Subject:
Title
Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Agreement for Parks & Recreation Fund
Body
DATE(S) OF PRIOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THIS ISSUE:
June 9, 2025 Council Work Session - Capital Campaign Framework: Fundraising for an Aquatic & Fitness Center
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
The Department of Parks and Recreation requests approval to enter into an agreement with the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA) to establish a designated fund to accept charitable contributions in support of Parks & Recreation initiatives.
On June 9, 2025, Town Council directed staff to pursue a nonprofit fundraising entity to support Parks & Recreation initiatives, independent of whether the Town ultimately moved forward with the proposed Aquatics & Fitness Center. Staff subsequently researched options for establishing a fundraising mechanism without creating and administering a separate nonprofit organization.
Staff identified CFNOVA as the best fit for this purpose. CFNOVA is a 501(c)(3) public charity that can provide the charitable structure necessary to accept tax-deductible contributions on behalf of Parks & Recreation. The Community Foundation administers the fund, including gift processing, donor acknowledgments, due diligence, and related charitable compliance, while the funds remain designated for the Town of Vienna, Department of Parks and Recreation.
The proposed fund will initially be established as a general Parks & Recreation fund. Contributions will not be tied to a specific project, providing flexibility to support future Parks & Recreation initiatives such as park improvements, amenities, equipment, public art, and other community investments. Staff will not pursue project-specific fundraising campaigns unless Council has committed to the underlying project.
CFNOVA requires a $10,000 initial contribution to establish the fund. The seed funding has been identified from unspent FY2026 funds originally allocated to Parks & Recreation. Be...
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