Donor’s endowment fund launches new seniors program at VanDusen Botanical Garden

By Esther Tung 

Here's how Vancouver Foundation helped a charity secure the future of its program 

For a decade, the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association (VBGA) searched for a donor interested in launching a program to help more low-income older adults visit the VanDusen Botanical Garden. But many donors passed in favour of more established programs for kids and youth. 

In 2023, the idea finally caught someone's interest.

Nora (not her real name*) already had a bit of history with the gardens. As a university student, she would escape there during stressful times. Years later, she gave a significant gift to help renovate what is now the garden's main visitor hall.

As she began planning for retirement, Nora decided she wanted to give back and do something meaningful. She offered nearly $1 million to fully develop the vision for an older adults' program — a transformative amount, given that it was as much as a third of the VBGA's operating budget. 

Nora's gift would go on to open the gardens to hundreds of seniors who might otherwise never be able to visit. And there are just a few things that make her gift extra special for a charity like the VBGA. 

Sending the gift to Vancouver Foundation 

Nora's gift was by far the largest the VBGA has ever received. Rather than rushing to build a new system to steward the gift, the VBGA's Director of Mission Advancement, Milo Dron, recommended endowing it through Vancouver Foundation by setting up a fund. Doing so would give the gift's impact a much longer shelf life and give Nora the oversight that she needed. 

Because Nora also repeatedly expressed that she wanted the process to be simple and hassle-free, Dron felt Vancouver Foundation was the safest choice. "Vancouver Foundation is reliable, trustworthy and easy to work with – the things you really want for your donors as a charity," he said. 

With its large endowment, Vancouver Foundation has better return rates on its investments and manages funds with long-term stability in mind. Charities with funds at the foundation can count on steady money even through times of uncertainty. "And times of uncertainty are all the time now," Dron added. 

With her financial advisor's support, Nora came knocking on Vancouver Foundation's doors. During conversations with the team, she ultimately decided to make an even bigger gift so that she can support other causes dear to her heart. 

Giving charities a predictable base to grow 

Nora's fund at Vancouver Foundation ensures that VBGA can count on her gift for years to come. By listing them as a fund contact, she lets them see its performance and projected income in real-time. That transparency helps VBGA plan, build trust with partnerships, and ultimately serve more people. 

More than 1,000 older adults visited the garden last year through the program – most of whom were on a fixed or limited income. Nora's fund has even looked after essential services like translators for those who don't speak much English, and restoring the garden's fleet of golf carts, which ferry visitors with mobility issues around the garden. 

"Older adults are often invisible. But Nora's gift has made them feel seen. And she wanted nothing in return for it. To me, that's the definition of philanthropy," Dron said. Nora's gift is both about impact and the promise that will allow thousands more to get to feel special for a day, connect with their community, and enjoy a top Vancouver attraction.  

Sometimes, all it takes is one person to make a difference.   

*We've given the donor a different name to respect her wishes for privacy.

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The VBGA is lucky to have Nora, and so are we here at Vancouver Foundation. We hope this story inspires you to think a little outside of the box when it comes to fundraising. Learn more about how to set up an endowment fund with Vancouver Foundation.