Client
The Georgetown Waterfront Park is creating the vital last link in a 225-mile contiguous green space along the Potomac River from Mt. Vernon, Virginia, to Cumberland, Maryland, providing a prime urban oasis to bike, run, stroll, and relax.

Challenge
A group of dedicated citizens formed the Georgetown Waterfront Park Commission to transform a neglected, semi-industrial site into a public resource. When the commission joined forces with the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, and city leaders, they needed to persuade individuals, corporations, foundations, and Congress to invest a total of $18 million in the park.

Enter Reingold
The National Park Foundation engaged Reingold to develop a strategic campaign plan; identify prospective contributors; mobilize, coach, and support the park committee; write compelling case statements; handle publicity; and help match requests to investors' interests. We trained the campaign committee in major gifts solicitations, crafted foundation and corporation solicitation proposals, and helped to cultivate business and individual donor prospects. During the campaign's public phase, we also facilitated media relations, public outreach, and event planning and execution.

Results
After 25 years of delay, Reingold's fundraising strategy helped spur the investment needed to make the vision for a park a reality—with the first phases of construction completed in 2008. The Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park reached their goal of raising $18 million, including a $4.5 million Centennial Initiative grant that provides a dollar-for-dollar federal match of funds raised from private donors and the District of Columbia government.