Abbreviated History of Heritage Gardens Trust

• Research and Task Force developed December 1998
• Steering Committee developed to research preliminary costs, seek resources, educate public, secure volunteers and design and implement strategic plan;
• Created at the request of SPRD, the Heritage Gardens Trust was incorporated in 2002;
• Acquired a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt status in 2003 – an in-kind donation from Williams & Webster, PS;
  MOU with SPRD signed in 2004 after 1 ½ years of negotiations;
• Letter of Intent to Heritage Gardens Trust for $1 Million dated 5/24/2005 signed and presented to Mike Stone who refused to sign the letter and the letter’s 10-day expiration date matured.
  

Outline of Accomplishments of the Trust
(As set forth in the Articles of Incorporation, Article III: Purposes)

1. To protect and preserve the historical integrity of the Gardens.

• The Trust established and has maintained a working relationship with the Garden Conservancy, an international, non-profit organization founded in 1989 to preserve exceptional American and Canadian gardens for the public’s education and enjoyment.
• The Trust wrote the application for the admission to the Garden Conservancy’s Preservation Assistance Center, and in May 2002 hosted a site visit for the Conservancy’s Projects Director.
• The Trust encouraged the creation of a Cultural Landscape Report, participated in the selection of the consultant, and raised the funds needed. The Trust was involved on several occasions in the creation of the report.
• The Trust also wrote a grant to the National Parks Service which resulted in a day-long workshop with four visiting NPS personnel in April of 2003.
• The Trust suggested the publication of a report entitled The Heritage Gardens by Sally Reynolds and Linda Yeomans and paid for the copyright and the ISBN number.

2. To secure funding and long-term maintenance for the Garden.

• In October 2002, the Trust hired Jean Ager, Ager Consulting Co., to create a $2 million Capital Campaign Development Plan.
• As part of the campaign development plan, the Trust has been involved since October 18, 2002 in the nurturing of the current anonymous donor.
• After the city’s failed attempt to secure a donation through naming opportunities, the Trust continued to meet with Gary Brajcich. The Trust kept the donor informed about progress in the Gardens and cultivated the approach that ultimately led to the $1 million plus gift.
• On May 24, 2005 the Trust presented Mike Stone with a signed letter of intent from the donor’s attorney.
• The Trust also maintains a database of 370 names of donors, members and interested folks and has raised thousands of dollars in memberships.
• We communicate with our members by means of a newsletter and holiday letters.
• We have hosted several successful fundraising events, including the one hosted with Frank & Sherry Knott at the Power House which event garnered the $25K donation from Martha Cargill to the Trust.
• Annually received year-end donations from loyal donors.
• We wrote a successful $3K grant to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and assisted the SPRD in the preparation of other several successful grants.
• The Trust has donated many thousands of dollars of in-kind contributions that also contributed to the match required by the WA State Historical Society Grant.

3. To ensure responsible stewardship of contributions

• The Trust has a close relationship with Williams & Webster, PS. Kevin Williams is on our board and an Associate of W&W, Marie Vanover, is our treasurer.
• In 2002 the Trust engaged a finance intern to format a computer accounting program and to create appropriate fiscal and budgetary procedures.
• In 2005 the Trust’s Finance Committee recommended, and the board adopted, an Investment Policy and developed a working relationship with Merilee Frets and the Washington Trust Bank Wealth Management & Advisory Services (with over 100 years of experience) to serve as Trustee to the anticipated $1 million gift.

4. To develop public relations and marketing plans, to oversee special events and to provide opportunities for citizen participation.

• In April 2003, Dana Dalrymple, donated her in-kind services and skills to develop and maintain a website for the Trust: www.heritagegardens.org
• The Trust has adopted a Strategic Plan for Membership.
• As a member, the Trust was involved in the 2003 creation of the Pacific Northwest Garden Roundtable sponsored by the Garden Conservancy. Representatives from gardens meet several times a year to network, share resources, discuss joint marketing and promotion strategies, and participate in professional workshops to enhance the mission of preserving and opening exceptional gardens to the public.
• Members of the Trust have also financed fact-finding visits to significant gardens in the Northwest and other parts of the country.
• The Trust has contributed to articles that have been printed in publications of the Garden Conservancy, Spokane Preservation Advocates, Pacific Northwest Garden Roundtable, etc.
• The Trust has sponsored several clean-up days and has recruited and trained volunteers to work for the Gardens.
• Board Member Carolyn Starner, author, photographer and publisher of Emerald Journey: A Walk Through Northwest Gardens, has offered to produce the same for a Trust sponsored publication of the restored Moore-Turner Heritage Garden.

5. To promote educational programs.

• A strategic plan for education has been developed and adopted.
• The Trust has produced several brochures and other types of educational material.
• The Speakers’ Bureau of the Trust has made over 40 presentations to garden clubs, service clubs, retirement groups and centers, etc. The Trust has also manned booths at numerous garden and restoration expos.
• The Trust has nurtured relationships with several educational institutions in the area. Professors and staff from SCC, WSU and EWU have been on the board, attended meetings and/or toured the project. A formal internship program has been developed.

Page updated April 21, 2008.