Since taking root at Washington State University in 1973, the Extension Master Gardener Program has strengthened local communities by providing sustainable, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education.
The Endowed Chair Fund will elevate the Master Gardener Program and further increase its impact by supporting the appointment of a faculty member focused on engaging in impactful research projects, developing curricula, and teaching master gardener volunteers.
“Success with this fund and our ability to hire a fully dedicated urban horticulturist will encourage more gardeners to make research-based, sustainable choices,” said Jennifer Marquis, statewide leader of the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program. “Those choices will help create a more Resilient Washington by increasing food yield, protecting pollinators, conserving water, cultivating healthy soil, and ultimately helping mitigate the effects of climate change.”
The fund, part of a five-year campaign, has already made substantial progress, surpassing its $100,000 goal at the end of 2023. The program hopes to hit the $500,000 mark by the end of this year, with an eventual target of raising $1.5 million by 2027.
“It’s an ambitious goal, but we are committed to making it happen,” Marquis said.
The fund has received generous contributions from individual donors, including Skagit County Master Gardener Deborah Smeltzer and her husband, David Kingsbury, who donated $20,000 as part of a challenge match in 2023. The Master Gardener Foundation of Washington State, the Spokane County Master Gardener Foundation, and Lamb Weston, which wrote a $10,000 check last summer, have also provided support. Other individuals have helped by spreading the word and asking their communities for contributions.
The Master Gardener Program is built on a “train the trainer” concept: WSU faculty and staff educate statewide master gardener volunteers on sustainable gardening techniques. Those volunteers then pass their acquired skills along to gardeners in their communities, creating a domino effect.
With roughly 6.5 million gardeners in Washington state alone, the widespread influence of the Master Gardener Program is already evident in every county. Having a fully dedicated endowed faculty chair will extend that reach.
“This fund will ensure that our master gardener volunteers have the knowledge and skills to help Washington gardeners make choices that protect the environment while nourishing and cultivating the communities where we live, work, and play,” Marquis said.
To support the Endowed Chair Fund, become a CougsGive Ambassador. You can also provide a gift on April 17 and help share the word to support sustainable, research-based horticulture and environmental stewardship education.