KEY FINDINGS PARK AND RECREATION LEADERS SEE FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTING THEIR AGENCIES IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES A condition of successful, productive relationships is a common set of expectations for working together. This holds true for the agency-foundation relationship. As such, it is perhaps not surprising that a majority of park and recreation leaders (73 percent of survey respondents) indicates their foundations are “extremely” or “very” important to their agency’s capacity to fundraise and nurture philanthropic support. But park and recreation leaders look to their foundations in areas beyond direct financial support. For example, two in five survey respondents indicate that their foundations are “extremely” or “very” important in facilitating other partnerships and relationships, as well as community engagement and outreach. Other services and activities in which park and recreation leaders see a role for their foundations include:
• Special events (35 percent of respondents cite as “extremely” or “very” important) • Capital construction projects (28 percent) • Parkland or facility acquisition (27 percent) • Marketing (24 percent) • Lobbying and political activity (24 percent) Park and recreation agency leaders view their foundations as much less important in day-to-day activities. For example, 10 percent or less of agency leaders see their foundations as “extremely” or “very” important to facility maintenance, administrative tasks and human resources.
Park and Recreation Leaders Place a High Degree of Importance on Their Foundations’ Fundraising Support (Percent of Respondents Rating Specific Activities as “Extremely” or “Very” Important) Fundraising or philanthropic support Facilitating other partnerships or relationships Community engagement or outreach Special events Capital construction projects Parkland or facility acquisition Marketing Lobbying or political activity Volunteer organization Direct delivery of programs or other services Facilities maintenance Administrative tasks Decision making or strategic planning Human resources 6
73% 41% 41% 35% 28% 27% 24% 24% 19% 17% 10% 9% 7% 4% 2020 AGENCY-FOUNDATION RELATIONSHIP REPORT
