Fundraising at FRESHFARM Markets is a joyful experience. The best fundraising events bring people together, create a deeper connection with an organization, represent staff enthusiasm and effect change. In recent years, traditional philanthropic efforts have given way to more creative endeavors. At FRESHFARM Markets, each of our events serve to enhance relationships and connect our base of supporters with other powerful people in our community such as regular customers, local entrepreneurs, neighborhood and national institutions as well as celebrity chefs. Our market communities, area partners and our national sponsors learn that FRESHFARM Markets can make a difference. By turning creative ideas into reality, we keep the energy for farmers markets alive, continue to expand our educational programs and bring everyone along for the ride.

Each partnership represents a common goal – fresh, healthy food and the power of neighborhood connections – and provides us with an opportunity for collaborating with others. Consider the breadth of those connections – the United States Botanic Garden, the Environmental Film Festival, the National Archives, local museums such as The Phillips Collection, The National Portrait Gallery and The Textile Museum, universities such as George Washington and Georgetown and area restaurant groups such as ThinkFoodGroup and EatGoodFoodGroup. All of these partners care deeply about FRESHFARM Markets and donate their time and support generously. Each event we create is developed to give our supporters the best experience possible. They are the product of a vision: a well-defined moment with a desired outcome and a set goal. Each fits in with our community, showcases our mission, incorporates a “wow” factor and captures the attention of those who support and promote us.

We’ve already had a lot of fun. In 2010, we created Landscape and Local Food for the Georgia O’Keefe: Abstraction exhibit at The Phillips Collection bringing together a local winemaker, an area farmer and a local chef. What began as a partnership with The Environmental Film Festival evolved into a panel and the first screening of The Symphony of the Soil complete with edible “soil,” dirt-roasted potatoes and a mineral-inspired cocktail. In 2011, we used Kickstarter.org to raise funds for our FoodPrints Food Lab, held a cultivation event for DC singles highlighting Washington Post Food Editor Joe Yonan’s first cookbook Serve Yourself and hosted iconic American composer Philip Glass at The Phillips Collection followed by an exclusive dinner by Chef Brian McBride to support our Matching Dollars program.

Each year, a huge portion of our fundraising efforts has been focused on our annual Farmland Feast gala celebration. Every November, our cocktail reception, dinner and auctions showcase the bounty of our markets, our farmers, the local wine movement and a most extraordinary roster of area chefs. While an exceptional night, the Farmland Feast goes far beyond a wonderful evening. Every year we expect to strengthen community ties with each delicious bite, create an experience that moves our guests and also motivates them to act.

We are still in the process of planning 2012 and will soon present a new series of exciting events including our 15th anniversary celebration at the Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market in July. In addition, this year we will celebrate 10 years of Feasting!

Our first event of this season, Grow. Bloom. Tea., is an afternoon reception taking place after the Sunday Dupont Circle FRESHFARM farmers market. It will highlight our flower growers as well as a new partnership with the Embassy Circle Guest House and a well-honed connection with both Neighborhood Restaurant Group and Passenger Bar.

With every event we create, every donation request we make, and every donor we thank, the FRESHFARM Markets fundraising focus is clear, innovative and…relationship building.

Amanda Phillips Manheim, Associate Director of Fundraising