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Home My WebLink AboutGrant Request - High Desert MuseumEconomic Development Fund Discretionary Grant Program Organization: High Desert Museum Organization Description: The High Desert Museum was founded in 1976 and opened its doors in 1982. The Museum serves to broaden the knowledge and understanding of the natural and cultural resources of the High Desert. Currently, the museum attraacts about 130,000 visitors annually and provides education opportunities for 13,000 children. It is staffed by 41 full-time employees and 295 volunteers. Project Name: Fired Up About Oregon's Forests Project Description: This program is a guided discovery tour designed for 4th to 8th grade students. It is a full day field trip at the museum focused on the effects of fire in ponderosa pine forest ecosystems. During the last school year, the museum offered 28 of these free programs to schools. Foundation funding, which supported this program in the past, has been cut. This grant request would support 18 Fired Up programs. Project Period: September 2, 2008 -June 11, 2009 Amount of Request: $5,000 Previous Grants: None 47 0 u .t.. -( Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION Direct Application to: Commissioner Tammy Baney Commissioner Dennis R. Luke Date: 9/5/08 X Project Name: Project Beginning Date: Amount of Request: Applicant/Organization : Address: Commissioner Michael M. Daly All Three Commissioners Fired Up About Oregon's Forests! Sept. 29. 2008 $5,000 Project End Date: , June 11, 2009 Date Funds Needed: Tax ID 14 - City & Zip: Telephone: Email: High Desert Museum 59800 S. Hwy 97 Contact Name(s): Fax: Janeanne A. Upp President 541-382-5256 Alternate Phone: Sept. 29, 2008 510179336 Bend 97702 541-382-4754 jupp@highdesertmuseum.org On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. *Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. Amount Approved: By: Date: Declined: By: Date: Description of the High Desert Museum In 1976, Don Kerr founded the High Desert Museum "...to wildly excite, and responsibly teach". In 1982, the Museum opened its doors and began telling the story of the natural and cultural history of the High Desert. The High Desert region extends west to the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountains, east to the Rockies, south to the Colorado Plateau, and north across the Columbia Plateau into southeastern British Columbia; one-fifth of the continental United States. Reflecting our founder's commitment and dream, the Museum serves to broaden the knowledge and understanding of the natural and cultural resources of the High Desert. Today, with a full-time staff of 41, ably complemented by 295 enthusiastic volunteers including 55 teens, we annually welcome 130,000 visitors as well as educate 13,000 school children. Guided by our mission, we inspire and foster stewardship of our region: Through exhibits, wildlife and living history, the High Desert Museum moves audiences to discover their connection to the past, their role in the present and their responsibility to the future. Project Description We respectfully request $5,000 towards the funding of our vital youth education program, "Fired Up About Oregon's Forestsl" This extremely popular guided discovery tour designed for 4th through 8th grade, features a full-day field trip at the Museum focusing on the effects of fire in ponderosa pine forest ecosystems. During the trip to the Museum, our instructors guide students through activities using the exhibits, our forest surrounding the Museum, and our classrooms. Hands-on, inquiry -based activities include examining the elements fires need to burn, exploring forest fuel layers, learning about the benefits of fire in a forest, forensically finding the history of fires through tree scars, and investigating fire control methods such as fire lines. These activities meet Oregon State Education Standards. Last year we provided 28 free programs to schools. Unfortunately, the foundation that we have relied on to support this free program has recently cut their budget for funding this valuable resource. We seek funding to offer 18 free Fired Up! programs to Deschutes County schools. Project Timeline Offering free Fired Up! programs will begin September 29, 2008 and continue until the first week of June, 2009. Last year the Museum hosted almost 1,000 students for this discovery tour. We anticipate hosting approximately three schools each month during the school year. Community Impact Strong economic health begins with an educated and knowledgeable populous. Our compelling educational programming supports our community through hands-on, tangible experiences that instill a sense of personal responsibility and cullivate citizens to be stewards of the environment. Currently, we have more requests for free field trips than we can support. Our project responds to this demand by offering rich educational programming at no cost. Economically strong communities rely on individuals who understand their place in, and impact on, the natural world. In Central Oregon, we have a tangible connection to wild fires — Fired Up! helps educate citizens regarding this potent component of our landscape. Deschutes County Beneficiaries We will offer free Fired Up! programs to Deschutes County schools. Students from Sisters, Redmond, and the Bend- LaPine Districts will be able to attend this all -day, discovery field trip at the Museum at no charge. A grant of $5,000 will allow us to offer this free program to 18 classes. We expect 540 students and 180 teachers and chaperones joining us at the Museum to experience Fired Up! Program Expenditures We anticipate that each Fired Up! program costs approximately $272. Program costs include an average of $110 for travel (the Museum pays for the school bus), nine hours of staff time ($126) per field trip, one hour of administrative time ($11), $25 of ancillary costs (shipping, handling, and printing). Also, we expect to spend approximately $100 in replacing materials that we use repeatedly. A grant of $5,000 allows us to offer 18 free programs and purchase $104 in materials. The Museum will contribute six hours of volunteer staff time and six hours of classroom rental time (valued at $228 per class) for each field trip. We will continue seeking external funding for this beneficial program and have begun coordinating with Project Wildfire to grow our fire ecology education program. Thank you for your consideration of our proposal. We look forward to partnering with you to build a stronger commu city. Page 1 of 1 Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury District Director Czt ;JUN 15 1977 Western -Natural History Institute 1234 N. W. 25' Avenue Portland, Oregon 97210 Gentlemen: P. 0. Box 21224 Seattle, Washington 98111 our tatter Dated: February 17, 1976 Person to Contact: Sandra L. Burger Contact Telephone Number. (206) 442-5110 This modifies our letter of the above date in which we stated that you would be treated as an organization which is not a private foundation until the expiration of your advanoe ruling period. Based on the information you submitted, we have determined that you are not a private foundation within the meaning of section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, because you are an organization of the type described in section 509(a)(2) . Your exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the code is still in 'effect. - Grantors and contributors may -rely on this determination until the Internal Revenue Service publishes notice to the contrary. However, a grantor or a contributor may not rely on this determination if he or she was in part responsible for, or was aware of, the act or failure to act that• resulted in your loss of section 509(a)(2) status, or acquired knowledge that the Internal Revenue Service had given notice that you would be removed from classification as a section 509(a)(2) organization. Because this letter could help resolve any questions about your private foundation status, please keep it in your permanent records. If you have any questions, please contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown above. CI L4 ITd ARITTIIC, 1-a }'fn, ifasiT: Sincerely yours, Michael Sassi District Director Form L-399 (Rev. 1-7