November 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 67

Attempts were made to contact park
foundations by telephone or email so
that detailed information could be
gathered. The park foundation websites or Facebook pages were scanned
for noteworthy information to answer
the questions posed by FCPF's board.
Park foundation representatives were
cooperative, but frequently did not
have answers to some of the specific questions being asked. Follow-up
contacts were made but not all park
foundations responded to all of the
questions. While the results are not statistically valid, they provided sufficient
information to respond to the initial
questions that prompted this research.
Research Results
Eight of 19 park foundations (42 percent) responded that they require a
minimum donation from their directors. The required level of annual donations ranged from $500 to $25,000.
Several responders commented, however, that serving as a director involves
other resources than making a monetary contribution. Directors have a
wide variety of valuable experiences
and abilities to offer the park foundation board.
Thirteen of 18 park foundations
(72 percent) responded that foundation staff salaries were paid using
some or all of foundation donations.
The park foundation staff ranged
from 0 to 508 employees.
Fourteen of 22 park foundations (63
percent) had membership programs.
One foundation representative commented that memberships are a good
way to show community support and
are helpful in responding to grant and
sponsorship applications. Memberships also allow for measuring growth
and may encourage some donors to
give additional funds to move to the
next level of membership.
	

Research disclosed that in 1894,
three decades before the Madison,
Wisconsin, municipal parks department was created, private citizen
members of the Madison Park and
Pleasure Drive Association purchased,
developed and maintained public lands
for all to enjoy. Today, many park and
recreation departments receive benefits
from relationships with friends groups
and park foundations.

*	 Monitor park planning and operations for economy, efficiency and
equitable treatment; and
*	 Restore public space, maintain public trees and beautify schools and
open space.
Conclusions
Park foundations provide different
types of services in support of their
park districts. The research found

Today, many park and recreation departments receive
benefits from relationships with friends groups and
park foundations.
In addition to the traditional fundraising role for their park and recreation districts, productive park foundations also conducted some of the
following activities:
*	 Provide financial assistance to people in need so they can benefit from
park and recreation programs;
*	 Promote the social, educational,
environmental and cultural life of
communities;
*	 Promote park programs and facilities;
*	 Use the experience and facilities of
community foundations where appropriate;
*	 Encourage community involvement and volunteer activities;
*	 Own, maintain, manage and operate facilities and programs on public spaces;
*	 Coordinate and leverage the efforts
of friends groups volunteers;
*	 Serve as a fiscal agent for groups
working to improve parks;
*	 Conduct organized opinion campaigns advocating for additional
park financing from annual local
taxes and park maintenance and
development bond funds;

that the level of contributions and
grants were larger when park foundations provide fiduciary services for
support and friends groups, mobilize
volunteers, offer grants, promote
or operate events, publish a list of
needs, or provide advocacy and coalition services. The expanded roles
create synergy resulting in improved
park maintenance, greater taxpayer
support per resident and an enhanced
national reputation regarding the
quality of community parks.
In order to have forward momentum, park foundation leaders need
to periodically review their organizational structure, mission and use of
resources. With a good measure of
creativity and a committed board of
directors and staff, park foundations
have unlimited opportunities to help
improve and support the activities of
nearby park agencies and cultivate
greater recreational opportunities for
the communities they serve.
Howard R. Albers is a Research and
Communications Volunteer with the Fairfax
County Park Foundation (howard.albers@
fairfaxcounty.gov).

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Parks & Recreation

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