Council approves fundraising agreement with Virginia Community Foundation for Splash Pad project

The Committee of the Whole on July 11 approved a fundraising agreement with the Virginia Community Foundation to accept and hold donations for a planned Virginia splash pad project.

City staff explained the foundation will hold donated funds and reimburse the city upon receipt of invoices, following the model used for previous municipal fundraising projects. Councilors discussed specific contract provisions they would like to consider—such as issuing tax receipts for gifts over $250 and the foundation’s 2% processing fee—but a number of councilors said the foundation’s standard agreement is widely used locally and helps donors give immediately while work such as a basketball-court project near the lake draws public attention.

Councilor Johnson supported approving the standard agreement promptly, saying waiting would risk missing early donor interest. Councilor Bach Schneider asked staff to raise a short list of negotiation items with the foundation before the council meeting if possible. The committee approved the agreement; councilors voted in favor via roll call (the record shows the motion passed with ayes and a small number of nos/recusals noted in the roll-call summary). Councilors noted the foundation charges a processing fee (2 percent per staff comments) and that donors can elect to cover the fee if they wish.

City staff will work with the Virginia Community Foundation on any minor negotiated edits requested by councilors and proceed with the fundraising arrangement so donation receipts and QR-code fundraising can begin near ongoing recreation work on the lakefront.