Thank you for considering a gift to sustain and promote the legacy of Robert Allerton! Gifts from our Friends of Allerton are critical to improving the Park, and now you can also donate toward specific initiatives that YOU are most interested in supporting!
To make a donation in support of a specific item, please specify the item(s) under “Special Instructions” when you make your gift online. Or, contact Bridget Frerichs at bridgetf@illinois.edu or 217-333-3287.
Self-contained sewer auger » $1,000
This professional piece of equipment helps us avoid costly repairs.
Plumbing tools, wrenches, vises » $500
Necessary equipment for staff to fix maintenance issues without hiring expensive outside help.
Generator (700 Watt) » $1,300
We are in need of a generator to provide back-up power for the Mansion and other Park buildings during power outages.
Sewer Camera » $1,400
A sewer camera would allow us to inspect drain and sewer pipes to pinpoint and prevent problems. The cost of having this conducted by outside contractors is time consuming and extremely expensive.
HVAC Tools » $1,800
Current equipment is outdated and not rated properly for the new 410a refrigerant pressures. This will allow continued work on our HVAC systems, recovery machine, gauges, and vacuum pump.
Utilities Locator » $4,000
When we have a project that requires digging, the locating service only locates gas lines and power lines. We are responsible for locating any power lines after the meter. Having a utilities locator would take the guess work out of locating our infrastructure and also save on potential safety issues and costly repairs.
Camera » $650
A quality camera does justice to Allerton’s amazing grounds and gardens so that anyone can enjoy their beauty, from anywhere.
Billboard in CU area or on I-57 » $3,000
Billboards promote Allerton programs, events and facilities to a wide audience of potential users and supporters!
Wayfinding signs » $5,000 each
Elegant directional signs within the Park help visitors, guests, vendors, and participants find their way to specific locations and buildings. Several of these signs have already been installed at the Park, but help is needed to complete the project.
GoPro enhancement accessories (microphone, batteries, strap, case) » $200
Our ability to connect with people through virtual videos, events and programs is greatly enhanced with the right equipment!
Summer Day Camp Scholarship » $500 per scholarship
Every year, campers are able to attend a week of Day Camp thanks to the generous support scholarship donors. A week in nature is priceless!
Audio guide system » $1,500
Leading tours for large groups is made simple with the use of an audio guide system that allows one guide to speak into a microphone heard by anyone on the tour with a receiving headset.
Shuttle for UIUC students » $1,000
In order to experience Allerton in person, area students need access to reliable transportation. Shuttle buses coincide with events, programs and seasons that students enjoy!
Day Camp Outdoor activity carts (2) » $350 each
Camp was meant to be outdoors, and rugged mobile carts help us transport our equipment and supplies to gardens and trails!
Sponsor Volunteer Appreciation Party » $1,000
Allerton volunteers are the best in the business! We want to show them our appreciation on behalf of all staff, visitors and guests that benefit from their hard work.
Sponsor an Outreach and Engagement Summer Intern » $4,000
Internships provide knowledge and experience for students eager to get their foot in the door of natural areas management as well as provide fresh ideas and extra effort toward our goals at Allerton.
To make a donation in support of a specific item, please specify the item(s) under “Special Instructions” when you make your gift online. Or, contact Bridget Frerichs at bridgetf@illinois.edu or 217-333-3287.
Spring Annuals » $1,000
Spruce up the pots around the Mansion with spring annuals!
Utility Cart » $550
How do you carry 100+ pounds of weeds out of the gardens to the compost piles? You don’t, you use a utility cart! Help our hard-working gardeners by donating this handy piece of equipment.
Peony Garden Mulch » $1,050
The Peony Garden uses close to 60 yards of mulch at a cost of just over $1,000. This garden is a special place to many people who have dedicated a peony to friends and family!
Leaf Vacuum » $1,300
Imagine raking your yard in the fall – now increase that by 15! Allerton has to remove leaves from 15 formal gardens every fall, and a vacuum will save precious time and energy.
Fall Mums » $2,000
Mums don’t grow on trees — we buy them from a nursery! You can be directly responsible for the fall beautification throughout the Park!
Summer Annuals » $5,500
The Allerton gardeners plant thousands of flowers every summer to beautify pots and beds throughout the Park.
Trees » $1,000 each
Reforesting the meadow next to the House in the Woods will reduce our mowing costs, add to natural habitat and sequester more carbon!
New outdoor garbage & recycling cans » $960
Not a fancy item but a very important one. We need a lot of these for concerts and other events!
Sponsor a Golf Cart for one year » $1,000
These essential vehicles require new batteries, cables, tires and other parts. We need support to keep our fleet of eight golf carts running smoothly.
Solar lights for parking lot (4) » $2,000 each
As events and programs increase at Allerton, we need more lighting to the areas our visitors use. These solar lights are an energy efficient way to keep the parking lot well-lit at night.
Garden & plant identification tags for an entire garden » $1,000
Allerton is a valuable resource for the community to learn and experience new things. With identification tags, garden areas become a teaching tool for school groups, volunteers and general visitors!
Annual maintenance of Mansion Koi Pond » $3,500
The much loved Koi Pond is an original structure at Allerton, although it was originally a pool! Help support this relaxing space by providing one year’s worth of maintenance.
To make a donation in support of a specific item, please specify the item(s) under “Special Instructions” when you make your gift online. Or, contact Bridget Frerichs at bridgetf@illinois.edu or 217-333-3287.
Custom Allerton Logo Welcome Mat » $720
An Allerton welcome mat will make a lasting impression as visitors and guests enter the Marble Hallway of the Mansion.
Marble Hall Rugs » $1,000
We want to make a great first impression and the Marble Hallway is your first sight as you enter the Mansion. Rugs protect the marble floor and add aesthetics to the entryway.
Display Lighting For Asian Robes In Marble Hallway » $415
A pair of original robes collected by Robert Allerton hang in the Marble Hallway of the Mansion. These robes represent Robert’s love of worldly travel and appreciation of Asian style and art. They should be displayed predominately!
Allerton ‘A’ Embroidered Pillows (24) » $500 each
Embroidered pillows add that special Allerton touch to each hotel room.
Mini-Fridges For Mansion Hotel Rooms (17) » $150 each
Allerton hotel rooms feel more like home for each person who stays when they have this useful amenity. Support like this helps us improve our hotel experience, which is a benefit for all aspects of the Park.
Guest Room Key Cards (41 rooms) » $1,500 per room
Guest rooms currently have a lock and key. Upgrading to a key card will be more convenient and secure for our guests.
Retreat Center Summer Intern » $4000
Internships provide knowledge and experience for students eager to get their foot in the door of event management as well as provide fresh ideas and extra effort for these events at Allerton.
To make a donation in support of a specific item, please specify the item(s) under “Special Instructions” when you make your gift online. Or, contact Bridget Frerichs at bridgetf@illinois.edu or 217-333-3287.
Native prairie seed mix » $1,000
This mix will be planted in prairie areas after removal of lespedeza and other invasive species.
Native woodland seed mix » $1,000
This mix will be planted in wooded areas where previous use of the forestry mower has created bare soil ready for native species.
Nest Watch Wi-Fi Camera (2) » $500 each
This camera would allow us to put up a nest box within reach of one of the Allerton buildings (Wi-Fi) and provide a live feed of a nest box. We are hoping to connect it to a wood duck nest box on the river or a wren nest box near the buildings.
Forestry mower rental (one month) » $10,000-15,000
A forestry mower has been successfully used to remove invasive species from large areas of Allerton. One month-long rental of this amazing piece of equipment costs the Park between $12,000-$15,000. Each $1000 (or larger) gift allows us to rent it more often and shave years off the amount of time it would take to rejuvenate an area of forest without it.
Browing Dark Ops Pro NCL Nano (one month) » $180 each
These are the best quality trail cameras around and would be great for Creek Cam and Nest Cam footage.
Backpack sprayers (4) » $1000
These sprayer make quick work of controlling invasive species that threaten to take over areas of Allerton’s forests and prairies.
Sponsor A Natural Areas Summer Intern » $5,250
Internships provide knowledge and experience for students eager to get their foot in the door of natural areas management as well as provide fresh ideas and extra effort toward our goals for these spaces at Allerton.
New Light Walk lights » $500 – $5000
This outdoor holiday event invites countless people and families to the Park to experience the cheer and warmth of the season. In addition to regular repairs and replacements, we plan to use your donation to expand Glow this year!
Diversity, Inclusion and Access programs and initiatives » $1000
Support for vital programming, events and initiatives that invite and embrace a more diverse audience furthers Allerton’s vision, “To inspire the community to utilize and value nature, history, and the arts…” Funds are used to start new events & programs, create scholarships, aid in research and support internships.
Upgraded sound equipment (speakers, microphone, amplification) » $1000
This equipment allows us to host small, local musicians throughout the formal garden, so our visitors can truly enjoy music in nature!
Lecture funding » $1000
Allerton is the perfect space to host educational events that bring together new people and new ideas. Funding for this initiative helps pay for speakers and other aspects of this type of learning event.
To make a donation in support of a specific item, please specify the item(s) under “Special Instructions” when you make your gift online. Or, contact Bridget Frerichs at bridgetf@illinois.edu or 217-333-3287.
Allerton Park and Retreat Center provides a rare opportunity to experience and appreciate nature, the arts, and history. Your contribution ensures that Allerton will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.
To make a general donation to support Allerton, click here.
