Fairvern Fundraising Plan moves ahead with naming opportunities and new staff

A staff position is expected to cost $233,000

District of Muskoka Council approved a new fundraising and donor recognition policy for Fairvern and a dedicated 18-month staff position at its August 20, 2026, meeting.

Staff indicated that the plan is intended to support fundraising for the redevelopment of the Fairvern Long-Term Care Home while establishing District-wide rules for sponsorships, naming rights and philanthropic recognition.

According to the report, preliminary estimates identify between $825,000 and $1.44 million in potential donations associated with eligible community, family and amenity spaces within the new Fairvern home. The figures are separate from an earlier feasibility study that estimated the community could potentially support an overall fundraising campaign of approximately $3 million.

Resident rooms, resident care units and other primary living areas will not be eligible for naming or sponsorship recognition under the new policy. The restrictions are intended to protect resident dignity and privacy.

Council also chose the more active of two proposed approaches to the fundraising campaign, approving an 18-month temporary Donor Relations and Recognition Coordinator. The position is intended to provide dedicated donor outreach, relationship-building and coordination of naming and recognition opportunities.

Some Council members questioned the need for a new position, indicating the Fairvern Board could work with the community on fundraising initiatives.

Councillor, Allen Edwards, shared an experience while fundraising that led his group to seek a consultant’s perspective, which was “you just have to work harder.”

Staff advised that while the Friends of Fairvern engage in small local fundraising initiatives it’s “not large philanthropic scale.” However, staff can involve them as “a resource to help.”

They added, “If we don’t put a person in place to get the money, we’re not going to get the money.”

The selected approach is estimated to cost $233,000, including $223,000 for the temporary staff position and $10,000 for social media and paid advertising.

They reported that the money will come from funds already remaining in the Fairvern capital project budget. An earlier external consultant contract had an estimated total cost of $396,000, but only $36,000 was spent completing the fundraising feasibility study, leaving $360,000 available.

After funding the selected $233,000 approach, staff estimate approximately $127,000 will be returned to the Debt Reduction Reserve or used to reduce the final amount of external borrowing.

Naming and recognition donations are expected to generally be structured as multi-year pledges rather than one-time payments.

Staff said they will bring reports back to Council about the progress they’re making and about the suggestion of extending the timeline of the position if deemed beneficial to the District.