Welcome to Gifts, Bequests and Planned Giving

Ganna Walska Lotusland, with its rare and exotic specimens and unusual theme gardens, is an unrivaled botanical treasure and a favorite destination for visitors from both the local Santa Barbara, California community and around the world. Open to the public since 1993, Lotusland serves a broad range of audiences including local school children who participate in our outstanding environmental outreach education program.

A significant endowment is required to meet the rising expense of maintaining Madame Walska’s rare and unusual plant collections, and to continue valuable community programs promoting sustainable gardening, conservation, and horticultural research. Those contributing $10,000 or more to Lotusland's Endowment Fund enjoy the benefits of being lifetime members of The Lotus Society. You can use this website to learn about The Lotus Society, and how to become a member.

We invite you to explore this site to learn about the financial tools you can use to plan your gift to us so that it returns benefits to you. We appreciate your interest and support.

• You don't have to use cash to make your gift -- you can give us appreciated securities instead, and use an asset that costs you less than the tax deduction you'll get for it today.
• You may be holding assets that would benefit Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation more than they do you -- such as a life insurance policy that you no longer need, a parcel of real estate like a second home or undeveloped land, or a collection of books or artwork that you no longer have room to display.
• You can make a gift that costs you nothing during your lifetime - make us a beneficiary of your will or revocable trust, or a beneficiary of your retirement plan, and leave your cash flow and current financial planning uninterrupted.
• You can make Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation a partner in your giving -- you can deed us your home but continue to live there, you can sell us property at a charitable discount, and you can make a gift that pays you lifetime income.

These tools are called planned gifts, and this website is the place to learn more about them. Where to start? If you already know something about your giving options, click on Ways to Give Wisely and go right to the planned gifts that you want to read more about. If you're not sure how a gift can meet both your charitable and personal goals, first go to Discover the Benefits of Giving Wisely to learn how planned gifts work and how they can stretch your giving ability.

When you're ready to hear more, complete the Information Request Form for follow-up information from us.