Bloedel Reserve Comprehensive Campaign 

History & Context

Until the late 2000’s, Bloedel Reserve functioned as a privately operating foundation and was prevented from raising money due to restrictions in its bylaws. As time progressed, there was an increased desire to share the Reserve’s mission with the community and a need to broaden ownership to ensure future sustainability. Starting in 2010, fundraising became a focus at Bloedel Reserve and a growing community began actively supporting the organization. In 2015, the Reserve became recognized officially as a public charity.

In 2016 the organization embarked on an ambitious $25MM comprehensive campaign, Preserving a Treasure for Generations. The campaign included several goals, which when completed, would transform the Reserve into its next stage as a community institution and cultural resource. The aims for the campaign were threefold: to enhance visitor experience; to increase future financial sustainability; and to allow for continued high quality maintenance of the landscapes.

The Comprehensive Campaign raised over $5MM of our $6MM goal.

Buxton Bird Marsh & Pollinator Meadow

Of all the landscapes at the Reserve, the Pollinator Meadow is among the newest—and in many ways, it holds the most potential.

[This project area] is a really good example of how ecosystem function and wildlife habitat and aesthetics are [not] mutually exclusive, you can really have both. -Haley Wiggins, Gardens South Manager

• The area doubled in size from 5 to 10 acres
• Installed one of the region’s largest pollinator meadows by converting the original pasture and meadow into the existing wildflower meadow, installed new boardwalks and a new screening hedgerow
• Added immersive water experiences–floating wetlands–and new boardwalks and seating areas

Entry Enhancements

In 2010, Bloedel Reserve began actively welcoming the community to a space that was not originally designed for public engagement. To better meet the needs of our member and visitors, we decided to adapt this part of the grounds to serve as an informal gathering space. Now the invisible but vital work of planning is done, and we’ve laid the groundwork for a more accessible, intuitive, and congenial welcome experience in 2022.

…this redesign is done with that in mind, just making sure that everyone who visits us can find some freedom of movement on at least some of the property. Erin Hill, Landscape Designer

• The Gatehouse interior was originally 225 sqft; after a renovation which included adding a gift shop, visitation increased substantially
• The original parking lot only provided space for 44 cars. Overflow parking, which was on grass, went from being used only a few times a year to being used almost daily
• Guest circulation presented multiple safety and navigation issues
• Improvements added 60+ parking spaces, doubled the size of the Gatehouse, enhanced visitor experience, and created a landscape more in line with the gardens of the Reserve

Compost Facility–Phase One of the planned Environmental Horticulture Center

The Compost Facility furthers Bloedel Reserve’s conservation mission and helps us move closer toward our goal of being a closed loop system.

Compost is proof that there’s life after death. Ragen Family, in memory of Brooks Ragen

• Compost is a key component of Bloedel Reserve’s conservation efforts
• The Compost initiative was begun in the early 2000’s, resulting in a transformative impact on the landscapes. Not only was the need for pesticides and fungicides greatly reduced, the health and vigor of the landscapes dramatically increased
• Up until recently, the Reserve’s compost operation was outdated and required significant manual labor
• Using ASP technology, the new facility modernizes the process and now produces material three times faster and requires less labor

Read more about the EHC here.

Floral Shop

The brand-new Floral Shop, located next to the cut flower garden, was built by Fairbank Construction to the specifications of our Staff florist and Volunteer floral team.

Specially curated floral arrangements have always been a memorable part of the Bloedel Reserve experience. At one time, flowers for the arrangements were grown in the cut flower garden and arranged in the workshop at the Residence. This new building allows staff and volunteers convenient access to the cut flower garden and a bright, spacious work space for flower arranging, holiday wreath making, and other event-based projects.

Finance & Administration Offices

Beginning in 2010, Bloedel Reserve began efforts to systematically enhance its organizational capacity.

• Growth started by building a strong business and finance function, and then moved on to development, guest services, operations, events and programs, and  human resources
• As more Staff were hired, space became significantly limited
• In 2017, new Finance and Administration offices were built in Mr. Bloedel’s former workshop (originally the Floral Workshop) to provide modern, necessary facilities for valuable work to be done

We exceeded our $12MM goal.

The Fletcher Bay Endowment for the Creative Residency funded over $900,000 toward our $1,500,000 goal.

Legacy giving provides perpetual support for Bloedel Reserve’s gardens, facilities, water features, programs, and infrastructure.

We exceeded our $7MM goal.

Funds to support daily work required to deliver our mission pillars of Horticulture & Design, Conservation & Stewardship, Creativity & Inspiration, and Nature & Well-being.

The Creative Residency Program is a gift of reciprocity. In another example of mutualistic symbiosis, what we received back from our 10 Creative Residents last year was immeasurable. Working across five areas—visual art, performance, poetry, prose, and design—these artists expanded our world with their unique lenses and reflected back to us a vision of what the Reserve can be.

Nature heals. And while rejuvenation and renewal are on offer to anyone meandering the trails at Bloedel Reserve, the concept of deriving wellness from nature takes structured form in our free Strolls for Well-Being program, now under the leadership of Program Manager Susan Grelock-Yusem, PhD.

These programs and others, are made possible by the generosity of many individuals. Apart from the individual enhancements listed above, the Comprehensive Campaign has helped to establish Bloedel Reserve as a charity of choice.

2016-2021 Comprehensive Campaign Donors

Hands sift through soil, fly across a keyboard, hold the bare root of a new plant. The heart, meanwhile, provides a constant flow of motivation.

Heartfelt thanks go to the philanthropic leaders who contributed to this vital conservation project.

The Case for Support

If you would like to make a donation to Bloedel Reserve, please click the button below, or contact Development Coordinator Dan Walker by phone at 206-842-7631, x25, or by email at gi****@bl************.org.