There is a new way of doing business that’s emerging in West Marin, in which connections are as important as individual actions.

The West Marin Fund provides funding and other assistance to our many nonprofits, expands charitable giving and volunteer activity, and supports innovative endeavors that benefit the community. The fund has been working since 2011 in coastal Marin to focus on the unique needs of our unincorporated towns.  

We regularly convene the leaders of local nonprofits over breakfast, hosted at different nonprofits throughout the year. This gathering of the executive directors allows for dialogue about the issues the organizations face; the topics that frequently arise include the high cost of housing, hiring and retaining employees, creating strong and diverse boards and, of course, where to find funding in a climate of shrinking foundation support.

It is documented that forced collaborations rarely work. When funders impose collaboration through a grant, it does lead organizations to work together, but the partnerships rarely last once the funding is complete. 

But the West Marin Fund recently learned of a collaboration between two local nonprofits that was generated by the nonprofits themselves. The idea came from photographer Marty Knapp, who amasses framed photographs each time he hangs a show. While he sells many of the pieces, some from each project are left over when he moves on to his next project. 

Marty approached Amanda Eichstaedt, KWMR’s executive director, to float an idea. His goal was to sell locally many of these framed pieces from previous shows and use some of the proceeds to support KWMR and West Marin Senior Services, two organizations he wanted to support this year.

Marty and Amanda then talked with Skip Schwartz and his staff at West Marin Senior Services, taking the idea a step further by collaborating on a mid-summer mailing to all post office boxes as well as out-of-area supporters for both nonprofits. It is the first time in recent history that two nonprofits have come together to raise operational funds for both organizations with a single mailing. 

Amanda said the project would not have happened as easily without the West Marin Fund regularly convening executive directors. “We already had a dialogue going so it made it really easy for us to step outside of the box to launch this project,” she said.

The sale of Marty’s photographs will take place on Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Members of both KWMR and W.M.S.S. will be on hand to support Marty and his wife, Jean, and to talk to folks about the work each organization does in the community. 

Marty will donate half of sales to both organizations, split equally. At the same time, a mailing will arrive in local P.O. boxes this coming week. It serves as an annual report for both nonprofits and will seek support—which will also be split equally. 

 

Catherine Porter is the executive director of the West Marin Fund.