Legacy Endowment: Purpose and Needs - IWRA

Considerable funds are needed to operate, maintain, and program the Visitor Center, boat dock and fishing pier, trails, environmental education shelter, etc. with quality.  This includes cleaning, utilities, snow removal, grass cutting and native plant maintenance, repairs (as needed), quality programming, etc.  Our goal it to provide an exceptional conservation and outdoor recreational experience that inspires the next generation of conservationists.  

This endowment also helps protect our initial investment (land acquisition, restoration work, the building) and ensures a long-term mechanism to operate, maintain, and program these facilities and habitats with quality.  The secondary purpose of the endowment is to help operate, maintain, and program other units of the refuge.

The philosophy is that we don't have the necessary resources to do everything everywhere.  Therefore, priorities must be set.  It is our priority to consistently provide a quality conservation and outdoor recreational experience at the Refuge Gateway and Humbug Marsh Unit and the endowment will manifest our commitment to making this a priority.  

·         In coordination with OAC, Belle Isle for ½ day visits

               Transportation expense (bus stipend), equipment purchases

·         Partner Teachers / Partnership Schools

·         Working with other Partners, i.e. HCMA, UMD, WCCCD, tribal community, etc.

·         Exhibit Replacement Reserve

·         Volunteer Coordinator

·         Seasonal Interns

·         Cleaning Contract

·         Trail Maintenance

·         Road Maintenance

·         Maintenance Assistant

·         Restroom Facility near Fishing Pier

·         Picnic Tables, benches

·         Site Security