Membership FAQ

Frequently
Asked Questions

Visiting the Garden

Individual Plus, Household, and Household Plus membership levels and all Donor levels include one-time use passes.
The number varies by membership level. You can redeem your one-time use guest passes through the member portal at chicagobotanic.org. On-site, you can request a printed one-time use pass from Garden staff at the admission booths on the Welcome Plaza.
You can buy admission for your guest online or at the admission booth on the Welcome Plaza.
Yes, please visit! There is a digital card in your member portal online that can be shown for free parking and member free admission.
You can also stop by the admission booth on the Welcome Plaza for a Member Day Pass and use it during your visit to access all your member benefits.
Your email confirmation of your membership transaction includes a QR code that can be shown for free parking and admission.

Digital Membership Card

Member Events

Member Discount Tickets

New Chicago Botanic Garden Member

Managing Your Membership

You can update your contact information.
Access the digital card or move it to Apple Wallet.
See your expiration date.
Change your account password.
Redeem any one-time use guest passes that come with your membership level.
Redeem your free renewal gift by presenting the QR code at the Membership Desk.
View your ticket or class purchases.
Renew your membership.
Buy event tickets and classes at discount prices.
Check if you selected auto-renewal when you renewed your membership.
If you are a new member or if you are a renewing member and wish to change the name of a joint cardholder, please email  Membership Customer Service  with your member number and requested changes.
If you renewed online and had previously listed a second person on the membership, you don’t need to do anything when the names should stay the same. We will assume you wish to keep the same two named cardholders.

Purchasing Membership

Online
1. The email confirmation allows immediate access to free parking and admission.
2. Printed membership cards and decals are mailed. Please allow three to four weeks to receive the materials in the mail.
At the Membership Desk in the Visitor Center
Membership materials are provided at the time of the transaction.
By phone
1. The email confirmation allows immediate access to free parking and admission.
2. Printed membership cards and decals are mailed. Please allow three to four weeks to receive the materials in the mail.
3. Please call (847) 835-8215.
If you purchased admission tickets to the Garden, the ticket price can be applied to the cost of a Membership during your visit. For Individual, the cost of one regular-priced ticket is applied. The cost of two regular-priced tickets can be applied toward the purchase of an Individual Plus membership. The cost of two adults and children’s tickets can be applied towards the purchase of Household membership. The cost of four adults and children’s tickets can be applied toward the purchase of a Household Plus and Donor-level membership.
This discount is available on the date of your visit at the Membership Desk.
Please visit the Membership Desk to explore the Business and Green Organization membership for businesses. The benefits of these memberships allow up to four adults per visit. Prices vary with the number of employees in the company.
Our Corporate Partners Program does offer businesses and other organizations the opportunity to support the Garden and receive special privileges.
Individual, Individual Plus, Household, Household Plus, and Donor-level memberships are not intended for groups and the memberships may not be purchased in the name of a group.

Gift of Membership

Renew Your Garden Membership

Auto-Renewal

Terms and Conditions

Reciprocal Benefits

Your membership card is your passport to America’s garden treasures. Receive special admission privileges at horticultural organizations throughout North America. Please check the website of the American Horticultural Society for a detailed list of all participating gardens: AHS Garden Network - American Horticultural Society.
Benefits vary by organization. Members must contact the Garden they wish to visit to confirm what benefits are available.
Those who are members of participating public gardens and who have one name on their membership card or an individual level indicated on the card are eligible for up to two general admission tickets each time they visit the Chicago Botanic Garden (one for the member and one other person).
Those with two or more names on their membership card and whose card indicates it is a family level membership are eligible for free general admission for two adults and the children in the party.

Return to top of page

Membership FAQ

FrequentlyAsked Questions

Visiting the Garden

I am a member. What do I need to show to get free parking and admission?

What if I am bringing more guests than are covered for free admission by my membership level?

What if I haven’t received my printed membership materials in the mail yet? Can I visit the Garden?

How long does it take to receive the printed membership materials?

What if my car does not have a decal? Can I show my membership card for free parking? Yes, please show your membership card for free parking.

I do not use the computer; how do I redeem my membership one-time use passes or tickets and how do I redeem my renewal premium gift?

Can I give my membership card to someone else to visit the Garden?

Digital Membership Card

How do I access my digital membership card?

I have membership with two listed members, can we both access the digital card

Member Events

Are there any member–only events?

What are member-only hours and can I bring a nonmember guest?

Member Discount Tickets

What events are discounted for members?

Do members get a discount on classes?

New Chicago Botanic Garden Member

How do I access my benefits immediately?

How do I access my one-time use passes or my free renewal gift voucher

Managing Your Membership

Can I claim the member benefit one-time use passes or renewal gift from last year’s membership that I never redeemed?

I want to update my contact information; how do I do that?

What can I see or do in the online Member Portal?

I have a Household, Household Plus, or Donor-level membership. How do I change the name of the joint member?

I lost my membership card, how do I replace it?

I can’t find my membership card and I want to come to the Garden.

I am interested in upgrading my membership to enjoy more benefits. How should I do this?

Can I give a caregiver my card?

Is my membership tax deductible?

My company has a matching gift program.

How many online accounts can be linked to one membership?

How do I remove my name from the mailing list?

Purchasing Membership

How do I purchase membership to the Chicago Botanic Garden?

Can I apply the parking fee and admission ticket price to membership?

Can I use a donor advised fund for my membership purchase?

Can I receive a refund of my membership?

Is there a student or senior rate for membership?

Can a friend and I buy a membership together if we do not live in the same household?

Do you offer memberships for groups or businesses?

Gift of Membership

How do I give a gift of Garden membership?

Renew Your Garden Membership

Where can I renew?

If I renew before my expiration date, will my renewed membership start right away?

Auto-Renewal

What is the Automatic Renewal Program?

Terms and Conditions

Reciprocal Benefits

I am a Chicago Botanic Garden member. How do I access the reciprocal benefits at other gardens?

I am a member of a garden participating in the AHS Reciprocal Program. How do I obtain reciprocal admission at the Chicago Botanic Garden?

How many admission tickets are included in reciprocal admission?

Can I reserve reciprocal admission tickets in advance

Frequently
Asked Questions