Eureka Springs Community Center Foundation

The Eureka Springs Community Center Foundation is committed to the redevelopment plan for Eureka Springs Community Center Campus.

This redevelopment plan will:

* IMPROVE quality of life for residents through development of a community center, splash park, and community trails.
* LAUNCH a professional opportunity by adding 13,000 Sq. Ft. of Class A office space, called the Eureka Springs Business Center.
* CREATE a multi-use green space including an outdoor, farmers markets, and an exhibition space.
* STIMULATE economic development by adding handicap accessible meeting space for government and private meetings.
* RESPECT the environment by developing a strategy for energy-efficient and sustainable facilities.
* ADD a community greenhouse, youth activity room and community living room for community gatherings and growth.

Board committees need to community fund raise, to seek grants, and to foster relationships with potential individual donors, businesses and corporations for immediate and long-term giving.

Their fundraising success allows:
* improvements to be made to the community center campus.
* staff to be hired to manage the Center including organizing classes and events to be held at the community center for area residents.

Fundraising strategies change in volatile times, such as the 2020 Covid-19 health crisis, but commitment drives the Community Center Foundation Board to continue, albeit somewhat differently, fundraising activities to meet operational and capital improvement expenses.

A major component of the funding sustainability plan from the start was developing the Eureka Springs Business Center, 9 units available, 900-3700 sq ft. located on the community center campus. Revenue generated from these leases will support much of the operational expenses of the Eureka Springs Community Center.

Community support in the local banking community has always been strong for the Eureka Springs Community Center, evidenced by a grant awarded which allowed the Foundation to build a walking trail around the community center campus. The trail is solid surface and level, accommodating a wide range of walkers. The trail success inspires the Board to seek additional funding for lights, benches and exercise equipment all of which will enhance the trail experience for its users.

The continued nurturing of the Foundation's relationship with local banking institutions allows improvements to the Center which, in turn, improves the quality of life for the community's residents.

The Board's Grants Committee is focused on a writing grants to assist with the construction of a splash pad and an outdoor event pavilion. They regularly review other grant opportunities.

Grants are also being targeted to rehabilitate a large area in the community center. Once completed, this area will be open for social events and community meetings further cementing the value of the community center to area residents.

The Board's Major Donor Committee is working on a strategy which includes outright gifts and planned gifts such as wills, trusts, remainder trusts. Committee members are presenting these donation choices to potential major donors.

Partnerships with other area non-profits have been fostered with great success in programming and resource sharing. This strategy will continue to be employed in future project to the benefit of both organizations.

The Community Center staff join the Board in promoting community center memberships and room rentals adding an important component to the operations budget.

The Eureka Springs Community Center has a full-sized gymnasium with bleachers, a large Fitness Center with new professional equipment, two large meeting rooms and a large outdoor space for classes, activities and events. The campus is centrally located in Eureka Springs with plenty of parking. The small dedicated staff brings new recreational activities to the Center and supports the existing programs and activities. The Community Center Foundation Board is fully engaged in assisting the staff and in taking on the responsibility of fundraising to support the operational costs of the running a community center and for continued capital improvements to the campus.

The Board aggressively seeks out major donors, large operational grants, and corporate support. Much success has been realized with over 1,400 donations made to the Community Center Foundation since its inception in 2015. These donors realize the valuable resource the community center is to the community and that their charitable giving keeps the doors open.

Both the staff and the board actively seek out local and regional partnerships to mutually benefit their objectives. These productive relationships create events and activities that are beyond the scope of individual organizations and present them to larger audiences.

The Eureka Springs Community Center (ESCC) offers a variety of classes from Art classes to Zumba®. There is enthusiastic participation in classes and activities with memberships at nearly 900. With the Eureka Springs population at 2200, this is a remarkable number.

The Fitness Center opened in May 2019. The quarter mile walking trail opened in December 2020.

The Community Center conducts popular youth summer programs in partnership with the Eureka Springs School District and a Summer Camp produced independently.

Partnering with the Eureka Springs School District, ESCC administers the After-School Program throughout the school year with elementary school teachers giving K-6 grade students a varied and stimulating after school experience.

The outdoor space continues to be used by the Eureka Springs Farmers Market, operating weekly throughout the year.

A large home was donated in 2018. It was sold in 2019, making funds available for Business Center renovation. The renovation was completed in July 2020. Currently, all Business Center spaces are rented. Our newest tenant is the newly-organized Museum of Eureka Springs Art. Their plan to occupy the largest Business Center office in mid-2023. Rentals are the major source of revenue to support the operation of the community center.

In 2020, the work plan included: Business Center renovation; replace Community Center roof; build walking trail ; increase hours of operation; replace website with a more interactive one. All of these goals were met in 2020-2021. Delays were due to Covid-19: closed for several months, opening with reduced hours; decreased fundraising opportunities.

Thanks to the generosity and foresight of the Eureka Springs School District, the Eureka Springs Community Center Foundation Board now owns the old high school property. In July 2021, they forgave the remaining $300,000 left on the lease purchase agreement, allowing the ESCC Foundation Board to focus its fundraising on community center improvements and not raising funds for the lease payment.

In 2022, we met one of our long-standing goals: to hire an Executive Director. Anna Smedley, Ph.D. joined the team as Executive Director and in January 2023 she will be working with the Board to set our strategic plan for 2023 and beyond.

Two major construction projects in 2023: the rehabilitation of a large space in the community center building to be used for classes, activities and special events. The Eureka Springs High School Skills Class students along with their teacher are doing the initial demo on this neglected space. They will be followed by certified electricians and plumbers to complete the work. A grant and community donations will cover the expenses. The room will be ready by mid-2023. The second project: launch of the Splash Pad Campaign. Planning for this fundraising campaign is currently underway and it is gratifying to see the generous community response already.