Leadership Giving

Leadership Giving members ensure the Park’s current health and guarantee its future well-being for generations to come.

Our supporters understand that Central Park is crucial to the health of New York City and maintaining its vibrancy is our shared responsibility. These key philanthropic partners help sustain Central Park on a daily basis, providing significant funding through unrestricted gifts of $10,000 or more.

Join our Leadership Giving Circles

Message from Betsy Smith, President & CEO

  • Chairman’s Circle and President’s Circle members understand that Central Park is among New York City’s greatest assets and one of the world’s most important democratic and cultural spaces. It takes a remarkable amount of resources to manage the impact of the Park’s 42 million annual visitors. I am so grateful for the generosity of these dedicated groups of supporters — their partnership is vital to the work we do every day.

Leadership Giving Circle Benefits

  • A private driving or walking tour of Central Park hosted by Conservancy staff or docents

  • Pre-performance cocktail reception and reserved seating for Shakespeare in the Park

  • Pre-performance cocktail reception and preferred seating for the New York Philharmonic concert on the Great Lawn

  • Behind-the-scenes tours, lectures, and receptions with Park professionals

  • Annual Conservatory Garden cocktail party and walking tour

  • Annual New York City Marathon Breakfast

  • Annual Skating Party

  • Central Park Conservancy tote bag, baseball cap, and Park map*

*First-time members only. Membership is 100% tax-deductible.

PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE EVENTS

Autumn Walking Tour & Reception:
Restoring the Waterways and Wildscapes of the Park's North End
October 15, 2025

Bi-Annual Family Portrait Day
October 18, 2025 (Rain Date: October 19)
Reservations are first come, first served

Marathon Breakfast
November 2, 2025

Explore Green Infrastructure & Bird-Friendly Design at the Davis Center
In partnership with the New York Bird Alliance
November 6, 2025

2025 Annual Gala: The Central Park Supper Club
November 19, 2025
Ticketed benefit event

Holiday Lighting Event
At the Davis Center
December 5, 2025

Annual Skating Party
February 2025 (TBA)

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE EVENTS

Includes invitations to all President’s Circle events, plus:

Grand Opening Celebration of the Gottesman Ice Rink
At the Davis Center
November 14, 2025

Holiday Celebration, Hosted by
Board Chair Tom Kempner & Kitty Patterson Kempner
December 17, 2025

VIRTUAL EVENTS

We hope you will join us for some of our virtual events! Invitations will be sent via email.

Virtual Lecture with New Conservancy Historian Dr. Jessica MacLean
Unearthing Seneca Village: A 19th-Century Free Black Community Before Central Park
October 7, 2025

State of the Park Presentation with Betsy Smith,
Conservancy President & CEO
January 2026 on Zoom

Secrets of Central Park
Wednesdays at 12:30pm
Weekly on Zoom
Registration required

To learn more about our Leadership Giving Circles, please contact Mary Van de Graaf at 212.310.6608 or [email protected].