Ways to Support NWSSA

1. Become a member Joining NWSSA not only supports our mission, it also connects you with a community of stone sculpture enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest and Internationally. Benefits include our journal, Sculpture Northwest, news about programs, field trips, opportunities for showing and selling your work, and participation in our Symposiums in Washington and Oregon.

2. Donate to the NWSSA General Operating Fund. The General Operating Fund supports the symposia, workshops, and events put on by our organization. It pays for our website fees and quarterly journal, Sculpture Northwest. As a non-profit organization, NWSSA also has annual overhead expenses that include insurance, fees, and administrative contractors. All told, the organization’s general operating expenses are about $25,000 a year, not including symposium expenses which are covered by their registrations. In order to keep membership dues very low, we generate most of the money to cover these expenses through the symposia and donations.

3. Donate to the Education and Scholarship Fund. The Education and Scholarship Fund is a restricted fund that has been managed by the Association for more than 20 years. This fund provides scholarships and work study subsidies at the symposia and pays for instructor fees and travel. This fund provides for the Dojo, Beginner’s and Intermediate Workshops, the Jade Tent, and our Guest Artists in addition to our team of work studies. The scholarships and work study positions are awarded to members of our community who cannot afford the full registration fees of the event and who contribute to the success of the symposia. About $30,000 annually is spent out of this fund and is usually replenished during the fundraising auctions at the camps. If you donate, you can choose to have your support go to either symposium (or both) or to the Karen Ryer Scholarship Fund.

4. Donate to our Endowment Funds. There are 2 Charitable Donation Funds.

1. NWSSA Charitable Principal Account. 100% of donated funds are available to use.

2. NWSSA Charitable Earnings Account. Only annual earnings are available to use. This Account will continue in perpetuity. In addition, you would choose a type of category you would like to donate to:

• Education
• Symposium Enrichment
• Events and Workshops
• General Fund for operation of NWSSA
• Donor Specified: A large donor or a combination of donors making an initial contribution totaling $25,000 or more may specify a “use category” other than the established categories above.

These donations will be managed by your NWSSA Board of Directors. These funds are held at Fidelity Investments. This information does not constitute legal or tax advice. We encourage you to seek professional guidance for your specific questions as needed.

We are currently looking for a NWSSA member to be our Charitable Donations Manager; to answer all of your specific questions on how to turn your gifts into long-term benefits for our organization. For now, please contact Michael Yeaman at michael.e.yeaman@labrover.com for more information.

5. Volunteer There are a myriad of ways you can help and support NWSSA through volunteering. Depending on your time, this may be a small 1 hour project or a longer term recurring one. The list of possibilities is endless. We always can use help at our events, at the symposiums. There are other places where specific skilled help is needed: help with social media, website content, carpentry, fund raising, leadership, membership outreach, serving on the Board. Click this link to fill out a volunteer survey

Please talk to us (and your financial advisor) about how you want to support NWSSA if the above options do not fit your needs; we will work with you to find one that does. We would be honored by your support.