Puget Sound

July 16, 2009 — Endangered species and habitats under stress will get a much-needed lift this week thanks to $700,000 in grants being awarded by the non-profit SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund to wildlife protection projects in the U.S. and around the world.

Call it job-search therapy, skills development or simply community assistance. No matter how it’s labeled, local volunteerism is way up.

The recession is hitting Puget Sound arts and cultural organizations hard, calling for bold steps to manage through the crisis, a study of local arts groups found.

At some point, smaller organizations have to decide whether to stay small or grow. In order to grow, there usually needs to be an increased investment in development.

But how can you tell if that time is now? Here’s a checklist to help you determine if your organization is ready to ramp up its fundraising efforts — either to expand its services or simply to bring in more funding to support existing programs — and what to do if it is.