July 24, 2011 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation
Benefactor: Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Amount awarded in 2010: $1.25-million, for general operating support and youth programs
How the charity won it: By appealing to civic pride, sharing a big vision, and following through on it. Chesapeake Energy, in Oklahoma City, paid $3-million to help construct a state-of-the-art boathouse six years ago; every year since then it has provided gifts of $1-million or more for operating support and other projects. The foundation raises money for the boathouse along the Oklahoma River, which includes an Olympic-standard crew-training facility and a recreational area along the city’s waterfront. The 2010 gift made up more than a quarter of the foundation’s $4-million annual budget.
Until a decade ago, the Oklahoma River was essentially a barren drainage ditch, says Mike Knopp, the Boathouse Foundation’s executive director. The group appealed to the energy company to help bring the river to its current state of revival by pitching construction of a boathouse as a way to reconnect the community to the waterway and improve the quality of life in the city.
“We needed a champion,” says Mr. Knopp. “It was a bold undertaking, taking this ditch and turning it back into a river.” He adds that Aubrey McClendon, the company’s CEO, “understood the power this could play in the future of the city.”
Advice for fund raisers: “You have to be very clear in your vision, have it well thought out, and set realistic goals” Mr. Knopp says. “And don’t be afraid to be bold. Chesapeake appreciated the bold vision and embraced it.”
At the same time, he cautions against getting so focused on the big picture that details get lost. “You have to be very organized and prepared to follow through,” says Mr. Knopp. “That has been a key concept in keeping Chesapeake engaged. ”
