Master Gardener Foundation of King County
Our Mission
The Master Gardener Foundation of King County (MGFKC) is a separate, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is raising funds to support the activities of the WSU Extension King County Master Gardener Program. The funds raised by our Foundation cover the many costs of operating the program, including plant clinic infrastructure and materials, demonstration garden supplies, and technology resources to suport educational outreach in our communities.
We Share a Purpose
The Foundation Board works in partnership with the WSU Extension Master Gardener program to secure funds that advance our shared mission of environmental stewardship in King County.
Help Us Grow
The Master Gardener Foundation of King County (MGFKC) works year-round to raise funds through plants sales, and education programs like Growing Groceries and PNW Garden Savvy classes. These educational programs provide opportunities for residents who want to better serve their communities.
How we Support the Extension Master Gardener Program
Our sole mission is to develop financial and other resources to support the WSU Extension King County Master Gardener Program’s delivery of horticulture and environmental stewardship education to home gardeners in King County.
Let’s track our progress!
Please help support our ongoing mission to grow our King County Master Gardener Program!
2026 Fall Appeal: Navigating Through Change
This year’s Fall Appeal theme, “Navigating Through Change,” reflects the challenges facing the Extension Master Gardener Program as demand for services grows while public funding becomes less certain. The Master Gardener Foundation of King County helps bridge that gap, providing financial support to ensure the Program’s continued ability to conduct educational outreach and deliver trusted, science-based gardening advice to many thousands of King County residents.
Individual donors are the cornerstone of that support and your gift helps sustain services for home gardeners throughout King County as we navigate change together. Your continued generosity will help Extension Master Gardeners continue educating, inspiring, and serving our communities for years to come. Please consider supporting this year’s Fall Appeal.
Donations from supporters like you help us support the following:
WSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers staff 39 regular Ask a Master Gardener plant clinics at farmers markets, plant nurseries and other locations throughout King County, along with one-time clinics at dozens of community events each year. Your donations help the Foundation pay for reference materials, handouts, diagnostic supplies, tables and canopies, storage, and other costs of providing this service.
In 2025, our Ask a Master Gardener plant clinics served 17,289 clients and answered 25,220 gardening questions.
Our demonstration gardens serve as outdoor classrooms where we provide hands-on, science-based gardening education to adults and youth in our local communities. The produce grown in our demonstration gardens is donated to local, nonprofit food banks and other organizations. Your donations help the Foundation pay for seeds, plant starts, compost, soil, construction and maintenance, irrigation, signage, tools, and other supplies.
In 2025, our demonstration gardens hosted education activities for 1,143 clients and donated 4,895 pounds of produce.
Extension Master Gardeners use a range of technology tools to support operational functions and educational outreach to home gardeners across King County. Your donations help the Foundation pay for diagnostic laboratory tools, website maintenance, marketing and communications tools, training and educational resource tools, and others necessary to manage the organization and support the services we provide to King County residents.
Other Ways to Give
Extension Master Gardeners are community educators who teach science-based, sustainable home gardening practices that address issues directly affecting friends and neighbors in our communities. Our ability to address critical issues, including climate change, pollinator protection, and food security in King County is fueled by our 700+ Extension Master Gardener volunteers and by generous financial contributions from friends and supporters like you.
Will you help us continue our important programs by supporting the Master Gardener Foundation of King County with a donation today?
Tap any option for details.
Donations through DAFs are welcome. We are registered with most financial institutions under:
Master Gardener Foundation of King County
EIN: 91-1276424
If you have any questions, please contact president@mgfkc.org.
Employer Matching Funds
Many King county corporations offer charitable giving programs that match or even double employee, employee partner, and retiree donations to nonprofit organizations. Search the King County Employer Match list to find out if your employer matches donations.
Workplace Giving Programs
Many workplaces offer employees the option of designating a portion of their paycheck to nonprofit organizations. Contact your employer for further information.
If you have any questions, please contact president@mgfkc.org.
Donating appreciated stocks, bonds or mutual funds is quick, surprisingly simple and may provide you with significant tax benefits.
There are three easy steps to giving:
Step 1: Send us an email at treasurer@mgfkc.org to give us your name, address and gift information.
Step 2: We will send you broker stock transfer information. Please watch your email for a response from treasurer@mgfkc.org.
Step 3: MGFKC will sell the stock and send you a tax receipt using the contact information you provide. Your gift of securities to MGFKC is valued at an average of the low and high trading prices on the date of the gift.
You receive the potential deduction for the amount of the charitable donation, and you don’t pay capital gains tax on the sale.
If you have any questions, please contact president@mgfkc.org.
Donors who are age 70 1/2 or older can contribute up to $100,000 from their IRA directly to a charity and avoid paying income taxes on the distribution. Known as a qualified charitable distribution, it is limited to IRAs. Discuss with your financial advisor the benefits of also donating retirement assets as part of your estate plan.
If you have any questions, please contact president@mgfkc.org.
Make your check payable to MGFKC and please mail to our new address:
Master Gardener Foundation King County
c/o Washington State University Extension/King County
560 Naches Avenue, SW, Suite 130
Renton, WA 98057-2219
Join the Foundation
The Board of Directors meets on the second Thursday of each month, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm via Zoom. More information can be found on the Board of Directors webpage. Foundation membership is open to all WSU Extension King County Master Gardeners, is free of charge, and entitles members to vote in Director elections.
To join Master Gardeners Foundation of King County please contact membership@mgfkc.org.