck, and award-winning education programs. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Zoo upholds the highest standards in animal care, conservation, and education. We play a critical role in protecting endangered species, inspiring environmental stewardship, and regionally generating over $29 million in annual economic impact. Your planned gift ensures that this legacy of excellence and impact endures for generations to come.

Planned giving offers you the opportunity to make a lasting difference while achieving your personal financial and philanthropic goals. By including Binder Park Zoo in your estate plans, you become part of a visionary community committed to conservation and education.

Bequest Designation Options

A bequest to Binder Park Zoo as part of your planned giving can be thoughtfully designated to support one of the Zoo’s dedicated endowments. Donors may choose to direct their gift to one of the following:

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Endowment

  • Zoo endowment held at the Battle Creek Community Foundation
  • Zoo endowment held at Zhang Financial

These endowed funds provide long-term financial stability. Your legacy gift will help preserve the magic of Binder Park Zoo for generations to come.

Appreciated Stock

Rather than pay capital gains tax on your appreciated stock, you may choose to make a gift of stock to the zoo.

Consider a gift this year

Binder Park Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that does not receive tax funding and one of only four of 251 institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) with that distinction. A gift made now immediately impacts our efforts as leaders in animal care and welfare, conservation, education, and professional excellence. Please consider the Zoo and the potential tax benefits by gifting a portion of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to help save animals in the wild and help us further our conservation mission.

General Operations

A bequest designated to the Zoo’s general operations provides vital, flexible support where it’s needed most. Unrestricted gifts empower the Zoo to meet urgent needs and seize emerging opportunities—whether enhancing animal care, improving habitats, expanding education programs, or preserving the beautiful grounds our guests cherish. Your thoughtful contribution helps sustain daily operations while making an immediate and lasting impact on the Zoo’s mission. These gifts are especially valuable because they allow leadership to allocate resources strategically and swiftly, without delay or restriction. From caring for endangered species to investing in energy efficiency and sustainability, your legacy becomes part of every success story. It ensures that people will continue to experience the wonder of wildlife for generations to come. Your support is not only appreciated—it is essential to the Zoo’s future.

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)

You may reduce your taxes with a gift to the zoo directly from your Individual Retirement Account. A QCD may fulfill some or all of your required minimum distribution (RMD) without increasing your taxable income.

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Join The Binder Park Zoo Legacy Society

Please notify us of your planned gift, and you will be honored as a member of the Legacy Society and receive the following benefits:

When you include Binder Park Zoo in your will or estate plan, you become an honored member of The Binder Park Zoo Legacy Society, an elite circle of visionaries celebrated for their generosity as champions, commitment to the community, and compassion for animals.

The Binder Park Zoo Legacy Society Benefits

  • Letter of acknowledgement
  • Certificate of recognition
  • Legacy Society keepsake gift
  • Invitations to exclusive Legacy Society events
  • Legacy Society e-newsletters
  • Recognition in the zoo’s annual impact report
  • The satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference

Gifting Chart

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Personal Giving Stories

“When I think about the memories my family has made at Binder Park Zoo — feeding the giraffes, watching the red pandas, and seeing my grandchildren light up with curiosity — I know this place is something special. By including the zoo in my estate plans, I’m helping ensure that future generations can experience that same sense of wonder. It feels good knowing that even after I’m gone, I’ll still be supporting the animals and conservation work I care about so deeply.”

“I wanted my legacy to reflect what mattered most to me — caring for animals and protecting the natural world.”
— Susan M., longtime zoo member and wildlife enthusiast

“We’ve spent years volunteering at Binder Park Zoo — helping guests, caring for gardens, and seeing firsthand how much heart goes into every animal’s care. The zoo has given us so much joy and purpose, and we wanted to give something lasting in return. By making a planned gift, we know our support will continue to nurture the animals and programs we love for years to come.”

“Supporting Binder Park Zoo through my will felt like the natural next step.”
— David and Carol L., zoo volunteers for over a decade

“Some of my earliest memories of science and conservation came from summer camp at Binder Park Zoo. That spark turned into a lifelong passion for teaching kids about wildlife and the environment. Including the zoo in my estate plan was my way of saying thank you — and ensuring future kids have the same chance to be inspired by the natural world.”

“Binder Park Zoo inspired my career — I wanted to give back to that inspiration.”
— Alex R., former Zoo Camp kid and now a biology teacher

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