MASTER GARDENER FOUNDATION OF BENTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES

Goals of the Foundation is to provide funding for Washington State University Master Gardener Programs.
1) Maintain and improve a 2 1/2 acre Demonstration Garden with 25 individual gardens for the education and demonstration to the public.
2) Food Gardening Program - Provides instruction and development of community gardens primarily for those in need over the past nine years over 100,000 people have received help and can raise some of their own food. Install in 2022 over 15 garden beds including 10 garden beds for Kennewick Housing Authority micro homes for veterans, disabled, and homeless individuals.
3) Provide Container Gardening classes for low-income and those who do not have space for a garden
4) Education of gardening by providing free seminars and in class instruction in local schools. Hold 8 free classes on gardening in the Demonstration Garden April through October.
5) Work with other nonprofits in setting and reaching our goals.

All of the work is accomplished by donations and volunteer service.
We have over 170 Master Gardener Volunteers that dedicate time to serve the programs and provide some funding to the programs.
Funding raising is the main challenge to keep the programs functioning well. We have received some grants from other nonprofits. Much of the funding comes through personal contacts and networking.

Our 501 3(c) status helps but we need to improve our individual fund raising concepts.

The main capabilities is finding volunteers that are knowledgeable and have a desire to do funding raising. Most volunteers enjoy working in the programs but are not active in fund raising other than showing friends what the do. It is difficult in finding dedicated volunteers to do fund raising. We are training volunteers to be more proactive in telling others what they do and why it is important to the community. We have the volunteers, we just need the funds to pay for the materials needed.

We have accomplished an enormous help for individuals and organizations.
1) Food Gardening Program has touched the lives of over 100,000 individuals over the last nine years in providing education and construction of raised bed community gardens and individual gardens for Habitat for Humanity.
2) The Demonstration Garden on approximately 2 1/2 acres with 25 individual gardens is a gem for the Tri-Cities area of Washington State. Hundreds of thousands of people have visited the garden for education and enjoyment of the gardens. It also provides education for education and tours for thousands of students from local schools. Over 6,000 lbs of fresh produce is provided annually to the local food banks.
3) Free educational seminars and presentations are provided almost monthly for the local public as well as in class presentations for local schools and science nights.