Zero Waste Washington Capital Campaign Plan

7/27/2019 Zero Waste Washington Capital Campaign Plan

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Zero Waste Washington Capital Campaign Plan

Part I


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Campaign Objectives

Zero Waste Washington is buying a house! We envision a space that once opened will serve as

The head office of Zero Waste Washington A drop off point for difficult to recycle items A community center to educate people on zero waste and producer responsibility A store front for upcycled and repurposed items produced by local designers and artists

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Zero Waste Washington can only create this space

through tax-deductible philanthropic gifts from our community.

Campaign Goals

Monetary

Our goal is to raise $500,000 over a two year period to purchase a house in the Fremont or

Wallingford neighborhood in Seattle. In addition, the money raised in this campaign would fund

the initial sustainable landscape design of the grounds.

By paying the full value of the house in one total sum, the organization will only have to budget

for property taxes and routine maintenance in the years to come, making the house a sound

investment for the organization.

Nonmonetary

In this campaign, the organization has two nonmonetary goals: to strengthen and grow our

annual fund, and to increase the non-curbside recycling rates in Seattle.


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Growing our annual fund- Through the scope of this campaign, it is our goal to increase the

number of people that donate to the organization on an annual basis. The Board and Staff of Zero

Waste Washington feel that this campaign with give us the opportunity to increase the name

recognition of the organization and attract more donors.

Increasing the annual fund of the organization will allow the organization to expand and increase

our impact. By eventually bringing on more program staff, we will be able to take on more zero

waste and producer responsibility projects throughout the State.

Increasing non-curbside recycling- Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, and one of

the most ecofriendly cities in North America. However, there are still a number of recyclable

items that CleanScape and Seattle Public Utilities are unable to pick up curbside. Polystyrene

foam, batteries, electronics, plastic shopping bags, and plastics #2 and #7 are all recyclable if

taken to a special drop off location. The closest facility of this type is located at the Ikea store in

Tukwila, an hour south of Seattle by car, and two hours by bus.

By developing a drop off location that is more centrally and conveniently located, Zero Waste

Washington will be reducing the barriers for local citizens making zero waste more achievable

and appealing to the average person.

Gift Chart and Donor Solicitation Plan

The board and staff have made the decision to not include annual fund gifts into campaign totals.

The reason for this is twofold

1) The annual fund is needed to sustain the organizations general operating b udget


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2) One of the overall goals of the campaign is to grow the annual fund. If we include theannual fund into the total goal amount, we will be reducing the amount by which we are

growing the base

Figure 1

Gifts Needed to Raise

$500,000

Number $ Amount $ in Range Cumulative $ % of Goal

1 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 25%

1 $75,000 $75,000 $200,000 40%

2 $50,000 $100,000 $300,000 60%

4 $25,000 $100,000 $400,000 80%

5 $10,000 $50,000 $450,000 90%7 $5,000 $35,000 $485,000 97%

15 $1,000 $15,000 $500,000 100%

Total number of gifts: 35

As we see in Figure 1, there are a total of 35 gifts needed to raise the total campaign goal. This

means there are at least 35 naming opportunities for donors. Since Zero Waste Washington is

focused on the reduction of waste and on sustainability, the naming opportunities should reflect

that.

Some of the more quirky naming opportunities we have are recycling bins throughout the house,

rocks in the drought resistant garden, the compost tumblers, reclaimed wood posts on the fence,

and the reclaimed bricks on the pathway to the building.

Kathy Gerlich, who has already committed to the lead gift of $125,000, gets the honor of having

her name on our new recycling center. The remainder of the naming opportunities can be seen in

Figure 2.


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Figure 2

Naming Opportunities

Item/Room to be

Named

Amount Required Opportunities

Recycling Center $125,000 1

Community Center $75,000 1

Board Room $50,000 1

Sustainable Gift Shop $50,000 1

Office $25,000 2

Compost Tumbler $25,000 2

Rain Barrel $10,000 3

Community Bookshelf $10,000 2+

Recycling Bins $5,000 7+

Reclaimed Brick $1,000 10+Reclaimed Fence Post $1,000 10+

In addition to the naming opportunities, a mosaic will be created incorporating the names of all

capital campaign donors using upcycled and reclaimed colored glass. This mosaic will be used as

the table top for the board room table. Given the communal culture of the organization, donor

names will not be separated by donation amount.

PART II

Campaign Structure

Staffing Requirements

Currently, the paid staff of Zero Waste Washington consists of three time employees; one

program director, one project manager, and one fundraising manager. Before launching a

campaign, it is imperative that all staff members are up to full time.


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Volunteers Requirements

Outside of board members, at least a dozen volunteers will be needed throughout the course of

the campaign. This is including one campaign manager (not be a board or staff member) who

will stay on throughout the duration of the campaign.

Committee Structure

As a small organization running a relatively small capital campaign, Zero Waste Washington

will not require a complex set of campaign committees. What we will need is a handful of

dedicated volunteers outside of just our board. The proposed campaign committees and work

groups can be seen in Figure 3.

Top-Down Solicitation Plan

In Figure 4, you will see the basic solicitation plan. As previously stated, our lead gift of

$125,000 has already been pledged by Kathy Gerlich. The remainder of the gifts will be solicited

by the Fund I and Fund II committees. The goal is to secure 35 gifts over a two year period that

total $500,000. Our lead gift will complete 20% of our goal. I have calculated for roughly one

solicitor for every five prospects. For our lead gifts, almost all solicitations will be done face to

face or over the phone. Our major donors will also be primarily face to face or over the phone,

but there will be more mail correspondence. Our general gifts will be done primarily through the

mail and partially over the phone. At the $1,000 general level, the majority of solicitations will

be done by volunteers working for the Fund II team. The volunteers will be trained on how to

ask for a large gift. With our general gifts, the emphasis will be on pledge to sponsor a reclaimed

fence post or a reclaimed brick for the house.


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Of the 15 prospects for our lead gifts, 12 of them have already been identified, with the largest

gift already having been pledged. All of the prospects thus far are people within our database

Figure 3

Core Committee

Stays on for the entirecampaign. Recruitsmembers for, and

manages othercommittees. Helps shapecampaign plan. Consistsof Board Pres, CampaignChair, and Fundraising

Manager

:

PR and Media Fundraising I Fundraising II

All media requests andpress releases are donethrough this committee.Consists of CampaignChair, Board Media

Chair, and two additionalvolunteers. Worksclosely with Core

Committee on messagingand proofing print

material

..

Responsible for lead andmajor gift solicitation.Consists of Program

Director, Chair of BoardDevelopment Committee,

and key volunteer.Responsible for own

cultivation andacknowledgment

processes

..

Responsible for othergifts. Takes lead on

database management.Consists of Board Pres,Project Manager, and

additional Boardmember. Responsible for

own cultivation andacknowledgement

process. Work with Fund

I on organizing events

:

Cleanup Team

Responsible for all finalacknowledgements,

archiving, and generalwrap up after the

campaign has beenclosed. Takes lead onorganizing the grandopening event of the

house. Comprised of all

board members not onother committees.

that the organization already has a strong relationship with. The solicitors for this group will only

be the key players from the organization and/or the campaign chair.


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Figure 4

Lead Gifts

Amount of gifts Gifts needed ProspectsSolicitors

Needed

TotalPercent of

Total$125,000 1 1 $125,000

$75,000 1 2 $75,000

$50,000 2 4 $100,000

$25,000 4 8 $100,000

Total 6 15 3 $400,000 80%

Major Gifts

$10,000 5 15 $50,000

$5,000 7 21 $35,000

Total 12 36 8 $85,000 17%General Gifts

$1,000 15 75 15 $15,000 3%

Major gifts will be solicited by members of the Fund I team, as well as by highly trained

volunteers. Of the 36 prospects needed, 20 have been identified from our database, and an

additional 10 have been identified from the networks of board members and from similar

organizations.

Since this is the organizations first major event, and first capital campaign, we want to be

cautious. Fund I and Fund II will not start soliciting major gifts until 75% of lead money has

been secured. Once 60% of lead and major money has been pledged, the organization will go

public with the campaign.


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PART III

24 Month Timeline

February 2013o Strategic Planning process leads to the goal of launching a capital campaign in the

next five years to purchase an office space

April 2013o When the discussion of the capital campaign come up with organizations top

donor, pledge is made for $125,000, 20% of proposed campaign total.

May 2013o Board approves the hire of a new Fundraising manager to start to build the annual

fund to prepare the organization for a capital campaign

July 2013o Organization capacity assessment is commissioned to establish what we are

capable of raising in one year for the annual fund as is.

o Fundraising manager, Program Director, and Chair of Board Fund Committeedevelop strategic fundraising plan with the goal of doubling annual fund by

October 2016

September 2013-December 2013o Fundraising plan is put into action with Fall appeal

May 2014- September 2014o Additional elements of fundraising plan are executed


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o In September, plan is revisited for effectiveness and adjustments are made asneeded.

December 2014o 2015 budget is finalized- If all 3 staff members are able to be moved to full time

in January, planning for capital campaign will be started, if not, the campaign will

be put off for another year

January 2015-December 2015o All fundraising emphasis is placed on securing new donors and increasing annual

fund

December 2015o 2016 budget analyzed. If annual fund is at projected levels, plans continue toward

capital campaign

o Part time office assistant added to help with administrative and reception work January 2016

o Revisit strategic plan, see if adjustments are needed, see if campaign goals need tobe adjusted

May 2016o Start developing short list for campaign chair

June 2016o Begin developing campaign objectives

July 2016o Secure Campaign chair

September 2016


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o Have Campaign Objectives and goals finalizedo Commission Fundraising Feasibility study, adjust goals as needed.o Secure volunteers for other committees

October 2016o Train board, staff, and vols on capital campaigns and fundraising.

November 2016o Confirm lead gift with Kathy Gerlicho Start drafting Case of support

December 2016o Finish Case of supporto Compile campaign lit.

January 2017o Start to solicit other lead giftso Contact real estate brokers with Capital campaign proposal with the goal of

finding someone to help pro bono

February 2017o Continue work with lead giftso Begin to identify major prospects

April 2017o Have 2 other lead gifts pledgedo Continue work on leadso Continue prospect research

May 2017


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o Revisit campaign goals, see if anything needs to be adjustedo Continue cultivation and solicitation,o Secure one additional lead pledge

June 2017o Begin cultivating/soliciting majorso Start planning first Major Donor Mail Dropo Start training Fund II Vols for general gift solicitation

July 2017o

Have 75% of Lead gifts pledged

o Have 2 majors pledgedo Continue solicitations

October 2017o 5 more majors should be pledgedo 80-90% of general prospects identified

December 2017o Organization Publicly announces Campaign in end of the year appeal

January 2018o Broker Should be secured who will work pro bonoo Through Holiday appeal, 4 general gifts plannedo All lead gifts should be secured by now

February 2018o Fund I starts to help out Fund II on general giftso Solicitations continue


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o Begin looking at properties March 2018

o 80% of majors should be pledged by nowo Campaign update sent out to donors with Spring Appeal

April 2018o Start to connect with artists about consignment shopo Mid Spring Appeal- 50% of general gifts should be secured

May 2018o End Spring Appeal at the end of the month, all majors should be pledgedo Search should be narrowed to 2-3 properties

July 2018o Property should be selected,o 90% of all campaign funds should be secured

September 2018o Goal for the end of the campaign. If the total amount has not been raised by now,

a small, low interest loan will be taken out to make up the difference

October 2018o ZWW Moves into the House!o Construction begins on sustainable landscape and consignment shop

November 2018o Final Thank You cards, and campaign victory cards sent outo All donors sent invites to Annual meeting in December

December 2018


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o Annual Meeting/Housewarming/grand opening party helpo Day-after-Christmas recycling drive is the grand opening of the Kathy Gerlich

Recycling Center

Documents

Zero Waste Washington Capital Campaign Plan