Leadership San Luis Obispo

Legacy Project Guidelines

Purpose of the Legacy Project

  • To give class members a real-world opportunity to use their new leadership skills and strengthen their bonds with other class members.
  • To leave a long-lasting, positive benefit to the community.
  • To strengthen Leadership San Luis Obispo and its long-term viability.

Essential Elements of a good Legacy Project

  • Direct community benefit (not a community benefit through another non-profit)
  • Uses the skills and talents of all of the class members; there’s a role for everyone.
  • Is an active project involving hands-on effort; not just fund raising.
  • Is fun and enjoyable for class members!

What isn’t acceptable as a Legacy Project

  • A project that’s political or controversial.
  • A project that’s a fund-raiser for another non-profit.
  • A project that excludes any class member.

The Legacy Project approval process
The LSLO Foundation Board of Directors has delegated approval of Legacy Project proposals to Chamber president/CEO Jim Dantona. As projects are considered, informal discussions with Jim are recommended. When a final proposal is ready, it should be submitted to Jim in writing before any work begins.

Funding the Legacy Project
Leadership SLO’s 501c3 tax status is its number one asset. The designation allows Leadership SLO to operate and serve our community. Therefore, it is guarded closely and not typically available for legacy project use.

In addition, tuition covers less than half of the costs of a Leadership SLO year. Donors (some forty-two day sponsors, scholarship sponsors and major donors in 2017) make up the difference and their generosity keeps the program affordable. Other reasons to avoid use of the Leadership SLO tax status is the potential for double teaming established donors, providing donors with IRS receipts and uncertain responsibility for donor recognition follow-through.

Finally, the part-time accounting team at the Chamber cannot take on additional responsibilities of processing and tracking legacy donations.

If donations need to be collected in order to ensure completion of the legacy project, the benefiting entity (City, County, nonprofit) has typically assumed the bookkeeping role.

Leadership SLO Class Legacy Projects

Classes I-IV – Focused on recruiting a class for the following year and keeping Leadership SLO alive.

Class V –  Built the first wall for teambuilding exercises at the Wonder Valley retreat site.

Class VI – Funded Leadership SLO scholarships for the next 5 years.

Class VII – Printed Leadership SLO logo t-shirts for sale as a fundraiser for the program.

Class VIII – Produced a recruitment video for Leadership SLO

Class IX – Coordinated the first Leadership Alumni Mixer

Class X – Painted, repaired and landscaped a restored Victorian home in SLO that is home to youth who are runaways, or in rehab, or other tough circumstances.

Class XI – Created and fundraised for the Leadership SLO Endowment at the SLO Community Foundation.

Class XII – Re-built and added safety features to the wall at Wonder Valley retreat site.

Class XIII – Promoted literacy: donated books to Prado Day Center and the CAPSLO; raised money for the Library; developed and printed a children’s coloring book that told the history of SLO County.

Class XIV – Planted trees at Damon Garcia Sports Complex.  Helped to re-construct Santa’s House in Mission Plaza.  Coordinated a leadership day for high school students at Hearst Castle.

Class XV – Helped restore the Healing Garden at T-MHA’s Growing Grounds and built three mosaic benches.

Class XVI – Helped renovate the Tiny Tigers Preschool at San Luis Obispo High School.

Class XVII – Worked on the hiking/mountain biking trail at Johnson Ranch, they worked on building the trail, coordinated workdays, developed the interpretive signage, etc.

Class XVIII – Worked with the three Rotary Clubs in the City of San Luis Obispo to establish/enhance community gardens at Mitchell Park.

Class XIX – Created an outdoor classroom environment for the toddlers at the Child Development Center, a child abuse intervention, prevention, and treatment program for families.

Class XX – Created a human sundial at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens. Reflecting class interest in sustainability, the arts, and education.

Class XXI – Created an interactive window box showcasing the riches of San Luis Obispo County, in the Hall of Counties on display at the California State Capitol Museum in Sacramento.

Class XXII – Restored the Lemon Grove Trail on Cerro San Luis, planting 22 lemon trees and maintaining the grove for 5 years.

Class XXIII – Created a Monarch Butterfly Garden Way Station in Santa Margarita of milkweed and native plants to help preserve California’s threatened Monarch population.

Class XXIV – Created a water demonstration landscape plan and garden at City Hall in SLO.

Class XXV – Designed and helped to install the public spaces surrounding the historic Octagon Barn.

Class XXVI –  Creating an hydration station at the Pismo Preserve.

Class XXVII – Developing hydration station educational signage in the City of SLO.

Our Generous Major Sponsors




Scholarship Sponsors