Tribute Gifts

Tribute Benches and Tables

A tribute bench or picnic table is a meaningful way to remember a loved one or celebrate someone or something special, while creating a lasting connection to the Zoo and providing a peaceful place of rest outdoors.

Tribute Bench

Honor your special someone with a tribute bench and provide guests a spot to recharge between adventures.

✪ Features

6-foot bench seats 3-4 adults
Contoured seated and rounded edges
Crafted with durable, outdoor-friendly materials

Buy a Tribute Bench

Tribute Table

Honor your special someone with a tribute table and provide guests a place to gather with their herd.

✪ Features

Seats 4 adults to 8 children
Crafted with durable, outdoor-friendly materials
ADA-accessible picnic table option available

Buy a Tribute Table

Tribute Bench and Table Policies

We use standardized bench and table designs that adhere to the Zoo’s standards and operational needs. ADA-accessible picnic tables are also available.
All dedicated benches and tables include a plaque that is professionally engraved with your inscription. We will assist you with this process and you will have the opportunity to approve a final proof of the plaque. Our standard bench plaque is 2.5”x 7.5” and the character limit is 175. Please note that all copy being submitted will be subject to review by the Foundation. We reserve the right to refuse plaque requests that include offensive language, political speech, or hate speech.
You will be able to select from predetermined bench locations that take into consideration space availability and maintenance concerns and will adhere to the Zoo's long-range plan. We reserve the right to remove and/or relocate benches or tables should the operational needs of the Zoo change.
Bench and table installation dates occur twice per year: spring and fall. Tribute requests will be queued up in between for inclusion on the next installation date.
The dedication agreement term is ten years. The full $5,000 donation must be made and the dedication agreement signed before benches, tables or plaques are ordered. After the initial term is complete, the Minnesota Zoo Foundation will reach out to discuss future options. Donors are responsible for updating contact information throughout the term of the agreement. If a donor is not found at the expiration of the term, we reserve the right to make the bench available for re-dedication.
If you have a group that would like to dedicate a tribute bench or table, we recommend that you gather the gifted funds and then forward them to us. We require a single point of contact for ease of communication and approvals; this should be the person who signs the dedication agreement. The signed dedication agreement form and full $5,000 dedication donation must be received by the Foundation before benches, tables or plaques will be ordered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tribute gifts are accepted via online payment (credit card, ACH, digital wallet), check, or through a Donor Advised Fund or IRA.
Yes, your tribute gift is an unrestricted gift to the Minnesota Zoo Foundation and is 100% tax-deductible.
Your gift provides critical, unrestricted funding to support the Zoo’s initiatives and expand its impact. All tribute table and bench contributions are considered a donation to the Minnesota Zoo Foundation and under no circumstances imply ownership of the bench or table by the donor.
- All donors must supply a back up contact at the time of the donation.
- If the donor’s original contact information and the back up contact’s information do not produce a viable communication connection, the tribute bench or table will be released back into available inventory for other donors when the tribute term expires.
- When the tribute term expires, the plaque will be removed and stored. We will send the plaque to the donor at their request.
We reserve the right to remove and/or relocate benches or tables should the operational needs of the Zoo change. We will attempt to notify you in advance of any action that needs to be taken. In the event a bench or table must be permanently removed, we will work with you to find a new location.
The Zoo has design standards for benches and tables across the Zoo’s grounds, so donors are limited to those styles.
Ordering an installation may take several months, depending on time of year. We will inform you once the bench or table has been installed, after which time you are welcome to visit during daytime Zoo hours by purchasing an admission ticket or membership. Disrupting other guests, blocking paths, etc. is not allowed.