So Many Ways You can Help!
Wabash & Erie Canal Park exists because generous people step up and help where they can. We have a variety of ways you can contribute and join the cause of preserving Indiana’s canal history! Read below for more information.
Annual Supporters and 468 Mile Club
Become a canal supporter through annual giving! Click the button below for more information about giving levels, giving online, and forms to mail in your donation.
Donations/Gifts
If you’d like to contribute to our mission of preservation, education, and recreation without a commitment, feel free to make a donation of any amount. You may attribute memorial or tribute gifts here as well.
Corporate Sponsorships
With over 10,000 annual visitors to Canal Park, we would love to highlight your business and help new customers find you. We are a community gathering place, and we want to partner with community-minded enterprises. Click here to learn more about partnership opportunities with the Wabash & Erie Canal.
Legacy Gifts
The most impactful gifts we receive are from donors who are looking to preserve history for generations to come. We humbly invite you to consider Carroll County Wabash & Erie Canal, Inc. in your estate planning so we can sustainably serve the community. Some options include:
- Including Wabash & Erie Canal Park in your will
- Making Wabash & Erie Canal Park a beneficiary of assets like 401k’s, life insurance policies, or IRA’s.
- Directly donating stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate assets
Donations may also be made to the Wabash & Erie Canal Endowment Fund. This fund is managed by the Community Foundation of Carroll County, and it creates a perpetual gift that keeps Canal Park thriving. Any contributions to the endowment fund should be sent directly to the Community Foundation (215 W Sycamore St, Kokomo, IN 46901) in the name of the Wabash & Erie Canal Endowment Fund or designated as a recipient in your estate plans.
If you are including Wabash & Erie Canal Park in your estate plans, please get in touch! We are grateful and humbled for your support and trust. You may email executive director Mike Tetrault ([email protected]) or call our office (765-564-2870). We would love to speak with you and ensure your wishes are honored.
Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution
At a certain age, some individuals are required to annually withdraw a designated amount from their retirement assets. If that amount is not met, the unspent assets could be taxed at rates up to 50%. In order to avoid those penalties, make sure your money is going to a cause you believe in!
A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a direct contribution from your retirement assets, and it can have several benefits besides meeting the withdrawal requirements. A QCD may reduce your adjusted gross income, which may reduce your tax burden and even place you in a lower tax bracket. And of course: those gifts make a huge difference for Canal Park!
Check with your financial advisor or tax professional to learn more and see if a QCD might apply for you.
Boost Your Donation with Employer Matching Funds
Many employers offer matching funds for the charitable giving, or even volunteering hours, of their employees. Please inquire with your employer to see if they make matching gifts and double your donation’s impact!
Carroll County Wabash & Erie Canal, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization, and our tax ID number is 23-7291289.
Volunteer With Us
Volunteers are the magic ingredient that make Wabash & Erie Canal Park a special place. We strive to be a place where all are welcome and every gift and talent are honored. Visit our Volunteering page to learn about different opportunities to get connected!