The South Florida Chapter of the USGBC is a group, nearly 800 strong, of like-minded individuals and businesses that collectively make up the largest, most diverse and yet certainly the most cohesive “green” force in the South Florida region. The volunteer contributions of office holders and members of the USGBCSF drive our nonprofit organization and extend its influence throughout our community.

Volunteers play an important role in many nonprofit organizations, but nowhere are such individuals more vital than in the USGBCSF. We depend on our volunteers for their time, their expertise and their unstinting generosity, and it is humbling to realize the considerable contributions made by many of our members.

Founding Sponsors

Our Founding Sponsors’ magnanimous early support made the establishment of the Chapter possible, and we thank and honor these outstanding individuals and companies:

• ASID, Florida South Chapter
• Herman Miller, Inc.
• MAPEI, Inc.
• Office Interiors of Florida
• Perkins + Will, Inc.
• ReSource South Florida
• Swanke, Hayden Connell, Ltd.
• Thorn Grafton, AIA, Architect
• Wallace, Roberts & Todd, LLC
• Zyscovich, Inc.

Charitable Support

Charitable support from the business community makes a real difference to the USGBCSF, providing critical funding that allows our organization to:

• Grow not only in numbers but also influence, making a genuine difference in our community by raising the awareness of the environmental, economic and health impacts of green buildings
• Enhance our reputation as an honest, informed green broker, ensuring the USGBCSF a fair hearing at any forum in which we participate and allowing us to serve as highly respected spokespersons for the wider green-build community.
• Make enduring strides in our vision of an educated South Florida community in which green building and sustainable design are expected by residents, supported by governments, and provided by designers and developers.

As with other nonprofit organizations, funding is often difficult to come by — and such support is even more difficult to secure in tougher economic times. Charitable gifts, large and small, make a huge difference to our organization. Truly, philanthropic support is an investment in greatness, providing the means for value-added impact. Please consider helping the USGBCSF reach our goals by making a tax-deductible donation that brings benefits to you or your business, including recognition in our prestigious Green Donors Honor Roll.

Green Donors Honor Roll

For some organizations, a Mission Statement is something framed on the boardroom wall. For the USGBCSF, our Mission Statement — to raise awareness of the environmental, economic and health impacts of green buildings -- is a reference point against which we must constantly measure our performance. If not for the Green Donors Honor Roll participants -- businesses that have stepped up and offered extraordinary charitable support for our organization -- we would not be able to make the educational strides that we have to date.

To that end, we thank and honor the companies listed below. At the end of each list, please review the considerable list of benefits that accrue to that donor category -- including a Chapter corporate membership and membership for individual employees within an organization -- and consider adding your name or your company’s name to that prestigious honor roll. These sponsorship packages have been created to encourage your participation in our Chapter, as well as to recognize your business at our Branches and help you make the best contacts in the green building industry.

Green Donors Honor Roll -- Platinum Level Membership ($10,000)

Includes, for one year:

• One USGBCSF Corporate Membership, which includes individual memberships for 25 employees within your firm.
• Representation on the USGBCSF’s Board of Trustees’ Advisory Council, providing you with direct input at the Chapter’s leadership level.
• Your firm’s logo on the USGBCSF’s website and in all Chapter e-newsletters.
• Recognition during all Chapter and Branch programs, workshops, meetings and events
• throughout the year, from Miami to Broward to Palm Beach Counties and up through the Treasure Coast -- a terrific business-to-business marketing opportunity that puts your business in front of members, Branch visitors and industry speakers multiple times each month.
• Recognition as sponsor of the USGBCSF’s Annual Meeting of Members.
• Ten tickets to our Gala Verde, USGBCSF’s annual gala … and recognition as a sponsor of this prestigious South Florida social event.

Current Platinum Level Members:

Green Donors Honor Roll -- Gold Level Membership ($5,000)

• One USGBCSF Corporate Membership, which includes individual memberships for 15 employees within your firm.
• Representation on the USGBCSF’s Board of Trustees’ Advisory Council, providing you with direct input at the Chapter’s leadership level.
• Your firm’s logo on the USGBCSF’s website and in all Chapter e-newsletters.
• Recognition during all Chapter and Branch programs, workshops, meetings and events throughout the year, from Miami to Broward to Palm Beach Counties and up through the Treasure Coast -- a terrific business-to-business marketing opportunity that puts your business in front of members, Branch visitors and industry speakers multiple times each month.
• Six tickets to our Gala Verde, USGBCSF’s annual gala … and recognition as a donor of this prestigious South Florida social event.

Current Gold Level Members:

Green Donors Honor Roll -- Silver Level Membership ($2,500)

• One USGBCSF Corporate Membership, which includes individual memberships for 5 employees within your firm.
• Representation on the USGBCSF’s Board of Trustees’ Advisory Council, providing you with direct input at the Chapter’s leadership level.
• Your firm’s logo on the USGBCSF’s website and in all Chapter e-newsletters.
• Recognition during all Chapter and Branch programs, workshops, meetings and events throughout the year, from Miami to Broward to Palm Beach Counties and up through the Treasure Coast -- a terrific business-to-business marketing opportunity that puts your business in front of members, Branch visitors and industry speakers multiple times each month.
• Four tickets to our Gala Verde, USGBCSF’s annual gala … and recognition as a donor of this prestigious South Florida social event.

Current Silver Level Members:

Green Donors Honor Roll -- Bronze Level Membership ($1,000)

• One USGBCSF Corporate Membership.
• Your firm’s logo on USGBCSF’s website and in all Chapter e-newsletters.
• Recognition during all Chapter and Branch programs, workshops, meetings and events throughout the year, from Miami to Broward to Palm Beach Counties and up through the Treasure Coast -- a terrific business-to-business marketing opportunity that puts your business in front of members, Branch visitors and industry speakers multiple times each month.
• Two tickets to our Gala Verde, USGBCSF’s annual gala … and recognition as a donor of this prestigious South Florida social event.

Current Bronze Level Members:

Green Donors Sponsorship Circle ($100-$999)

Each and every month, the USGBCSF’s enthusiastic Branches -- from the Treasure Coast down through Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties -- host many lesser-cost opportunities that bring donors’ front and center before their members, visitors and speakers. Opportunities to underwrite speakers’ appearances, lunches, workshops and other educational sessions abound, and all are critical to the success of the Chapter and the particular Branch. To learn more, contact Lee Cooke, the organization’s Executive Director, at 561-373-7367.

Remember the USGBCSF in Your Estate

Another way that individuals can help sustain the work of the South Florida Chapter, a nonprofit (501[c][3]) organization, is by considering planned giving or charitable gift planning before your estate is settled. Depending on your type of estate plan, giving assets now can make a great deal of sense from a business and tax perspective. Contributions can be as simple as an outright charitable bequest of a specific sum of money to the USGBCSF in your will, or you can designate a percentage of the overall value of your estate after settlement. Benefactors can choose to assign specific property to the organization (real estate, Individual Retirement Accounts or securities), or can decide to designate the USGBCSF as the recipient of a life insurance policy. Depending on your individual situation, the way you choose to remember the USGBCSF can have immediate and future fiscal and tax implications for you, and can also result in a feeling of pride for helping the Chapter continue its green building mission.

Planned giving also includes a variety of more sophisticated methods, including Charitable Gift Annuity Trusts, Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts, Charitable Remainder Unitrusts, and other advanced giving vehicles, each providing very real tax implications The USGBCSF recommends serious research before selecting your method of giving, including securing professional advice from Certified Financial Planners, estate-planning attorneys, trust officers or life-insurance professionals.

To Learn More

Philanthropy is one of the cornerstones of a prosperous society. The next time you’re considering worthy benefactors, please think of the USGBCSF and how your commitment to sustainability and green building can make a real difference in our region, as well as allow you and/or your company to be a recognized green leader within South Florida and beyond. To learn more regarding the USGBCSF Green Donors Honor Roll or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lee Cooke, the organization’s Executive Director, at 561-373-7367. The leadership of the South Florida Chapter would be delighted to help create a sponsorship package that suits your individual corporate needs.