The Gillette Nature Association annually creates a budget for the programming needs at the Visitor Center. While state funding operates the building, covers staff salaries, building maintenance and a portion of the programming expenses, GNA provides programs, equipment and other benefits that would not be possible without donations and fundraising. Donations from individuals, service clubs and corporations make up a large part of the annual appropriations.

Each year the staff of the Visitor Center develops a needs list known as the Wish List. The Wish List is published in the quarterly GNA newsletter, known as the Dune Notes, and on this website. Individuals wishing to provide one of those items may send a check in any amount to the GNA with a note specifying what the donation is to cover. Your donation will be tax deductible as the Gillette Nature Association is a non-profit 501c3 organization.

Service clubs looking for meeting speakers can contact the park naturalist, Elizabeth Tillman at 231-798-3573. Programs about the Visitor Center, sand dunes, butterflies or native wildflowers are available upon request when a service club makes a donation to the Gillette Nature Association. The Center is also available for group meetings when a donation is made.

For those wishing to make a larger gift, please contact the park naturalist Elizabeth Tillman at 231-798-3573 or GNA president Mary Sorensen. There are often large projects waiting for matching grants and donations to start and complete.

The Gillette Nature Association now offers you the opportunity to contribute to the funding of programs and events by making donations to a GNA specific fund managed by the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. This option may provide some significant tax benefits not previously available through direct donations.

To donate to the fund online, click here.

While there may be some significant tax advantages to making donations through our community foundation account, we also offer the option of making direct donations to the GNA online using a credit card or paypal account: