Volunteer

Merrily Volunteer

Open to the public from dawn to dusk 365 days a year, the Center welcomes visitors from throughout the Bay Area. Join us and be inspired, educated and entertained, or to just be.

Marin Art and Garden Center appreciates your interest in our programs, and we are committed to ensuring that you have a rewarding experience. We are also committed to respecting your skills.

Volunteer participation can involve a regular monthly commitment to our garden work party, or something more occasional. We welcome volunteers of all ages, including high school students (with a parent’s permission). 

Interested? Contact us at volunteering@maringarden.org

Gardening

Join a delightful group of dedicated volunteers who assist our professional horticultural staff at our monthly Garden Work Parties. Our 11 historic acres encompass numerous specialty gardens that need care throughout the year, such as weeding, raking, deadheading, and light pruning. 

Best if you are: energetic, with a positive attitude and an interest in physical activity. 

Hospitality

Join our community of lifelong learners of art and plant lovers. We seek to welcome visitors with a personal touch, greetings them at the entry and sharing information about What’s On at the Center. Based at The Watering Can, where we offer cold drinks and treats on select days, volunteers can help our Center to make visitors feel welcome and gather information about their interests.

Best if you are: outgoing, enjoy meeting new people.

Events

The Center presents programs and special events throughout the year, in venues that include The Studio, a hub of arts programs and exhibitions; the Gazebo Lawn , home of our popular Summer Concerts, and the Redwood Amphitheatre, an intimate venue for performances. Volunteers are essential for hosting our events in assisting as greeters, check in, set up and breakdown, food service and more.

Best if you are: energetic, appreciate art and performances, and enjoy working with the public.

Volunteer Application

TERMS OF VOLUNTEERING

Policies and Safety Rules
For my safety and the safety of others, I will comply with Marin Garden’s volunteer policies, safety rules, and other directions for all volunteer activities. I will supervise any child or other person for whom I am responsible. Any child age 14 or under must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Awareness and Assumption of Risk
I understand that Marin Garden’s activities have inherent risks that may arise from the activities themselves, my own actions or inactions, or the actions or inactions of Marin Garden and its respective trustees, officers, employees, agents, other volunteers, and others present at program sites. Depending on the nature of the activities, these risks may arise from physical exertion, use of facilities, outdoor activities, using tools, or lifting heavy objects. I assume full responsibility for any and all risks of bodily injury, death, or property damage caused by or arising directly or indirectly from my presence at program sites or participation in Marin Garden’s activities, regardless of the cause.

Waiver and Release of Claims
In consideration for my participation in Marin Garden’s programs, I waive and release any and all claims
against Marin Garden; the owner(s) of premises on which Marin Garden programs take place (collectively, “Landowners”); and Marin Garden’s respective trustees, officers, employees, agents, volunteers, and affiliates (collectively, the “Released Parties”) for any liability, loss, damages, claims, expenses, and attorneys’ fees resulting from death or injury to my person or property caused by or arising directly or indirectly from my presence at a program site or participation in Marin Garden’s activities, regardless of the cause and even if caused by negligence, whether passive or active. I agree not to sue Marin Garden, any of the Landowners, or any of the Released Parties on the basis of these waived and released claims.

Medical Care Consent and Waiver
I authorize Marin Garden to provide to me first aid and, through medical personnel of its choice, medical assistance, transportation, and emergency medical services. This consent does not impose a duty upon Marin Garden to provide such medical assistance, transportation, and emergency medical services. In addition, I waive and release any claims against Marin Garden, any of the Landowners, and any of the Released Parties arising out of any first aid, treatment, or medical service, including the lack or timing of such, made in connection with my volunteer activities at Marin Garden.

Publicity Consent
I consent to the use by Marin Garden of my image, voice, name, and/or story in any format (collectively, “Materials”), as Marin Garden deems appropriate to promote its respective programs. Marin Garden may make the Materials available to third parties, on their respective websites, or through any other media. I waive any right to approve the finished product or to receive any payment. I grant to Marin Garden all copyrights in the Materials and waive any legal claims, including those relating to copyright, or rights of publicity or privacy.

Volunteer Not Employee
I understand that (i) I am not an employee of Marin Garden, (ii) I will not be paid for my participation, and (iii) I am not covered by or eligible for any Marin Garden insurance, health care, worker’s compensation, or other benefits. I may choose at any time not to participate in an activity, or to stop my participation entirely, at Marin Garden.

General Provisions
I understand that this agreement will be binding for the duration of my involvement with Marin Garden’s volunteer programs. This is the final, complete, and exclusive agreement between Marin Garden and me, and it supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications or understandings, either oral or written. This agreement will be binding to the fullest extent permitted by law and will be interpreted according to the laws of the State of California. If any provision of this agreement is found to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.

Confidentiality
As a volunteer, I may have access to confidential information. At all times during and after my participation, I agree to hold any such confidential information in confidence and not disclose or use it except as required in my volunteer activities or as Marin Garden’s Executive Director expressly authorizes in writing.

IRS Guidelines for Gifts from Donor Advised Funds to Support MAGC Events

Thank you for your interest in giving to the Marin Art & Garden Center events from your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) or Family Foundation.

We sincerely appreciate your generosity and support!

To ensure your gift follows the current IRS guidelines for DAF/Family Foundation support of an event, we would like to share the below guidelines with you.

  • Raffle tickets, tickets to galas and other special events, auction items, and benefits conferred in connection with a DAF/foundation grant are not permitted.
    • IRS has specifically ruled that fair market value associated with fundraising events cannot be separated, a practice known as “bifurcation.”
      • For example, with Edible Garden, if the price of the ticket is $200 and the FMV fair market value (non-tax-deductible amount) is designated to be $50, the donor must pay from sources other than her DAF/foundation for the full value of the ticket ($200) and not just for the non-tax-deductible amount ($50).
    • We recommend you confer with your financial advisor to confirm if any of these examples of how donors may still use their DAF to support an event would work for you:
      • A donor could sponsor the event, and not attend, and pay fully out of the DAF/foundation.
      • A donor could sponsor the event using DAF/foundation funds and attend by purchasing an individual ticket through non-DAF/foundation funds.
      • A donor could sponsor the event, join the event as a guest of another donor/table guest, and pay fully out of the DAF/foundation.
      • A donor could sponsor the event and host the afforded number of people at their chosen level as long as they pay for the seats at the lowest ticket price ($200 for Edible Garden) outside of their DAF.
        • As an example, a $1,500 sponsor that covers 2 guests, could pay for their sponsorship with $400 from a different source of funds, and then give an additional gift of $1,100 out of their DAF.

 

Please email Tod Thorpe, Director of Development at tod.thorpe@maringarden.org to discuss your gift to Marin Art and Garden Center