Wetlands

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From the outset, Valley View has been funded and operated by ordinary citizens. Valley View was founded to purchase and preserve land that was about to become just another shopping center and warehouse. The Milford community went to Milford elected officials with an idea and an alternative that we know today as Valley View. Valley View leaders promised they would not ask taxpayers to finance our efforts and that we would give the City of Milford and the surrounding communities a new recreation and education destination. Valley View kept its promise not to burden taxpayers. To keep the project alive, Valley View committed to pay $70,000+/year in annual lease payments while we secured permanent funding of $2 million to buy this land. This was no small undertaking for a grassroots organization. It was only made possible through the generous donations of many people and grants from private foundations and the State of Ohio. Today Valley View owns its land, is debt free, has no lease payments and runs a fiscally conservative operation with a surplus in our accounts. All funds we receive help us improve the property for you. We use the funds to develop programs for visitors, maintain miles of trails, build the community garden, restore the historic barns and build a shelter where teachers and others can gather on our site. If you like what you see, it wasn't free. Valley View Foundation is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization so your donations may be fully tax deductible based on your individual tax situation.

Become a Patron

Please consider becoming a patron of Valley View. Annual patron levels and dues are as follows. If you would prefer to pay by check, you can download a Patron Registration Form and do so.

Patron Levels

Grassroots Patron - Individual ($25/year)

• Private guided hikes/hay rides • Reduced charges or free admission to events and programs • Quarterly newsletter • E-mail notification of upcoming events • Registration/early bird discounts • Camping privileges (upon request)

Grassroots Patron - Couple ($45/year)

Grassroots Patron - Family ($65/year)

Wetlands Patron - ($100/year)

• Free Admission to the Spooky Bottoms • Private guided hikes/hay rides • Reduced charges or free admission to events and programs • Quarterly newsletter • E-mail notification of upcoming events • Registration/early bird discounts • Camping privileges (upon request)

Prairie Patron - ($250/year)

• Free admission to all events • Private guided hikes/hay rides • Reduced charges or free admission to other events and programs • Quarterly newsletter • E-mail notification of upcoming events • Registration/early bird discounts • Camping privileges (upon request)

Woodlands Patron - ($500/year)

• Private hay ride for 20 people • Free Admission to all events • Private guided hikes/hay rides • Reduced charges or free admission to other events and programs • Quarterly newsletter • E-mail notification of upcoming events • Registration/early bird discounts • Camping privileges (upon request)

Riparian Patron - ($1,000/year)

• Trail marker with your name on donor sign • Private hay ride for 20 people • Free Admission to all events • Private guided hikes/hay rides • Reduced charges or free admission to other events and programs • Quarterly newsletter • E-mail notification of upcoming events/early • Registration/early bird discounts • Camping privileges (upon request)

Make a Donation

We regularly have people who wish to make a financial contribution or donation of in kind material, equipment or services. As a 501(c)(3) organization, we welcome these generous offers and all donations are tax deductible. If you would like to make a cash donation of any amount, you can do so by clicking on the button below or downloading a Donation Form and mailing your payment to us. As a nature preserve and educational facility we are interested in donations of materials and equipment such as lumber, used farm equipment and power tools to carry out our mission. We also welcome assistance with projects such as the kiosk shown above which was built and installed by HGC Construction at no cost to Valley View. We also have other projects, such as a bat hotel that was built as an Eagle Scout project on our property. For these types of in kind donations, we request that you e-mail or call us at 513-218-1098.

Make a Grant

The majority of Valley View's funding to purchase our land came from the generous support of private foundations and government grants from the State of Ohio. We have applied for and received numerous grants from private family foundations, community foundations and corporate foundations. Among others, we have received substantial grants from:

•The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

•The Hauck Foundation

•The Nippert Foundation

•The Robert Gould Foundation

•The Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund

•The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund

If you are or know a grantmaker that is interested in funding education, historic preservation, environmental or conservation projects, Valley View would welcome the opportunity to provide you more information about our organization, our fiscally responsible use of resources and the programs and projects we would like to improve or develop. Please contact our Board President or call 513-218-1098 to discuss such an opportunity further.