Lacey staff and foundation present five‑year fundraising plan to diversify parks and cultural funding

The Lacey Parks, Culture and Recreation Department and the Lacey Community Foundation presented a five‑year fundraising plan Tuesday that aims to diversify revenue for parks, the planned Lacey Museum and Cultural Center and other cultural projects.

The plan “is going to lay out a mix of approaches” including individual contributions, business sponsorships, foundation and government grants, and an endowment, consultant Jenny Folio Jones said. Jones told the council the plan’s projections are conservative and that “over the next 5 years, the city could raise a million dollars through a diversified approach.”

The plan recommends a layered fundraising strategy rather than relying on a single source of funding. It proposes two recurring signature events — a fall gala to support rotating priorities and a family‑themed “Lacey Derby” to raise money specifically for the Lacey Museum and Cultural Center — plus performance metrics tied to donor engagement, event revenue and grant awards. The plan also includes giving tiers and options for in‑kind support from local businesses, Jones said.

Jen Burbage, Parks and Culture Recreation Director, told the council staff will need to prioritize which parts of the plan to pursue because of limited staffing. She said the city contracted with the Lacey Community Foundation in March 2024 to produce the roadmap and described the finished product as a “Cadillac of a plan” that provides a reference for future work but will require internal choices about what is viable now.

Council members pressed for financial detail. Council Member Dunning asked that proposed revenue figures be balanced with a cost‑benefit analysis, noting the plan emphasizes gross revenue but does not provide detailed expense estimates for events or campaigns. Council Member Cox and others urged using the plan as a roadmap while acknowledging that implementation will depend on staff capacity and budget priorities.

The presentation identified partnerships and tribal collaborations as potential growth areas and suggested the plan emphasize fundraising that is sustainable across economic cycles. Burbage and Jones said the plan includes safeguards against donor fatigue and economic downturns through diversified revenue streams and conservative projections.

Council members asked staff to continue reviewing the plan’s “revenue buckets,” prioritize projects (including funding gaps for the museum) and return with implementation suggestions that match available staffing and budget capacity. No formal council action was taken at the meeting; staff said they will work internally to determine which elements to pursue.

For now, the plan provides a strategic menu of options for expanding non‑tax revenue to support parks and cultural infrastructure while the city evaluates timing, staffing and costs.