We’re spending a lot of time thinking about funding opportunities at the moment. When we think about long term funding for the Better Middlebury Partnership, we immediately go to all the different ways we can access funds; grant writing, letters of appeal, our annual chocolate bar project, individual giving, to fundraising events. This morning, Kelly and I were lucky enough to attend a gathering held at the Town Hall Theater, hosted by the Addison County Chamber and The Addison County Economic Development Corporation ( ACEDC) who coordinated a powerful panel of local fundraising doyennes! The morning ( with a lunch offering, thank you Grapevine Grille ) the morning was attended by many of our fellow nonprofits, providing a platform of learning and sharing in the spirit of community.
The panel was fantastic—Dana Hart from Ilsley Library, Lisa Mitchell from the Town Hall Theater, ( both fresh from their capital campaigns) and Susan and Jerry Ann, a power house team from the Vergennes Opera House, who are working on their “All Access” campaign. The panel ( joined by Alex Armani Munn, who reflected on the power of matching grants and collective funding across private/public partnerships) gave such thoughtful insights. It was both comforting and inspiring to reflect on the importance of community connection, the power of building deep relationships, the significance of passion AND expertise, and recognizing the hard work and dedication and love needed not only from organizational directors, but also from volunteers, board members and the wider community.
We came away with an even deeper appreciation for the dedication fundraising requires. The conversations spanned grant applications, individual and one-on-one giving, and events, but the overarching theme was clear: passion for the project, collaboration, and strong, rooted relationships within the community are at the heart of successful fundraising.