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BACKYARD BUTTERFLIES
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When I decided to launch a Giving Tuesday campaign this year, I honestly wasn’t sure what to say or what to expect. Asking for money is never easy, especially now, when so many of us are navigating the same economic uncertainties and when there are so many “bigger” causes calling for attention, time, and resources. So I simply went with my heart. I thought about where we are as an organization, what we’re trying to build, and why our work matters. And I trusted that if I spoke from that place, the right people would hear it. And you did.
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Thanks to your generosity, we’ve already reached 95% of our goal — $475 out of $500! We are truly so grateful. Your support tells us that the work we do resonates with you, that planting native plants, supporting the life cycles of insects, and nurturing local biodiversity is meaningful not just for the environment, but for us as humans, too.
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This work heals. It connects us to the land, to the tiny lives we often overlook, and to one another. And your donations directly sustain that.
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Our campaign runs until Tuesday night, but we are now just one donation away from reaching the goal early. If you’ve been considering a gift, or if someone you know might love what we’re doing, now is a wonderful moment to help us cross that finish line.
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From the bottom of my heart: thank you. Thank you for believing in this work, for showing up for nature, and for supporting our small but mighty missions. We truly couldn’t do this without you!
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Love, Light, & Leps,
Lior S. Carlson
Executive Director
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One-time Donation
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Our traditional call for monetary donations comes with a modest goal this year: raising $500 to help offset the unexpected expenses we faced this fall. In September, we experienced an unusually high demand for our Caterpillar Support program, and at the same time one of our key plant propagation suppliers increased shipping costs substantially. Your support helps us absorb these sudden costs so we can continue providing our services at no charge to the community.
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We value transparency and accountability. We want you to know exactly where your donation goes and how it makes a difference.
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A donation of $25 helps us support roughly a dozen adopted Monarch or Black Swallowtail caterpillars as they complete their life cycle and emerge as healthy, breeding adults.
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A donation of $50 helps us continue offering multiple free public Moth Nights at local parks and nature preserves, events that bring people of all ages together to experience community science and the wonder of nighttime biodiversity.
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A donation of $100 fully supports one Plant Grant award, providing 18 native plants to a qualifying organization—such as a school, public library, local park or nature preserve, or community garden—helping them create or expand essential habitat.
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Monthly Donation
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Become a monthly moth ally and help keep butterflies, moths, and pollinators thriving throughout the year. Monthly donations give us steady support, especially during the off-season, so we can continue rescuing caterpillars, growing native plants, and connecting people to nature.
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A testament to the special powers of one of our favorite programs is the Hillsborough Moth Crawl. Despite a pop-up storm over Brumley Forest NP during the event, people continued to moth and show up to be part of the event. Many brought rain gear so they could continue undaunted! One group who started at the Confluence Natural Area made moth-themed hats for a birthday, which was such a joyful and memorable moment for everyone there.
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Throughout the year, we also hosted more than a dozen free public moth nights in partnership with other organizations across the state, rescued and adopted more than 300 Monarch caterpillars, helped another 50 with host plants, and cared for 50 Black Swallowtails.
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In addition, we awarded 53 Plant Grants to schools, libraries, parks, and community gardens, helping create habitats that support local wildlife. Through these 53 grants approximately 864 native plants were given their forever homes!
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By giving monthly, you become part of this ongoing work. Your support helps us keep programs running, inspire curiosity about nature, and nurture habitats that matter.
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Sign up today to make a monthly gift and be a steady light for moths, butterflies, and the people who love them.
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Plant sales have always been our main fundraiser. It makes perfect sense to grow the plants that caterpillars need to complete their life cycles. But let’s be honest… not everyone has space for another plant (gasp!)
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That’s why we’ve created an Amazon shopping list of items we regularly use through the Lepidoptera season, along with a few “wish list” goodies that will help us flutter farther for caterpillar care, plant propagation, moth nights, the NC Moth Project, community outreach and education.
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Every item you purchase for us directly supports our mission. Think of it as feeding our caterpillars, fueling our moth nights, and keeping the lights on for butterflies and pollinators everywhere, all from the comfort of your home!
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