Zero Waste Washington Capital Campaign Plan Part I

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.

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 budget

2) One of the overall goals of the campaign is to grow the annual fund. If we include the annual 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 1 $125,000 1 $75,000 2 $50,000 4 $25,000 5 $10,000 7 $5,000 15 $1,000 Total number of gifts: 35

$ in Range $125,000 $75,000 $100,000 $100,000 $50,000 $35,000 $15,000

Cumulative $ $125,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 $450,000 $485,000 $500,000

% of Goal 25% 40% 60% 80% 90% 97% 100%

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.

Figure 2 Naming Opportunities Item/Room to be Named Recycling Center Community Center Board Room Sustainable Gift Shop Office Compost Tumbler Rain Barrel Community Bookshelf Recycling Bins Reclaimed Brick Reclaimed Fence Post

Amount Required $125,000 $75,000 $50,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $10,000 $10,000 $5,000 $1,000 $1,000

Opportunities 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 2+ 7+ 10+ 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.

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.

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 entire campaign. Recruits members for, and manages other committees. Helps shape campaign plan. Consists of Board Pres, Campaign Chair, and Fundraising Manager

: PR and Media
All media requests and press releases are done through this committee. Consists of Campaign Chair, Board Media Chair, and two additional volunteers. Works closely with Core Committee on messaging and proofing print material

Fundraising I
Responsible for lead and major gift solicitation. Consists of Program Director, Chair of Board Development Committee, and key volunteer. Responsible for own cultivation and acknowledgment processes

Fundraising II
Responsible for other gifts. Takes lead on database management. Consists of Board Pres, Project Manager, and additional Board member. Responsible for own cultivation and acknowledgement process. Work with Fund I on organizing events

..

..

: Cleanup Team
Responsible for all final acknowledgements, archiving, and general wrap up after the campaign has been closed. Takes lead on organizing the grand opening event of the house. Comprised of all board members not on other 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.

Figure 4 Lead Gifts Amount of gifts $125,000 $75,000 $50,000 $25,000 Total Major Gifts $10,000 $5,000 Total General Gifts $1,000 Gifts needed 1 1 2 4 6 5 7 12 15 Prospects
1

Solicitors Needed

Total $125,000 $75,000 $100,000 $100,000 $400,000 $50,000 $35,000 $85,000 $15,000

Percent of Total

2 4 8 15 15 21 36 75

80%

8 15

17% 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.

PART III 24 Month Timeline

February 2013 o Strategic Planning process leads to the goal of launching a capital campaign in the next five years to purchase an office space April 2013 o 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 2013 o 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 2013 o 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 Committee develop strategic fundraising plan with the goal of doubling annual fund by October 2016 September 2013-December 2013 o Fundraising plan is put into action with Fall appeal May 2014- September 2014 o Additional elements of fundraising plan are executed

o In September, plan is revisited for effectiveness and adjustments are made as needed. December 2014 o 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 2015 o All fundraising emphasis is placed on securing new donors and increasing annual fund December 2015 o 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 to be adjusted May 2016 o Start developing short list for campaign chair June 2016 o Begin developing campaign objectives July 2016 o Secure Campaign chair September 2016

o Have Campaign Objectives and goals finalized o Commission Fundraising Feasibility study, adjust goals as needed. o Secure volunteers for other committees October 2016 o Train board, staff, and vols on capital campaigns and fundraising. November 2016 o Confirm lead gift with Kathy Gerlich o Start drafting Case of support December 2016 o Finish Case of support o Compile campaign lit. January 2017 o Start to solicit other lead gifts o Contact real estate brokers with Capital campaign proposal with the goal of finding someone to help pro bono February 2017 o Continue work with lead gifts o Begin to identify major prospects April 2017 o Have 2 other lead gifts pledged o Continue work on leads o Continue prospect research May 2017

o Revisit campaign goals, see if anything needs to be adjusted o Continue cultivation and solicitation, o Secure one additional lead pledge June 2017 o Begin cultivating/soliciting majors o Start planning first Major Donor Mail Drop o Start training Fund II Vols for general gift solicitation July 2017 o Have 75% of Lead gifts pledged o Have 2 majors pledged o Continue solicitations October 2017 o 5 more majors should be pledged o 80-90% of general prospects identified December 2017 o Organization Publicly announces Campaign in end of the year appeal January 2018 o Broker Should be secured who will work pro bono o Through Holiday appeal, 4 general gifts planned o All lead gifts should be secured by now February 2018 o Fund I starts to help out Fund II on general gifts o Solicitations continue

o Begin looking at properties March 2018 o 80% of majors should be pledged by now o Campaign update sent out to donors with Spring Appeal April 2018 o Start to connect with artists about consignment shop o Mid Spring Appeal- 50% of general gifts should be secured May 2018 o End Spring Appeal at the end of the month, all majors should be pledged o Search should be narrowed to 2-3 properties July 2018 o Property should be selected, o 90% of all campaign funds should be secured September 2018 o 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 2018 o ZWW Moves into the House! o Construction begins on sustainable landscape and consignment shop November 2018 o Final Thank You cards, and campaign victory cards sent out o All donors sent invites to Annual meeting in December December 2018

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