Each year, more than 4,000 NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers contribute over 200,000 hours of service to help North Carolinians grow healthier gardens, landscapes, and communities. Through their knowledge, passion, and dedication, they bring research-based gardening education to more than 300,000 people annually.

While their time is invaluable, philanthropic support from volunteers, local associations, and friends of the program helps extend and sustain this impact. Together, these generous donors are cultivating something enduring: the NC Extension Master Gardener Endowment.

In 2025 alone, donors contributed $11,465 to the endowment, including $8,205 in direct gifts and $3,260 through Extension Master Gardener license plate sales and renewals.

NC State’s Day of Giving 2025 provided a powerful opportunity to grow both the endowment and the state program’s operating support. Thanks to a generous donor challenge—pledging $10,000 to the endowment if $5,000 was raised—supporters across the state stepped up. The result: more than $6,000 in immediate program funding and an additional $10,000 investment in the endowment’s future.

Building on this momentum, Day of Giving 2026, held on March 25, brought even greater opportunity. Two generous donors committed $15,000 in challenge gifts, including a $10,000 endowment match that will help strengthen the program for generations to come.

Learn more about our Day of Giving 2026 challenge gifts.

As of December 31, 2025, the endowment’s market value topped $170,000—a testament to the collective generosity of supporters statewide. Since its founding in 2007, the fund has generated more than $26,000 in interest income, directly supporting meaningful initiatives such as:

• Statewide continuing education that strengthens volunteers' knowledge and skills to better serve their communities
• Scholarships that make EMG College accessible to volunteers in financial need
• Awards recognizing outstanding volunteer-led projects

Because the endowment is invested in perpetuity, only the earnings are spent—ensuring reliable, long-term support for volunteer service that delivers sustainable gardening education and outreach. As the fund continues to grow, so does its potential to expand opportunities for volunteers and the communities they serve.

Every gift helps build a stronger, more sustainable future for the Extension Master Gardener program and for North Carolina. Whether you are an individual supporter, a volunteer, or part of a local organization, your tax-deductible contribution makes a lasting difference.

There are several easy ways to give:

• Make your gift online
• Mail-in your donation
  • Include a short note stating your gift is for the NC Extension Master Gardener Endowment. Here is customizable letter template: Download Word Doc  | Open Google Doc
  • Mail your check and letter to: Advancement Services, Gifts & Records Management Campus Box 7474 NC State University Raleigh, NC 27695
• Support the endowment through your EMG license plate purchase and renewal
• Contact Mandy Queen to explore additional ways to give, including estate plans and stock options

Together, we are growing more than healthy plants and communities—we are growing a legacy that will support Extension Master Gardener volunteers and North Carolina for generations to come.

Fundraising efforts for the North Carolina Extension Master Gardener Endowment operate under the auspices of the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3, non-profit, tax id 56-6049304. You will receive an official receipt for your donation.