WSU Extension Master Gardeners,
MG Foundations
and the MOAs that bind them
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
MG Volunteers and MG Foundation Members!
Same people, different hats
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Someone once said that Extension MG Volunteers are like a
symphony and the Foundation is like a “Friends of the
Symphony” organization.
It can get confusing, though, when
the same people are in both
groups. What is the difference?
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
When you use the Master
Gardener title, you are
identifying yourself as a
volunteer certified to teach in
the WSU Extension MG
program.
Master Gardeners engage people in
learning to use research-based
gardening practices.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
A Foundation is..
a nonprofit organization that typically donates
funds to another organization.
Foundation members are MGs who support
their local program by funding outreach
activities, demo gardens, program promotion,
and other deliverables as agreed upon between
Extension and the MG Foundation.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
In a nutshell…
MG Volunteers “work” for WSU Extension as
community educators
Foundation members “work” to support local MG
programs
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Let’s talk about what Extension MG Volunteers do…
Master Gardeners
are trained by WSU
Extension faculty
and staff via online
and classroom
presentations.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
After training, Master Gardeners take a final exam
and begin volunteering for WSU.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Master Gardener Volunteers answer questions
at Plant Clinics and community events.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Master Gardeners provide and
demonstrate science-based
education.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Master Gardeners teach youth about gardening
and natural resources in schools and at
community events.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Master Gardener Volunteers give a minimum of
40 hours of volunteer service to the local WSU
Extension Master Gardener Program to become a
certified MG
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Master Gardener Program Coordinators may limit
how many program support hours count toward
certification
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Master Gardener
Foundations/Associations
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
A Foundation is..
a nonprofit organization that typically donates
funds to another organization.
Foundation members are MGs who support
their local program by funding outreach
activities, demo gardens, program promotion,
and more.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
A Memorandum of Agreement is…
a written contract or MOA. It is required when University
resources are exchanged with another entity. The MOA is
signed by a University officer who is a delegated authority
from the Board of Regents or the President.
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
What is being exchanged?
University resources: office space, newsletters, faculty and
staff time and expertise, volunteer credit, property, equipment,
the name ‘Master Gardener’
Foundation resources: financial support; hosting of social
events; promotion of MG programs; donations of plants,
funding for books, computers, garden supplies
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
•Curriculum, OLT
•Certification
•Policies
•Coord training
•University relations
•Program Impacts
•Branding
•Annual Conference
•Awards
•Scholarships
•Newsletter, state listserv
•Mtgs for County Fdn.reps
•Local F2F Training
•Volunteer Mgmt
•Community activities
•Reporting local impacts
WSU Ext
MG
Program
County Ext.
MG
Program
State MG
Foundation
County MG
Foundation
• Fundraising,
• Social and promotional
events
• Supports local program
how?
What is the purpose of your foundation?
What are requirements of its members?
Do you have a current Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) ?
What does your Foundation do?
What does WSU Extension do?
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.
Washington State University Contracts Office
• http://contracts.wsu.edu/
• Forms/Templates
• Standard Contract Terms
• Extension/Master Gardener Agreements – a contract entered
into by local Extension Offices which supports the mission of
WSU Extension and/or the Master Gardener Program
Contracting steps:
1. Negotiation between Ext office and Foundation.
2. Drafting of document using template in Contracts office
3. Review by County Director, State MG Leader, Contracts office
4. Approval by all parties.
5. Performance
In Summary..
Extension MG volunteers deliver outreach
Foundation Members support the program
Same people, different hats
WSU Extension Master Gardener Program: Volunteer Community Educators– cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973.