Friday May 9

Barn fundraisers going after big bucks

Los Altos residents must raise $880,000 to save historic structure

By Melanie Carroll / Daily News Staff Writer

As fundraising efforts get under way to match Los Altos Hills' $880,000 contribution for restoring the town-owned barn, organizers of the private campaign are asking the city council what incentives they may offer donors.

On Thursday night, Jeanne Seeley, president of the Supporters of Westwind Community Barn, asked the council to think about what options they might consider to recognize donors - short of renaming the historic barn.

"We need guidance for donor recognition," Seeley said. "Besides renaming it ... is everything else on the table?"

For instance, if a donor writes a check for $300,000, could a wing of the stable be named after him or her, or might a trail on nearby land be named in their honor, Seeley asked the council.

The council in December voted to earmark $880,000 to restore the town barn as long as it was matched by $880,000 of private funds for the needed $1.7 million seismic upgrade. The work is designed to help prevent the stable, built in the 1940s, from collapsing during an earthquake. If the work is not completed, a portion of the historic structure could be forced to close down, city officials have said.

The president of the nonprofit group also laid out its fundraising strategies for the upcoming eight to 12 months. The plan, Seeley said, is to commence with a "quiet campaign" involving big donors, and then begin a broader public effort to bring in gifts starting at around $1,000. The smaller donors are anticipated to contribute approximately 30 percent of the needed funds.

"The money is available in this town," Seeley said. "It has to do with the willingness of the town" to help pay for the restoration. The group has hired a professional fundraiser, Charley Ansbach, to help with the effort.

The idea of focusing on the larger donors first and not announcing each fundraising milestone is a tested method in these types of efforts, Seeley said.

"We're always anxious to get the check," Seeley said. "We want to do the best job we can for the community."

Seeley also asked the council to provide its visible support to the campaign.

"We need to be real partners," Seeley said. "Frustrations should not be used in the press."

Mayor Craig Jones thanked Seeley for the presentation and commended her professional and well-organized approach. Other council members offered no comment from the dais Thursday.



E-mail Melanie Carroll at mcarroll@dailynewsgroup.com.