Alexandria Area YMCA revises fundraising goal

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The Alexandria Area YMCA has revised its campaign strategy to raise the remaining $1.8 million dollars necessary to achieve its campaign goal of $8,885,000 and begin construction on the proposed 56,000 square foot facility.

YMCA leaders made the difficult decision in October to delay groundbreaking until the campaign goal ($8,885,000) had been achieved.

With the economy taking a difficult turn, uncertainty with the national election and the holiday’s approaching, YMCA leaders decided it was best to take a break from actively fundraising and develop a revised plan and kick off a revised campaign after January 1.

“We are confident that our revised plan will raise the remaining $1.8 million dollars by February 15 and that we will break ground on our new facility in the spring of 2009,” said YMCA Executive Director Jeff Bartholomew.

The revised campaign goal will be $1.8 million dollars, which is the remaining dollars that the YMCA needs to raise to achieve its overall $8,885,000 goal.

As of December 8, 356 donors have contributed $7,167,325 or 81 percent of the campaign goal. This leaves $1,171,675 that needs to be raised.

The YMCA Capital Cabinet believes that the $1.8 million dollar goal is obtainable and well within reach.

“We believe that many individuals and businesses in our community have yet to be asked to support our Capital Campaign effort,” said campaign chair David Kjos. “We are confident that there is capacity within our community and the surrounding area to raise the remaining dollars and complete our dream. It is now a ‘Race to the Finish!’ ”

“If you have been asked to support the campaign, please give generously. If you have not been asked, don’t wait to be asked, said YMCA co-chair Larry Ortloff. “We do not have the volunteer capacity to meet with all potential donors individually, which is unfortunate.”

For more information on the YMCA Capital Campaign and to contribute, contact Bartholomew at (320) 763-9621.

“If you need to make year-end gifts for tax purposes, please keep the YMCA Capital Campaign in mind,” Batholomew said.

The following are the tenets of the revised YMCA Campaign Plan:

• YMCA leaders are continuing their work visiting with individuals and businesses that have the capacity to consider a Legacy Gift ($100,000 or more).

Due to the past success of challenge or matching gifts, the YMCA is requesting that people pledge their gift as a challenge to the community. The YMCA will form a consortium of Legacy Gifts that will form the basis for the challenge to the community to raise the remaining dollars.

• YMCA volunteers have prospected an additional 375 potential contributors that have not been approached previously.

“It is our belief that these perspective donors have the capacity to consider a gift of $5,000 or greater,” said Bartholomew. “We are in the process of recruiting 51 volunteers that will have the responsibility of visiting with six prospects from January 6-February 13 and hopefully securing a gift to the campaign and raise the remaining dollars.”

Those who would like to volunteer to be a part of the steering committee may contact Bartholomew at the YMCA office.

• A mail saturation campaign will also be conducted in early January with all households in the area receiving campaign information and the opportunity to support the campaign.

• Banners will be strategically placed throughout the community with the revised campaign slogan “Race to the Finish” with new graphics to keep the community informed as to our progress. Weekly updates via the media will also be included.

“It is important that we keep the campaign in front of the community as much as possible in January and February,” said campaign co-chair Vern Anderson. “The good news is that we have raised over $7.1 million dollars from 356 donors. The bad news is that we have raised over $7.1 million dollars from 356 donors. It is time for the community as a whole to step-up to the plate and support the YMCA Capital Campaign. We need all contributions, big and small to make this happen. We are so close.”

If everything goes according to plan, the YMCA will plan on breaking ground in the spring of 2009 and opening its doors to the new facility in the spring of 2010.

Tags: alexandria, ymca, fundraising, bartholomew, recreation, campaign