SCMGF Mission and Purpose
We are a “Fun and Fund-Raising” non-profit organization of about 300 Master Gardeners committed to supporting the WSU Master Gardener program in Snohomish County.
We strive to enhance and supplement the MG Program by providing:
Education: We advise and support various educational activities that further the Master Gardener program goals and objectives.
Facilities: We support the design, development and maintenance of various Snohomish County demonstration garden sites, in cooperation with other groups as appropriate.
Finance: We raise and disburse funds in furtherance of the Master Gardener program, including but not limited to :
• Fund-raising activities
• Acceptance of contributions and bequests
• Preparation of annual budgets
• Maintenance of accounts
• Annual audit of finances
• Preparation of financial statements
Function: We promote and provide various activities supporting the Master Gardener program, including but not limited to educational and similar events for Master Gardeners and/or the general public; facilitate the exchange of ideas and information among members; enhance the cooperative efforts with other programs of WSU Extension and with other groups as appropriate.
Other: We participate in the State Master Gardener Foundation, as appropriate; conduct business meetings as necessary and appropriate; and take other actions to support and advance the Master Gardener program as needed.
Interaction: Foundation Board of Directors serve informally as an advisory board to the Snohomish County Community Horticulture Program.
Board of Directors:
The Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of 11 to 13 members. Board members are elected at the annual election meeting each March. About half of the Board members are elected each year and each member serves for two years. Board members serve as liaisons between the Foundation, the Program, and the Community, and provide leadership for Foundation activities (although other members provide plenty of leadership, too). Officers (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer) are selected from the Board.
The Foundation meets the third Tuesday of each month except July, August, and December, at 9:30 am in the Evergreen Room at McCollum Park. Meetings usually last about an hour and are often followed by an educational seminar or workshop. All Master Gardeners and trainees are invited and encouraged to attend.
Foundation Priorities:
The following are the priorities for the current planning period:
Build on past fund-raising successes while developing additional fund-raising opportunities
Anticipate and plan for funding requirements for current Foundation-supported programs as well as for new development
Support the WSU Extension staff in their efforts to improve community visibility of the many benefits of the MG Program in Snohomish County
Effectively communicate the Foundation’s role in programs/projects within the larger MG Program visibility effort
How is the Snohomish County Master Gardener Program different from the Snohomish County WSU Master Gardener Extension program?
We are a group of enthusiastic and committed Master Gardeners who partner with the WSU Extension program to help provide Master Gardener activities for the benefit of our Snohomish County community. Our Foundation provides funding that helps to support the training of new master gardeners, community diagnostic clinics, demonstration gardens, and a wide array of Master Gardener community outreach programs and events – including the popular Winter Lecture Series, the Snohomish County MG Garden Tours, and the annual Snohomish County MG Plant Sale each May.