Contributing to the Mead Wildlife Area

There are many ways to contribute to Mead Wildlife Area. Tax deductable monetary donations are used for wildlife education, educational supplies, wildlife management practices, maintenance of the Stanton W. Mead Education and Visitor Center, updated maps and information on Mead/McMillan wildlife areas, bike trail maintenance and so much more. Non-monetary donations allow the Friends and the Mead staff increased flexibility with monetary expenditures.

The Mead Wildlife Area has served over 4,600 students from 40 different schools and 1,300 adults with its no-charge educational programs. Various land and wildlife management practices are ongoing at the Mead. As you can imagine, these activities can be costly. Please consider supporting the Mead to assist in this wonderful property and its purpose!

Volunteering: A great way to spend time at the Mead is through volunteering. You can assist with the grounds, the Education and Visitor Center, educational activities, or wildlife projects. No experience is required - we'll provide the training! Over 130 individuals have volunteered thousands of hours at the Mead.

Friends membership: As a member of the Friends of the Mead/McMillan Association, Inc., you can be confident your donation will be spent appropriately. All items or services purchased for the Mead/McMillan wildlife areas are given thoughtful and appropriate consideration by the Friends Board of Directors and the Mead staff. There are over 200 Friends.

Inscribed brick or tile: These items are installed in either the amphitheatre or in the Center itself. Both are excellent methods to proclaim your or your organization's or business's commitment to the Mead, or honor a loved one. A total of over 300 businesses, organizations, schools, and individuals have purchased bricks or tiles. Information pertaining to bricks and tiles can be found on the Friends page.

Mead Wildlife Area souvenir items: Many souvenir items are for sale at the Education and Visitor Center. The following items are for sale at the Education and Visitor Center: wristbands, key chains, buttons, plastic water bottles, note cards, caps, youth and adult T-shirts, and wildlife DVDs. All items have Mead inscriptions or pictures of wildlife found at the Mead. Please see the Souvenir Showcase for details and prices. Proceeds go towards the many projects supported by the Friends.

Monetary donations: Any amount can be given to support the various activities at the Mead. Donations can be made to a general fund or for a targeted cause (restricted funds). A $20 donation will buy much needed materials for educational activities. Past donations have purchased microscopes, snowshoes, wildflower seeds and plants, and much more. Contact the Mead staff for more information.

Non-monetary/material donations: Depending on the various activities at the Mead such as the Prairie Chicken Festival, donations of non-monetary items are occasionally accepted. Items donated include: maple syrup, milk, sausage, and LP gas. Contact the Mead staff for more information.

Mead Wildlife Area Trust: The Trust is an endowment started in 2006. Its goal is to raise at least $1,000,000 to be used for funding the salary of a permanent fulltime educator and educational materials. The Trust can also be used for land acquisition.

The Trust is made possible by a challenge grant of $500,000 donated by the Mead Witter Foundation of Wisconsin Rapids. The Friends raised the matching $500,000 within one year and accepted donations from 173 contributors. The interest from the Trust pays the salary of the fulltime educator (hired in 2008). The B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation of Schofield donated $50,000 to be used as salary for this position until enough interest has been earned for the Trust to be self supporting.

The Trust is an open endowment. Tax deductable contributions of any amount are always accepted. The Pension Protection Act of 2006-07 makes it possible for individuals aged 70 1/2 and older at the time of the gift to make tax advantaged gifts to charities by allowing tax-free distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) of up to $100,000 per year. A distribution must be made directly to a charity from the IRA of an eligible donor by prior arrangement. If you would like to make a charitable gift to the Trust from your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), please check with your financial advisor and IRA administrator to discuss eligibility and procedures and learn more about the advantages to both you and the Friends.

Recognition sign commemorating the major donors to the Trust. The sign is displayed at the Education and Visitor Center.

Additional information can be found in the Mead Wildlife Area Education Trust Brochure