Donate | Tallgrass Prairie Center

Charitable donations to the Friends of the TPC are critical to our success. With your support, we are able to reach a much broader audience who value the beauty and ecological importance of tallgrass prairies, now and into the future.

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GIA members working in the production plots

Multiplying our impact by hosting Green Iowa AmeriCorps

Friends co-sponsor our participation in Green Iowa AmeriCorps. Serving for terms ranging from three months to two years, members have helped us to develop key publications, coordinate volunteers, manage and promote UNI's Biological Preserves, and deliver educational programming for the general public.

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Spring Seminar Series

One of the TPC's most important roles is to promote the appreciation of prairie. The Spring Seminar Series, sponsored solely by the Friends, promotes wide-ranging discussion of key issues in prairie conservation. Virtual and hybrid in-person seminars are recorded and available for viewing any time.

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Pale purple coneflower in bloom at Daryl Smith prairie

Assisting with individual prairie projects

The Friends co-sponsor the TPC Help Desk. Staffed by a trusted collaborator with over 30 years of prairie experience, the Help Desk provides one-on-one expert assistance to landowners seeking advice on their prairie projects.

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Upgrading equipment and infrastructure

Upkeep is a never-ending process. Your gifts have put a new roof on the greenhouse, purchase a versatile John Deere gator for field work, and upgrade specialized equipment for prescribed fire and native seed production. Ask us about our ongoing equipment wish list!

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Two young children explore the prairie, pictured among goldenrod in bloom

Pursuing our vision, courageously

Many of our remaining prairie remnants, once teeming with thousands of native species, are overcome by brush and invasive grasses. We are a part of the Northeast Iowa Habitat Partnership, supporting local prairie managers throughout the region.

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AmeriCorps presenting at the North American Prairie Conference

Serving the prairie community

The Friends have made it possible for us to serve the larger prairie community by sponsoring important regional and national meetings such as the North American Prairie Conference. We promote the growth and vibrancy of prairie organizations in Iowa by sending students and AmeriCorps members to meetings and field trips.

Support the Tallgrass Prairie Center

Tallgrass Prairie Center Endowed Fund for Excellence

Earnings from the Endowment are used to launch special projects. The Ancient Prairies Initiative aims to increase the capacity of local natural areas managers to care for their remnant prairies. We also use this fund to provide security for TPC's highly skilled professional staff, bridging occasional shortfalls in grant funding.

Friends of the Tallgrass Prairie Center

We use this fund for so many essentials--replacing equipment, hosting Green Iowa AmeriCorps, employing students, staffing the Help Desk (a free service for landowners with prairie-related questions), and fostering the development of early-career conservation professionals through travel to meetings.

Daryl Smith Prairie Endowment Fund

UNI’s flagship Biological Preserve, Daryl Smith Prairie, has educated and inspired students since 1973. Proceeds from the endowment are used to conduct prescribed burns and suppress woody species, while offering UNI students an unforgettable experience in prairie stewardship. To designate a gift for the Biological Preserves Entrance Project at Smith Prairie, contact Laura Jackson.

Click here to make a secure online gift through the UNI Foundation

Or, write a check payable to the UNI Foundation, with a note directing it to your preferred fund, and addressed to

UNI Foundation / 121 Commons / Cedar Falls, IA 50614