The Center for Wooden Boats (CWB) provides opportunities to learn about our region’s maritime culture and traditions through hands-on experiences - sailing, rowing and building boats.
Proven Success
Membership levels are at an all-time high. Volunteers have remained engaged throughout the recession, with many stepping forward to help fill resource gaps – event planning, marketing, bookkeeping and fundraising. The opening of Lake Union Park in September 2010 increases CWB’s exposure to park visitors. Their 2011 plan focuses on enhancing the visitor experience by creating welcoming and educational experiences to engage these new audiences.
Accessibility
The Center for Wooden Boats is creating a new heritage hub at Lake Union Park where visitors’ can view and sail aboard traditional boats of all kinds. Activities are free and classes have scholarship or “pay what you can” options.
Collaboration
CWB plays a leadership role in facilitating the collaboration amongst a dozen non profit organizations that has resulted in shared planning, shared programs and events, a shared website and online calendar, and shared marketing activities (www.atlakeunionpark.org).
Sustainability
CWB is updating their strategic plan and has prioritized that the plan will include concrete ways to measure impact for each of CWB’s primary purposes. CWB is currently developing an evaluation methodology for its youth programs and is actively engaging youth in the process.
CWB lost their space in the Naval Reserve building and has consolidated their operations into its Boathouse and indoor program space. CWB had a consultant complete a feasibility study for its $9.7 million Lake Union capital campaign project and decided to move forward a year ago. The campaign will fund improvements to current facilities, a new education center in Lake Union Park and expanded facilities at the north end of Lake Union. They plan to build a 10,000 square food Education Center in Lake Union Park that will provide a new boatbuilding shop, a youth classroom, community space, library, volunteer center and administrative space. A campaign cabinet is focused on raising the funds required and there is 100% board participation and several leadership gifts already received.
Financial Health
CWB’s assets have grown from $1.3 million in 2005 to $2.3 million in 2010. For the past two years they have had to make difficult decisions to balance their budget. They have tried to focus on projects aligned with their mission, strengthened financial forecasting and defined key milestones to review throughout the year to keep the forecast current.
CWB is adding a new fundraising breakfast in 2011, recruiting a new volunteer team to help steward major donors, and expanding awareness of CWB programs through an new outreach program called “Lunch on the Lake”. “Lunches on the Lake” events are held twice monthly to introduce people to the work of CWB through one-on-one conversations with volunteers and board members.
Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:
Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:
| Date | Amount | | Purpose |
|---|
| 9/10/2012 |
$5,000.00 |  | support general operating expenses. | | 9/10/2011 |
$8,400.00 | | support general operating expenses. | | 9/10/2010 |
$10,000.00 | | support general operating expenses. | | 9/17/2008 |
$25,000.00 | | support general operating expenses. | | 10/5/2006 |
$15,000.00 | | support general operating expenses. | | 6/17/2004 |
$20,000.00 | | support general operating expenses. |
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