Testimonials

Trying to list everything that Erin and her team have done is overwhelming, so I will try to boil it down to three things that have had the most impact for FIRST Washington.

First, she built an enormous network of supporters, donors and volunteers who are now supporting FIRST Washington. Second, Erin established very strong ties with the education community by working with OSPI and individual school districts to help superintendents, teachers and counselors understand how competitive robotics an incredible platform is where students of all abilities and ages can explore the world of STEM. And lastly, she doubled our female participation in FIRST growing our female participation to 44% after years of being at 20%.

Thank you, Erin, for your leadership.

I just wanted to say thank you for investing in our students here at Royal School District. I cannot tell you the difference you have made in our schools and community. While sports are everything here at Royal, there was very little for the non-sports-minded kids. I have heard over and over from parents a common theme—thank you for supporting our students. Prior to starting FLL here, there was not a lot for those types of students to do. While we have kids who do both, it has been a specific focus of ours to make sure all kids are included in this program/opportunity, and you have made that happen as there is no way we could afford to do it on our own—especially three teams.

With that said, I just wanted to personally THANK YOU! You are appreciated by many here!

Celebrating 75 years of entertaining Pacific Northwest audiences, The Fifth Avenue Theatre retained principal Erin McCallum, for guidance in establishing the theatre’s first development program. Serving as development director, Erin worked closely with the theatre’s managing director, artistic director, staff, and board of directors to carefully develop the organization’s first case statement and fundraising plan – with a goal of raising $1 million in nine months.

The theatre wanted to maximize fundraising during its 75th anniversary year. Under Erin’s strategic leadership, the theatre celebrated this milestone with a Diamond Jubilee Gala that included dinner and a performance featuring several of the world’s finest musical theatre artists. The gala was a key event that raised more than $600,000 of the $1 million goal.

Building upon the gala’s success, a major gifts program – The Producers Club – was launched in spring 2002 to inspire deeper engagement by theatre patrons. The program used a series of giving levels to offer patrons many unique opportunities to learn about musical theatre from the creative team of artists who made it happen. Three years following its introduction, The Producers Club continues to succeed. To support the fundraising plan, a corporate sponsorship program between the theatre’s marketing and development departments was increased. The expansion helped maximize revenue streams for the theatre and heightened visibility for its patrons and corporate community. Foundations were identified and targeted strategies were put into place to connect them with the theatre’s operating needs. It was an honor to work with The Fifth Avenue Theatre’s talented staff and enthusiastic board members – and to help this Seattle icon maintain its standing as one of the nation’s most respected musical theatre venues.

Odyssey, The Maritime Discovery Center, is a cultural and educational center located at Pier 66 along Seattle’s popular waterfront. After more than 10 years of fundraising challenges, the Odyssey board of directors hired BBM principal Erin McCallum to complete the center’s $14.2 million capital campaign. Erin was retained in August 1996 to raise the remaining $10 million for the campaign, if Odyssey was to open as planned, in June 1998.

Working collectively with Odyssey’s 42-member board of directors, Erin began the ambitious endeavor by developing a strategic campaign plan to identify potential philanthropic partners. The Port of Seattle was a significant public ally for Odyssey, along with many of Washington’s and Alaska’s maritime, fishing and trade companies, associations and unions.

As a nonprofit organization with impressive leadership from the private and public sectors, Odyssey needed a professional campaign expert who understood how to pull it all together. Many of the center’s leaders were without fundraising experience and sought professional training and guidance to help them succeed. Leadership structure, timeline, fundraising goals, gift charts, and tracking systems were all put into place to enhance the framework of Odyssey’s capital campaign. Erin worked closely with capital campaign chairs to recruit additional board members and community leaders to serve on the campaign committee and assist with fundraising.

To help the board strengthen itself, Erin reworked the center’s case statement and fundraising campaign collateral materials. Erin and her team also secured human interest stories in local newspapers. The editorial coverage featured Odyssey’s capacity to help children learn the importance of Washington State’s maritime, fishing and trade industries.

The successful plan directed by Erin and the hard work of volunteer leaders and staff kept the team focused, and $10 million was raised from individuals, company foundations, and public entities. Odyssey successfully opened its doors in June 1998, and Erin continued to serve as fundraising counsel and interim executive director for 18 months while the center got up and running. Six years later, Odyssey is a valuable community resource, offering interactive exhibits and hands-on demonstrations that educate people of all ages about Washington State’s maritime industries.

Erin worked side-by-side with the campaign team and Ronald McDonald House leadership to conduct a fundraising feasibility study that set the stage for the capital campaign. The study confidentially reviewed and tested six key elements that affect a campaign: leadership, case for support, giving potential, organizational strength, internal readiness and climate and timing.

Upon completion of the assessment the campaign advancement phase began. The case statement was modified, and the scope of the project and timeline were more carefully defined. Campaign leaders were identified, recruited, and trained to ensure maximum success. All campaign constituencies were identified, and volunteers were recruited for the campaign steering committee to work on the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of prospective donors. Within the scope of the larger capital campaign, 100 percent of the board participated with personally significant stretch gifts coming from each board member and his/her family. Erin and her team were trusted advisors throughout the 24-month campaign.

The successful capital campaign resulted in a new facility which included 80 attractive and comfortable bedrooms, a bright and cheerful kitchen and dining area, a dayroom, large family room, teen room, children’s area, and laundry facilities. Twenty-four-hour staff coverage provides assistance to families during their stays and manages the facility’s daily operations. Like many homes, there are places for people to gather and get to know one another, sharing good news and concerns. There are places to be alone, read a book, or watch television.

Today, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington helps more than 1,000 families each year by serving as a home away from home for those from across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

Established in 1975, the National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staff teams of the nation’s 50 states, its commonwealths, and territories. Through NCSL’s collaborative efforts in research, technical assistance, and exchange of ideas, state legislators and their staff teams could exchange ideas and work creatively and collaboratively on writing good public policy at the state level. NCSL is a proven and respected advocate for the interests of state governments before Congress and federal agencies. NCSL helps state policymakers advance their ideas, provides a forum for the exchange of ideas from other states, and takes the best ideas from America’s state legislatures to Capitol Hill.

Each year, NCSL partners with state leaders to host its Annual Meeting. In 2005, Seattle, Washington was host city where over 6,400 state legislators, public policy leaders, and their families came to take part in a four-day series of meetings to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. The last time Washington State was selected to host NCSL’s Annual Meeting was in 1985, and the Legislator’s who participated 20 years ago, and who are still active in NCSL today, comment about the strength and success of Seattle’s 2005 Annual Meeting.

The NCSL Board of Directors established a Host Committee comprised of leaders from the Washington State Legislature. In addition to these leaders, leadership was secured from a diverse group of individuals from the private and public sectors in the state that can be assisted in building the community awareness and fund-raising effort needed for the Annual Meeting.

The total economic impact of the four-day meeting exceeded $17 million for the Greater Metropolitan Seattle area. Many guests continued their travels by incorporating a family vacation east of the mountains or staying in the Puget Sound region. Those additional revenues were beyond NCSL’s and the Washington 2005 Host Committee’s economic projections.

With a full field of players, each golfer received an amazing set of tee prizes and enjoyed some creative contests and giveaways on each hole. Following golf, there was a casual cocktail reception and silent/mini-live auctions with items procured for golf enthusiasts. Golfers had a most enjoyable day on the course while having the opportunity to learn more about the Seattle Aquarium and support its mission: Inspiring conservation of our marine environment. Over $50,000 was generated from the Otter Open from the generosity of the players.