NCR FUNDRAISING STRATEGY

NCR FUNDRAISING STRATEGY 10/25/2000
" Nation's Capital National Parks Fund"

h On August 23, 2000 NCR park and program managers, NPS-Washington managers, and the National Park Foundation (NPF) agreed to move ahead with a fundraising strategy for NCR park units.

THE PARTICIPANTS SAID "A COLLABORATIVE FUNDRAISING EFFORT IS THE BEST STRATEGY FOR NCR PARKS TO USE TO WORK WITH THE NATIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION TO RAISE MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT MONEY APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS".

A Workgroup was appointed and assigned to design a draft region-wide fundraising strategy.

The draft strategy will be provided to all park and program managers for review and comment. The intent is to reach consensus agreement on, and implement the most appropriate approach for a collaborative NCR park fundraising strategy.

h The purpose of this meeting is to:

BRIEF YOU ON THE STATUS OF OUR WORK;

SEEK YOUR IDEAS AND INSIGHTS ABOUT WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR NCR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS; AND

SEE IF THERE IS INTEREST IN COLLABORATING ON THE NATION'S CAPITAL NATIONAL PARKS FUND

NATION'S CAPITAL NATIONAL PARKS WORKGROUP
Debbie Feldman, GWMP
Lisa Mendleson, NACC
Kate Richardson, PRWI
Jay Vestal, NPF
Nancy Brown, CHOH
Audrey Calhoun, GWMP
Glenn Eugster, NCRO
ADRIENNE APPLEWAITHE-COLEMAN

august Meeting Goal: Further develop a draft model and agreements for a NCR Parks Fundraising Strategy.

draft workgroup results:

What do we call this effort?
Nation's Capital National Parks Fund


What is the purpose of the proposed Fund?
h Establish a collaborative region-wide fundraising effort to work with the National Park Foundation to raise funds to supplement money appropriated by Congress for NCR park units

(including Park Police, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, and cooperating organizations managing NPS areas).


Do we want the Nation's Capital National Parks Fund to be a new 501(c)(3) organization or a part of NPF?
h Yes. If the Fund is part of NPF then it will be a subcommittee of the National Parks Foundation. The Secretary of Department of the Interior will select trustees

What funds will be needed to start the Fund?
h We will need to spend money to raise money (i.e. the Mt. Ranier, North Cascades and Olympic Fund spent $300,000 to raise $1.2 million recently)

Approximately $200,000 per year will be required.
the $40,000 of L.L. Bean Funds, recently secured by NPF, could be used to help fund the first year costs. Bean is opening a new store in Columbia, MD next year and additional funding support may be possible

A grant or a loan from NPF might be possible

Costs can be reduced by in-kind contributions (i.e. office space, supplies, etc.)

Use other earned income streams (i.e. surcharges, etc.). Meet with Skip larson to discuss GSI options

Look into other ways to generate revenue. Talk with Randy Whorls at Oglebay Park in Wheeling, WV

Re-visit Tysons Corner Management Company to see if they will "adopt" NCR parks in 2001

Discuss other sources of funding with Jay Vestal, Terry Carlstrom, Dave Linderman and Joe Lawler


Who is the group that will speak to the Fund Board?
Form a small group of Superintendents with a Regional Office representative. Four Superintendents with one Regional Office representative will comprise a "Coordinating Committee"

The Coordinating Committee could be assisted by an Advisory Committee (i.e. Dave Linderman and others)

The Committee will identify a liaison/ chair to attend and represent the group at the Fund Board Meetings

The Coordinating Committee representatives will have term limits--perhaps two years. Consider staggering appointments to ensure opportunity and continuity

The Workgroup needs to identify a process for
re-placement or turnover

The Workgroup needs to spend more time on the design of the internal structure of the Coordinating Committee


How is the information on fundraising priorities collected from parks and passed to the Coordinating Committee?
Certain threshold requirements should be established

Use existing checks

Include general broad areas and themes


What information will be provided to the Committee and the Board?
Each park should identify their funding needs

The needs list is filtered by the Coordinating Committee to help identify themes (i.e. education, signage, etc.) and projects with "sizzle"

The needs list, themes and a vision for NCR fundraising should be developed before a Board is recruited/ selected


How will the Nation's Capital National Parks Fund clearinghouse function work?
The group needs to decide whether NCR or the Fund handles the function

Superintendents transmit information to the Coordinating Committee
Come up with some mechanism to communicate the NCR fundraising effort to park friends groups and the Parks & History Association


Do we take proposals from operating organizations?
Yes, through the park which is responsible for managing it

HOW DOES PARKS & HISTORY FIT IN THIS PARTNERSHIP?
DISCUSSIONS ARE STARTING TODAY TO FIND A WAY TO PARTNER WITH PARKS & HISTORY


What is the timetable for the Fund?
One to one and a half years needed to seat the Trustees/ Board members.


in addition, we hope to link the fundraising strategy to the ncr map, web-site, parks interpretive strategy, and other appropriate existing efforts.

what is your reaction to the nationa's capital national parks fund?
what ideas do you have to share about fundraising in the national capital region?

if you'd like to get involved, please let me know.