Unirondack Fundraising through the years

Unirondack Fundraising through the years:

To understand camp you can think of it by decades, starting in 1950

50 to mid 60s loyal Universalists...  Churches kicked in to help pay for camp purchase and fix up...

Mid 60s it was spun off into its own corporation - with large endowment to help camp facilities ($150,000 in 1967)

  Universalists basically backed away but funded some projects through the years when powerful people asked the

convention for money.  through the 1990s... here and there.

people from 50s and 60s not very present in the 1970s

New generations of staff and campers in 1970s

  No capital campaigns until the Lodge fire of 1976

A blue ribbon committee formed with old timers like MacPhee leading the campaign

  and old timers like Ellen Hamilton and Susan MacNamarra stepping in to lead the situation.

They had a VERY HARD time raising funds - as I think the pool was very small as the camp was not that old

really and many people were not involved anymore...  so the campaign floundered and MacPhee threatened to quit.

The board had to sign personal guarantees to fund the new lodge and it was stripped to the bare needs of a building.

1980s  a new generation of staffers and campers - leaving behind super committed 70s folks..

   around 2010 when we tried to fundraise for the New Boat house we went Back to the 70s staff using a Staff leader

Mark Simpson and some very creative attempts - but nothing came from the 1970s people..

1980s staff came through when we raised money to name the new building after Evelyn, a well loved staff member.

  Many of these people are still active on social media around camp issues and most are very successful in the carreers.

We had several failed attempts at raising large funds starting in 1991ish with the drive for a Lakeside Pavillion -

later a Drive for the Unirondack House.  Both attempts had well crafted pleas but did not gain enough interest.

The pavilion had current (at the time) staff pushback  and the Unirondack House also had general apathy from the community

   I was the original force for Unironack house as a 2 level building when I left things changed due to push-back into a 1 story plan and 

then it just fizzled with no driving force behind it.

A successful Campaign around year 2000-2003 revolved around our desire to replace a building (Leining Infirmary)  and the plans for that caused the need for a 

complete new Septic system -  it may have also wrapped in Kitchen remodel and other items around camp at the same time.

   Again serious old timers came in and pushed this campaign hard.  And it was successful - mainly due to a handful of large 

donations lead by Sally Stevens (Sarah),  and Anne Perry  (both still around).  Joyce Gilbert pulled every trick she knew to bring in the 

funds and we had enough to do all the projects.

  Maybe our next good fundraising was for the current pavillion  maybe around 2009 - again lead by descent donation from Sally (sarah) Stevens

    Dan might recall where other money came from for that project.

  After that we tried the campaign for the new boathouse and it did not work and the board would not fund it so most money for building

came from a handful of donors - the majority donor for the naming rights.

  The next massive fundraising was for the new Evelyn Anderson building - where as mentioned the 1980s staff kicked it off

and a two year effort to gain a grant from the Vetch Committee was successful  (Shelter Rock)

  Shelter Rock (Vetch) gave loan and grant for the new lodge, $ for Anderson building and several thousand for the new camp van we have now.

Other funds for Anderson building came from range of members and camper parents - many naming rights were sold for bathrooms and rooms

Here Dan Gottfried was able to find money and pay the bills as the project grew tremendously in scope and cost.

The last major fundraising effort is called the Secure the Legacy campaign.  This was a drive with the intent to create our own 

endowment that we could control in our own trust.  the original $150,000 given in 1960 brought to today's dollars would be worth about $1,000,000 back

when the campaign was started - so that was our goal..   The rules for the trust are enshrined in the camp Bi-laws.  

A very nice set of materials was created for soliciting the funding - all of which is still relevant for use today.  

    The entire range of camp followers were asked to participate and over the years small campaigns have targeted the Legacy Fund -

It currently sits around $650,000 which is much higher than many thought we would hit.   Last fiscal year (and this year) funds were 

taken out to finance the new Generator system..  

   That Legacy Fund's Main intent is to be a safety net for the camp -  but it's purpose is Very Open for any purpose - with yearly restrictions

on spending.

-----------------------------------------------------

Historic debate is always - Raise Money for Something THIS YEAR so we can all use it and benefit   vs.   SAVE the $$ for FUTURE 

needs to be determined.

   We tried to always walk this Tight rope, appeasing everyone along the way.    - It is easier to Raise Money for a Concrete tangible Goal

(new Generator)  While at the same time trying to save for the future (PUTTING THE raised funds BACK into the foundation)

..............................................................

Traditionally the funds that worked followed a classic approach - Know what you want(NEED) and make it clear that

you WILL get that Because  XYZ has Already felt the need and given MONEY.. we just need the Balance and hope you can help.

We would try to get some big donors or grants on board before the general public.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

One thing you may want to do in the short term is have Emily Patka make a simple Cash Flow statement for 2025 and 2026.

The large negative for next season and promise of a 2026 turn around needs to be shown.

   Doing 2025 without such a negative would be great - but if she could show that it truly is temporary that might be important.

(no one wants to fund a sinking ship or one that is paying too much for Admin)

-------------------

Generations 1990 - these people would all be doing very well now days and would have strong camp connection.

2000 generation - 2024  - I have no specific sense of these folks - but I imagine as the camp has since the mid 1990s

been very welcoming and a place for everyone - parents of kids - where camp played a big role in the kids lives - would 

be important.  Parents may have no direct connection but as camp was critical to their children it would be important 

for the parents.

Devin Hollands 11/2024

drafted for committee working on new campaign for 75 birthday of camp

Had a Great Summer Campaign 2025

1987 FUND DRIVE

Captial Campaign to raise $600,000 for new Leining etc dinners were held

June 2006 Legacy Fund

One million dollars divided by

five hundred people equals $2,000.

This is what Unirondack needs to fulfill our commitment to bring our

endowment funds to the original endowment's equivalent.

Please help us! We know this is beyond the means of many committed

members of our community, but every bit helps. Whatever you can spare

today will be gratefully appreciated!

Of course, we already have one pledge of $50,000! So, like this donor, if

you've done well financially, don't be shy. We really need your help for our

children through your support. Many campers say that Unirondack is their

first opportunity to independently live UU values and not just hear them in

speeches.

Persons associated with Unirondack   through 1976