Mark your calendar for March 25 — NC State’s Day of Giving! For 24 hours, you can make a powerful difference for the NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ program.
This year, your gift will go even further. Thanks to two generous donors, we have $15,000 in challenge gifts waiting to be unlocked — including a $10,000 endowment challenge that will support the program for generations to come.
Help Unlock $15,000 in Challenge Gifts
60 Gifts Challenge → $5,000
When we receive 60 gifts to the Extension Master Gardener program fund, an anonymous donor will contribute an additional $5,000 to support statewide programming, available immediately. Your donation on March 25 will count toward our 60 gifts challenge!
$5,000 Raised → $10,000 for the Endowment
When we raise $5,000, a generous donor will give $10,000 to the Extension Master Gardener endowment, growing permanent, long-term funding for the program. Your donation counts toward our $5,000 goal!
Every gift, of any size, brings us closer to unlocking these transformative funds.
Why Your Gift Matters
Every day, Extension Master Gardener volunteers share research-based knowledge, promote sustainable gardening, and help communities across North Carolina grow healthier plants, landscapes, and food systems.
Your Day of Giving support funds:
- Advanced training that equips volunteers with new skills
- Development of statewide educational tools and resources
- Project coordination to turn ideas into action
These investments directly address the top needs identified by volunteers and Extension professionals across the state, including:
- Pollinator and biodiversity conservation
- Sustainable gardening and IPM education
- Climate-resilient gardening practices
- Food insecurity and fresh food access
- Water quality and stormwater management
- Gardening for health and well-being
Thanks to last year’s Day of Giving donors, new statewide presentation materials are already in development and will begin launching this spring.
Investing in the Future: The EMG Endowment
When we unlock the $10,000 endowment challenge gift, we strengthen permanent funding that supports the program year after year.
Since 2007, the endowment has grown to over $155,000 and generated more than $24,000 in interest income to support:
- Statewide continuing education webinars
- Expert speakers and special programs
- Volunteer recognition initiatives
- Scholarships for EMG College
- Expanded online learning opportunities
Gifts to the endowment are invested in perpetuity, ensuring long-term growth and stability for the Extension Master Gardener program.
Join Us on March 25
On Day of Giving, your support strengthens the NC Extension Master Gardener program — now and for the future.
Here’s how you can help:
✔ Make a gift on March 25 — every dollar counts.
✔ Spread the word to friends, family, and fellow garden lovers.
Together, we can make our mark and cultivate a greener, healthier North Carolina.
For questions about pledges, stock gifts, or other ways to give, please contact Mandy Queen at 919-515-1139 or mandyqueen@ncsu.edu.
Thank you for helping Extension Master Gardener volunteers continue to grow knowledge, greener communities, and impacts across our state.
