A Friend-Raiser for Delaware’s Tall Ship
How Spur Impact, Community Partnerships, and Giving Day Momentum Helped Spotlight the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation
Photo Credit - Jon Caspar
When the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation hosted its recent Guest Bartender Night in Greenville, the evening became about far more than fundraising. It became a reflection of what happens when nonprofits, community leaders, local businesses, and engaged supporters come together around a shared purpose.
Held at La Tolteca on Taco Tuesday, February 3rd, the event brought together volunteers, supporters, and first-time guests for an evening benefiting Delaware’s historic Tall Ship. Eighteen guest bartenders rotated through lively shifts while raffles, networking, and community-centered giving helped create an atmosphere that felt more like a reunion than a traditional fundraiser. By the end of the evening, more than $21,000 had been raised in support of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s educational mission.
According to Jan Ross, Director of Marketing & Public Relations for the Foundation, the event’s success stems from the relationships cultivated both locally and beyond Delaware’s borders.
Setting Sail for Community Impact
“We say it is a fundraiser and a ‘friend-raiser,’” Ross explained. “That combination has, without question, been the key to its success.”
Ross noted that the Foundation’s partnerships continue to play a major role in expanding awareness and community support for the organization. Those connections range from local restaurant partners and nonprofit collaborators to international cultural relationships tied directly to the ship’s heritage.
The Foundation also maintains connections through educational exchange programs involving Wilmington Friends School and the Kalmar International School in Sweden. Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, Ross noted, participated in the exchange program as a student and continues to maintain strong ties to the region.
Anchored in Partnership
Locally, the Foundation credits organizations such as Spur Impact with helping elevate its fundraising and outreach efforts through community engagement initiatives and Delaware’s growing culture of philanthropy.
“Our collaboration with organizations like Spur Impact, through their platform and the expertise of people like Jenn Saienni and Charlie Vincent, has been instrumental in growing our fundraising capacity,” Ross said. “DoMore24 has been a remarkable opportunity to coalesce our community and bring in new donors, too.”
That spirit of collaboration was evident throughout the evening. Guests learned about the Foundation’s educational programs, public sails, and preservation efforts while building new relationships across Delaware’s nonprofit and business communities. The event also introduced many attendees to the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation for the very first time — demonstrating how gatherings centered around service and storytelling can create lasting community impact.
As the Foundation prepares for another active year of public programming and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, Ross believes those partnerships remain essential to preserving Delaware’s maritime heritage while keeping new generations engaged in the mission.
