Meeting our immediate and long term needs

Our Friends and Patrons, and those who make regular annual donations to the Kew Fund, are critically important to our work – all the more so as funding from government becomes ever less certain. Every year Friends and Patrons provide vital operational support, which we hope will only increase as a result of our campaign.

Furthermore, for the first time in our history, we are seeking to create a permanent endowment fund. Like the world’s leading universities, we need long-term financial stability in order to continue our work year after year. We have therefore made it a campaign priority to establish an endowment that will be invested to provide a regular income in perpetuity. Many people will choose to do this by leaving a legacy.

You can join us with a wider range of options than ever before, either through regular annual gifts or through a more sizable, endowed investment.

In addition to the major strategic initiatives that form our campaign objectives, Kew has bold dreams for the future that only philanthropy can help us realise. These include:

• an iconic pedestrian footbridge across the Thames to connect Kew Gardens to new communities in Brentford and a new riverfront landscape
• a new scientific, educational and visitor attraction at Wakehurst, linked to the Millennium Seed Bank
• restoration of the historic and much-loved Pagoda at Kew Gardens
• comprehensive digitisation of the collections within Kew’s Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives– placing a true library of life at the fingertips of the world
• senior scientific research posts, studentships and research fellowships.

Target:

£29 million

Campaign objectives

Offer your support

Call us on 0208 332 3248 to offer your support

 

Campaign objectives

Image: Detail of seed sculpture

Campaign objective:
Banking and sharing the world's seeds

Image: Forest canopy

Campaign objective:
Conserving and restoring habitats

Image: abstract image of plant DNA

Campaign objective:
Unlocking the power of plants for people

Image: green hand prints

Campaign objective:
Educating the next generation

Image: the Temperate House

Campaign objective:
Preserving Kew's heritage

Image: Detail of iron gate

Campaign objective:
Meeting our immediate and long term needs

Explore our Work

Breathing Planet - Explorer our Work

Explore our work around the world

Stories of the Breathing Planet

Photo: A view of the Peruvian desert

The tree that held back the Peruvian desert

Kew is helping regenerate the huarango tree in Peru - restoring the old ecosystems and microclimates at the same time.

Image: Yelow dot on a map

The Blob in the Box

Kew and Sir David Attenborough are helping to spread knowledge of the scientific discoveries made by Darwin 200 years ago.

View all stories

People of the Breathing Planet

'Richard and I have been inspired by the application of Kew's science across a broad spectrum.'
Kara Gnodde, Trustee

Breathing Planet People

'We are proud of our longstanding research, conservation and education partnership with Kew.'
Sir Andrew Witty, CEO, GlaxoSmithKline

Breathing Planet People

'I want to deliver an outstanding family landscape that attracts children to learn and have fun.'
Professor Angela McFarlane, Director of Public Engagement and Learning

Breathing Planet People

'Kew’s restoration ecology programme has the potential to transform the world.'
Dr Bruce Pavlik, Head of Restoration Ecology

Breathing Planet People

'No other institution could offer the opportunities or support for expertise on trees and arboreta.'
Tony Kirkham, Head of Arboretum

Breathing Planet People

'The restoration of the Temperate House is an example of how Kew's history is relevant today.'
Dr Tim Entwisle, Director of Conservation, Living Collections

Breathing Planet People

'When we discovered Kew's scientific work, we decided to leave a legacy to Kew in our wills.'
Andy and Val Butler, Supporters

AndyValbut

'There is no technical reason why any plant species should become extinct.'
Dr Paul Smith, Head of Seed Conservation

Paul Smith

'Being at Kew gives me the opportunity to work with an incredibly diverse range of plants.'
Lara Jewitt, Glasshouse Manager

Lara Jewit

'My team keep Kew's 1.5 million visitors safe so they can relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.'
John Deer, Security Manager

John Deer

'I try to inspire our visitors to take personal action to help conserve the plants upon which our lives depend.'
Andy Jackson, Head of Wakehurst Place

Andy Jackson

'Our partnership with Kew is evidence of the power of global collaboration.'
Professor De-Zhu Li, Kunming Institute of Botany

De-Zhulia

'It is the people at Kew who fill me with optimism for the future.'
Marcus Agius, Chairman, RBG, Kew and Kew Foundation

Marcus Agigus

'It’s a real privilege to show people the Gardens and explain our important work to them.'
Valerie Munro, Volunteer Guide

Valerie Manroe

'25 years since politics halted the project we are finally able to start work again in Iraq.'
Dr Shahina Ghazanfar, Herbarium Temperate Manager

Shahina

'I have been able to help to save the world’s smallest water lily from extinction.'
Carlos Magdalena, Collections, Horticulture

Breathing Planet People

'Kew’s science can harness the usefulness of plants for mankind.'
Professor Monique Simmonds, Deputy Keeper, Jodrell Laboratory

Breathing Planet People

Did You Know?

 1/3

 

One third of the Earth's habitats have been damaged by humans

 400,000

 

There are roughly 400,000 species of plants on earth

 1/4


One in four prescription drugs come from nature

 3/4


Three out of four people in the world rely on plants for healthcare

 50%


Kew works with 50% of the FTSE 100 companies

 800


Kew works with more than 800 organisations in over 100 countries

 30,000


Some 30,000 species grow on Kew's two sites

 40,000


Kew holds 40,000 plant DNA specimens

 1,250,000


Kew's fungarium holds 1.25 million specimens

 1/5

 

One in 5 plant species is at risk of extinction

About Kew Foundation

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