For the first years of Down Home Ranch the only income was from “development,” charitable fundraising. The Hortons had a little MacIntosh computer and wrote letter after letter asking individuals, families, churches, businesses, service clubs and others to consider a gift, and many did — enough to survive. But included in the original strategic plan was an entrepreneurial spirit and a determination to generate multiple sources of building and operating income.
Gradually, some foundations took an interest in the Ranch and capital grants were awarded. Almost every structure on the Ranch was built with grants from foundations: RGK, Anderson, Meadows, Mabee, Justin Paul, Dodge Jones, Still Water, Karakin and many others. The Ranch owes its creation to the generous support of such organizations. In 1995, Ranch Camp was launched using National Guard tents and cots.
Shortly thereafter, donated greenhouses were erected and the first crop of 2,300 poinsettias were raised and sold. Two new sources of enterprise income were established. In recent years, government funding for day-to-day operations has become significant. But such funding is limited to shelter, food, supervision and the like; it doesn’t cover “quality of life” support that most of us take for granted.
Moreover, public tax dollars are being squeezed and are probably in an irreversible decline. Ranch income comes from three sources: government, enterprise and development. There is little one can do about government support, but much that can be done about enterprise and development — and that’s just what we are doing. We are branching out into vegetable production, ramping up facility rentals through Inn Keepers and investing in personnel and technology to help with development.
The Development Office will soon launch the Ranch Hand program, a sustained effort to raise $1 million in new operating support from 3,000 people or organizations that will pledge $1.00 a day to Down Home Ranch.
Most non-profits are financially challenged and few have the resources or the resolve to engage the problem and emerge a stronger, more robust organization. We do have the resources and we for sure have the determination. As it is said, “failure is not an option.” Success is.
Gradually, some foundations took an interest in the Ranch and capital grants were awarded. Almost every structure on the Ranch was built with grants from foundations: RGK, Anderson, Meadows, Mabee, Justin Paul, Dodge Jones, Still Water, Karakin and many others. The Ranch owes its creation to the generous support of such organizations. In 1995, Ranch Camp was launched using National Guard tents and cots.
Shortly thereafter, donated greenhouses were erected and the first crop of 2,300 poinsettias were raised and sold. Two new sources of enterprise income were established. In recent years, government funding for day-to-day operations has become significant. But such funding is limited to shelter, food, supervision and the like; it doesn’t cover “quality of life” support that most of us take for granted.
Moreover, public tax dollars are being squeezed and are probably in an irreversible decline. Ranch income comes from three sources: government, enterprise and development. There is little one can do about government support, but much that can be done about enterprise and development — and that’s just what we are doing. We are branching out into vegetable production, ramping up facility rentals through Inn Keepers and investing in personnel and technology to help with development.
The Development Office will soon launch the Ranch Hand program, a sustained effort to raise $1 million in new operating support from 3,000 people or organizations that will pledge $1.00 a day to Down Home Ranch.
Most non-profits are financially challenged and few have the resources or the resolve to engage the problem and emerge a stronger, more robust organization. We do have the resources and we for sure have the determination. As it is said, “failure is not an option.” Success is.
