Fund Raiser For WHCPA In Progress

AUGUST, 2006:  WHCPA has engaged professional consultants to coordinate the first fund raiser in its 100-year history. Donations are being sought to support construction of an additional public facility next to the existing District 50 school house, which now serves as the main museum. The new facility will preserve and protect the museum's priceless genealogical data and community history archives, and will provide easier and more modern access to digitized photographs and documents. Moving the archives to a new building will also free up more space in the schoolhouse for additional exhibits of historical artifacts now in storage. Hopes are high that the fund raiser will also enable the museum to remain open weekdays, rather than just Saturdays, drawing new researchers and visitors into the community on a daily basis.  Click here for donation form.
 
  
 
 
  
 Proposed new building
Artist's concept showing proposed addition to the WHCPA museum

  

The Need for Expansion

Due to the reconstruction of Highway 12, the carriage houses which stored numerous artifacts were demolished.  Mn/Dot compensated the Association  $500,000 for the land and the buildings.  This action caused the Board of Directors to evaluate its facilities and programs and plan for the future.
These artifacts, including family histories, photographs, township records and taped interviews, need to be preserved and made accessible.

This need unfolded the "Keepers of the History" campaign.
A limited feasibility review finds that:
  • Artifacts are presently in storage that need to be accessible and preserved
  • The Association has long-term stable management
  • The Museum has low operational cost
  • There is an emphasis of collection and archival versus display
  • The Association has approximately 600 members
  • The Association publishes a quarterly newsletter
  • There is a strong association with both Orono and Wayzata schools
  • The Association has presented a sensible and proactive plan
  • Circumstances have created the need for this capital campaign
  • Visibility of the organization needs to be increased through this campaign
  • The giving base for the Museum is limited and will be increased through the increased visibility and activity
  • The campaign will develop a long-term marketing plan including a stratified giving program
  • WHCPA will develop an endowment fund for long-term sustainability

Overall Campaign Goals

At the conclusion, the Campaign will be deemed a success if:
  • The Museum is closer to its vision of preserving the history of the pioneers and families of the area
  • The Museum raises $1.5 million by the end of the campaign
  • The objectives of the campaign are fulfilled with a constructed building (addition) to house the artifacts and new programs developed with the funding stream established
  • The Board members, and other lead-gift donors set a new pace for philanthropy for the Museum
  • New sources of funding from grants and foundations have been established to ensure long-term sustainability
  • The Museum ends the campaign with more potential prospects than it has today and has strengthened its overall development operation
  • There is a stronger corps of volunteer leaders who play an active role in advancing the future of the Museum
  • The members and other constituents (businesses, corporations, foundations, and individuals, etc.) are more informed about the role of the Museum; have a heightened awareness and appreciation for Museum's accomplishments, visions, and plans; and, these same constituents will become actively involved in the on-going financings
  • The entire community is more aware of the Museum's effort