Frequently asked questions about the endowed fund campaign

More than half of WSU Extension’s funding comes from grants. Only 17% of our budget comes from state dollars. The remainder comes from federal funds, and contracted partnerships (MOA’s) with county governments. Just ten years ago more than half of our funding came from state dollars. Industries and constituencies who want WSU to support their efforts and businesses have endowments at WSU. For example, the Tree Fruit Commission, the Potato Commission, and Small Fruit Commissions have given to endowments that support research and educational outreach. The WSU Extension Master Gardener Program is similar to industry in that our program is a constituency of individuals who have a common goal: the success of the WSU Master Gardener Program.

The Gift Use Agreement (GUA) states that the Dean of College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) or designee is in charge of the endowment distributions. CAHNRS administration has trusted Jennifer Marquis, Statewide Leader, to spend Master Gardener gift funds effectively. Regardless of who is in the Dean’s seat or the Statewide Master Gardener Leader’s seat, the funds MUST be spent in accordance with the GUA. In short, all funds will be used to support WSU Extension Master Gardener programs.

• The Gift Use Agreement (GUA), which is a legally binding document, governs how the funds are to be spent. The Master Gardener Program leader will work in concert with CAHNRS administration and WSU Extension Master Gardener stakeholders to support Master Gardener Program statewide. The GUA is intentionally vague because this endowment will live into perpetuity. We must be nimble and provide flexibility for the Master Gardener Program 25, 75, even 500 years down the road.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We’ve been trying to operate using a structure that was established in 1975 when budgets were flush and there was enough faculty and staff to support the Programs in each county. We must think more wholistically about moving our Program forward in perpetuity. We must pool our resources for the benefit of all Programs.

This campaign has a direct impact on our local programs, through curriculum, science-based horticulture practices, and cutting-edge research. Donations to this fund will support the development of statewide curriculum and other publications for educational outreach.

• The work supported by this endowment will enhance and deepen local county WSU Extension Master Gardener efforts throughout the state, providing valuable resources to both large and small programs. Every Washington Extension Master Gardener Program will benefit directly from the success of this campaign. By contributing, you strengthen local initiatives and empower communities.
• Program materials for training, continuing education, and public outreach will be systematically and regularly updated. This will reduce waiting times for updates and ensure consistent, high-quality information statewide. Additionally, curriculum will be tailored to address specific local needs, such as tackling the impacts of climate change in the Yakima Valley.
• The endowment will support teaching of both new and existing curriculum while enabling the creation of a comprehensive list of speakers to bolster local educational outreach. Workshops such as the Whidbey Gardening Workshop and Spokane’s Cabin Fever will gain access to an enriched speaker pool. For smaller counties, faculty and professional speaker resources will become more accessible and impactful, further advancing the work of local Extension Master Gardeners.
• Many Extension Master Gardener Programs actively support local food banks, and this endowment will provide access to free or reduced-cost resources like seeds, share best practices for food production, and establish state and federal partnerships to fund and strengthen local initiatives. Programs like the Food Bank Garden at Dirty Works in Thurston County could benefit from enhanced strategies to increase production and improve crop health.
• Program coordinators and Extension Master Gardeners often face challenges in finding the time and resources to build effective partnerships at both the state and local levels. This endowment will enable coordination of statewide partnerships that benefit counties across Washington. It will also open up new opportunities for grants and external funding by fostering these vital connections. County programs will be better positioned to align with organizations such as conservation districts, wildfire prevention bureaus, and environmental agencies. 
• Our programs are rooted in science-based practices—proven steps supported by robust research. This endowment will facilitate engagement between local programs and research conducted by WSU Extension, while also identifying local research opportunities for county Extension Master Gardeners. In some cases, grant funding and partnerships with graduate students or other collaborators can support these efforts.
• Maintaining and improving curriculum for interns is essential to program success. This endowment will allow for regular curriculum updates and enable local programs to tailor materials to specific community needs. For example, curriculum designed for children, seniors, or special needs populations will be more accessible and consistent across counties, ensuring effective and inclusive educational efforts.
• This endowment also ensures a strong advocacy presence for the Extension Master Gardener Program. It will support representation in key discussions, securing improved funding and resources, and raising awareness of the program’s mission within WSU decision-making processes. Additionally, the program’s work will be highlighted and supported at a national level, further expanding opportunities to achieve its goals and mission.

WSU Extension is funded through a variety of sources including federal, state, local government, and grants. Federal Smith-Lever Act provides capacity grant funding through USDA-NIFA to conduct agricultural extension work, which constitutes about 8% of the overall budget. Other federal funding to support specific programs like Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), constitute 8%. State legislated funds make up about 17% of the WSU Extension budget. County funds account for about 10%. The majority of the rest comes from research grant funds, which account for 56%. These grants support research and programs like 4-H, agriculture research, forestry, community and economic development, and others.

The WSU Extension Master Gardener Program is funded through WSU Extension from federal, state, and local government dollars; through grants; and through county Master Gardener Foundations. Federal, state, and county dollars pay for salaries and benefits, and support resources like Hortsense, Pestsense, plant diagnostic laboratories, and the Pesticide Resource and Education Program (PREP). In addition to salaries, county government contributes office space, computers and IT equipment, and local operations.

There are a variety of funding mechanisms, but the majority are funded through County partnerships.

Budget cuts in 2009 had a severe impact on WSU’s ability to hire faculty and staff. WSU Extension has experienced a 40% reduction in staff due to budget constraints. Just 10 years ago more than half of the WSU Extension budget was funded by Washington State. Today only 26% of WSU Extension funding comes from the State and 54% comes from grants. The current financial climate requires constituency-based efforts that inform WSU about what our communities need. The Tree Fruit Industry, Potato Commission, and Grain Growers have endowments that have enabled WSU to hire several faculty and staff to support their needs.

• Local trainees and certified volunteers will receive up-to-date educational offerings.
• The endowed fund will support advanced plant clinic trainings and advanced trainings on a wide number of topics, i.e., lawns, woody landscape plants, climate change.
• Local trainees and certified volunteers will have access to an increased number of up-to-date fact sheets and extension bulletins to learn from and to teach from.

CAHNRS Developments has a team working on raising funds from large donors, including individuals, private foundations, and corporations. Funds will also come from the grass-roots efforts of extension master gardeners and community members who value the contribution extension master gardeners make to creating healthy communities and a healthy planet.

There are a number of ways you can make a gift to support the endowed fund.  You can mail a check, give online with a credit card, make a pledge, or make a planned gift (see question number 17 for more information about planned giving).

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. When combined with others, even small donations create a powerful impact and help support meaningful change. Your generosity truly matters!

Yes, gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. The WSU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that is structurally separate from Washington State University and exists solely for WSU’s benefit, serving as the preferred channel for private gifts to all areas of the University. The WSU Foundation’s taxpayer identification number is 91-1075542.

When making a gift by check, please remember to include a contribution letter including the gift account number GF007065 and indicate the gift is to the WSU Master Gardener Program Endowed Fund. Gifts made by check should be payable to the WSU Foundation and mailed to:

Washington State University Foundation

ATTN:  WSU Master Gardener Program Endowed Fund

PO Box 641927

Pullman, WA  99164-1927

Connect the potential donor with Denise Echelbarger or Jim Smith with the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) Development office:

Jim Smith, james.g.smith@wsu.edu,

Denise Echelbarger, denise@wsu.edu, 509-335-3653

The best place is on the WSU Foundation’s disclosure of fees and assessments page. A 5% advancement fee is applied to gifts processed by the WSU Foundation to help offset direct operating costs related to soliciting, processing, and stewarding private contributions. This advancement fee is effectively an investment in future fundraising to benefit the Master Gardener Program, WSU Extension, and all of WSU.