I do not know of many teams or departments in any organization not feeling the pinch of shrinking budgets. This seems especially true for our grounds management operations. My operation receives a budget that allows us to serve our organization adequately, but not completely. We are in a constant state of making do, altering priorities, and putting out fires. I liken it to the game Tetris. Our work drops on us and we try to make it fit as fast as possible thereby continuing the game. But, if our work comes too fast, or cannot be fit properly, game over. No matter our effort or planning, managing a budget too small requires compromises rather than full engagement. If there was a way to provide margin, work could be managed smoothly with more powerful results. This is where supplemental fundraising comes in.

Accelerate Improvements
Large scale grounds operations are equipment intensive. Professional grounds management requires expensive equipment for efficiency and scale required for our large, complex landscapes. Our mowing equipment is consistently used under harsh conditions. No matter how well maintained, equipment becomes too expensive to operate, or obsolete. For us, we had five large area mowers that were obsolete and needed replacement. In 2022 we purchased one new upgraded mower, and in 2023, 2 more. Our regular budget funded these first phases. But completing this refurbishment required a staggered effort. In 2024 our budget did not fund a new machine. Fortunately, we used outside donations to purchase a high-quality commercial mower, replacing five units with only four. Supplemental funding allowed us to accelerate beneficial improvements we otherwise would not have had.

Fully Implement Management Programs
Managing our campus trees is an important part of the KU Grounds Crew responsibility. Our regular funding provides for gradual new tree planting and critical tree pruning/removal. However, to fully maximize the health of the campus forest grove requires additional arboriculture management. An area of particular importance on campus is Marvin Grove. Marvin Grove is a forested heritage area providing passive green space and recreation. It is particularly revered as a place of rest and recharge for students. This winter we are undertaking a tree inventory that will help us determine the best arboriculture practices to  ensure the continued improvement of this area. The results of this inventory will provide  objective data on replacement costs, ecological benefits, and applied learning opportunities for interested student groups. Utilizing additional donor funding enables full implementation of management programs thereby maximizing overall results and diminishing future costs without a gradual approach.

Provide Unique Opportunities
Everyone that comes to KU, not who or how, interacts with the campus landscape directly or indirectly.  Our KU Grounds Crew seeks any opportunity to deepen connections and personalize the KU experience. Our regular work helps in this regard, but donor funding allows us to go further in special ways. For 2 years now, KU Grounds Crew has held an event we call KU Kettle Korn. Donors fund this event. We cook Kettle Korn in a central square and give  a bag to whoever wants one. Our primary target is students, but staff and visitors are stop by also. As an additional benefit this year we collaborated with KU Student Senate. We believe this extra function pays dividends connecting with our campus. Due its non-traditional nature, KU Kettle Korn isn’t seen as essential spending for our annual budget. Fortunately, donor funding empowers unique opportunities. What other ways could the KU Grounds Crew connect with students if we had the funding? 

Donor Funding Makes the Difference
Simply put, donor funding can make the difference for a ground’s operation. It works in significant ways for KU Grounds Crew. While our regular university budget provides the basics, donors provide extra capability that means so much. Any Grounds Manager should investigate supplemental fundraising seriously. We do not take these funds for granted. No matter where funding comes from, KU Grounds seeks to be good stewards of all our valuable resources. We know that the university and our donors demand we use our resources wisely. We do. Like the greater KU community, we want everyone to know how special the University of Kansas is. We want to be able to take our campus landscape from mundane to the magical. Adding donor funds to our regular budget allows us to do so.