WE THE PEOPLE
THE SPIRIT OF PHILANTHROPY
An Historic Challenge
$ 500,000 MATCHING GRANT PLEDGE FOR ANNUAL FUND ANNOUNCED
Above : Montpelier President and CEO Kat Imhoff ( second from left ) stands with John “ Jack ” P . Garniewski , Jr ., Michele Ahwash , and Margaret “ Peggy ” McGarrey on the House ’ s terrace .
In early September of this year , President and CEO Kat Imhoff received exciting news : the Nancy Woodson Spire Foundation , a dedicated supporter of The Montpelier Foundation since 2002 , has made a $ 500,000 matching grant pledge to benefit our Annual Fund .
The 1:1 challenge grant aims to match all new and increased unrestricted memberships and gifts received from July 2016 to June 2017 with the goal of raising a total of $ 1 million that will go toward operating The Montpelier Foundation . This type of unrestricted giving is the lifeblood of mission-driven nonprofits , because it pays for all of the capacity a high quality organization requires , whether that means experienced staff , new roads , or IT infrastructure .
“ The Nancy Woodson Spire Foundation has been instrumental to our progress at Montpelier since the beginning ,” said Imhoff . “ We are thrilled and grateful that the Foundation ’ s leadership has
“ We know how essential unrestricted support is for the vitality of a nonprofit organization , and we want to see Montpelier attract new friends and encourage current supporters to increase their gifts .”
invested in the success of an institution on the move and it feels like family when we get to show them our progress . We see the challenge grant as an act of leadership encouraging others to help us maintain our high level of work .”
The Nancy Woodson Spire Foundation was founded at the request of Nancy Woodson Spire , and established after her death in 1980 . Today , the Foundation is led and administered by John “ Jack ” P . Garniewski , Jr ., and two colleagues , Michele Ahwash and Margaret “ Peggy ” McGarrey .
“ We are truly pleased to launch this new opportunity for The Montpelier Foundation ,” said Garniewski . “ We know how essential unrestricted support is for the vitality of a nonprofit organization , and we want to see Montpelier attract new friends and encourage current supporters to increase their gifts .
— John “ Jack ” P . Garniewski , Jr .
NANCY WOODSON SPIRE FOUNDATION
Montpelier ’ s long-term health depends on a thriving Annual Fund . It is wonderful to be able to be part of the future success of Montpelier and to be associated with such a dedicated and committed group to make this happen .”
The Montpelier Annual Fund currently includes 1,400 individual supporters and raised nearly $ 2 million last year . These dollars bolster every aspect of Montpelier ’ s work and , because they are unrestricted , can be used where the need is greatest . Montpelier has over 80 full-time and 60 part-time staff and hosts more than 125,000 visitors each year . While named gifts continue to drive Montpelier ’ s largest initiatives , there is no better way to show your support for Montpelier ’ s growth and improvement than with an unrestricted gift — whether at a $ 50 membership or with a $ 5,000 gift to the Madison Cabinet .
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