The Bethany Markowski Foundation: Strategic Roadmap & Budget
We are formalizing a nonprofit that pairs verified case data with trained volunteer search teams and trauma-informed family support, ensuring no family of a missing child has to search alone.
Building a Sustainable Future in Honor of Bethany Markowski’s Disappearance
The Bethany Markowski Foundation is building a sustainable, trauma-informed nonprofit focused on families of missing children. We provide verified public information, coordinate trained digital and field volunteers, and partner with agencies to improve search outcomes.
With seed support, we will formalize governance, launch volunteer systems, and scale public outreach tied to the 25th anniversary of Bethany’s missing date to accelerate community engagement and funding. This investment will enable us to file for 501(c)(3) status, recruit and train volunteers, and develop measurable programs that increase coordinated response capacity for missing person cases in Tennessee and beyond.
Our Mission
The Bethany Markowski Foundation works to prevent disappearances and support families in crisis through case information-sharing, trauma-informed response systems, and organized volunteer networks that bring communities together to help locate missing children.
Our Vision
A world where no missing child’s story is forgotten, and every family has the resources, support, and community they need to bring their loved one home.
Theory of Change
If we formalize as a nonprofit and invest in governance, volunteer systems, and evidence-based communications, then we will be able to secure sustainable funding, scale trained digital and field search teams, and increase the speed and quality of public-facing investigations, which will improve family outcomes by increasing tips, coordinated searches, and partnership referrals to appropriate agencies.
Strategic Goals
Goal 1 — Awareness & Advocacy
- Objective A: Increase national and regional awareness, measured by 50% growth in case page views and 3 local media placements by December 2026.
- Objective B: Publish an accessible timeline and resource hub for Bethany’s case and two other example cases within 12 months.
Goal 2 — Volunteer & Search Coordination
- Objective A: Recruit & onboard 30 digital volunteers and 10 field-ready volunteers with standardized training and safety protocols within 12 months.
- Objective B: Develop and deploy a volunteer coordination system (calendar, mapping tools, volunteer roster) and log 300 volunteer hours in the first year.
Goal 3 — Organizational Capacity & Sustainability
- Objective A: File Articles of Incorporation and submit IRS Form 1023-EZ by Q1 2026.
- Objective B: Secure $25,000 in committed revenue across donations, recurring donors, and grants over the first 18 months (seed goal: $3,000 startup + pipeline to larger grants).
12-Month Action & Fundraising Plan
| Timeframe | Activity | Est. Budget | Output / KPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2025 | Finalize Articles of Incorporation; recruit founding board; host 2 strategy WG meetings; launch Givebutter campaign tied to 25th anniversary; publish 1-page strategic roadmap & budget | $500 | Incorporation filed; board roster (3–7 members); campaign live |
| Q1 2026 | Submit IRS 1023-EZ | $1,000 | 1023-EZ filed; $3k seed goal |
| Q2 2026 | Develop volunteer onboarding & training modules; register with TN solicitation | $750 | Training module published; volunteer roster (baseline numbers) |
| Q3 2026 | Begin grant prospecting & applications; launch monthly donor program; pilot one public awareness event | $500 | 5 grant applications submitted; 20 recurring donors |
| Q4 2026 | Evaluation & reporting; publish annual report; refine strategy for Year 2 | $250 | Annual report; KPI dashboard |
Total 12-month estimated budget: $3,000 (seed costs).
Fundraising Strategy
Seed crowdfunding (Givebutter) — short-term public ask framed around the 25th anniversary. Use clear budget line items and updates.
Major donor cultivation — identify 5–10 local/regional donors (families, small foundations) with tailored briefings and stewardship plan.
Recurring donor program — goal: 50 monthly donors at average $10–25/mo within 12 months.
Foundation grants & corporate sponsorships — prepare 2–3 short LOIs (program + budget summary) for local community foundations and victim-support funds.
In-kind & pro bono — secure legal/accounting support, web hosting, and printing as match items for grants.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Seed-funding of $3,000 raised
- 40 trained volunteers (digital & field).
- 50-100 volunteer hours logged per quarter.
- 3 media placements / 50,000 unique page views on verified resource pages.
- Date of Articles filing and IRS determination (timestamps + documentation).
- 5 grants applied for + grant success rate.
- 2 families served (if services provided) and referrals to partner agencies.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
We plan to publish the following summaries of our progress:
- Monthly dashboard: donations, volunteer numbers, key outreach metrics.
- Quarterly board review: financials, program updates, risk register.
- Annual report: audited/compiled financial summary, program highlights, KPI achievement, next-year plan.
Governance & Staffing
Strong governance and clear accountability are essential to building a trusted, sustainable nonprofit. As The Bethany Markowski Foundation prepares to file for 501(c)(3) status, we’re assembling a founding board and core volunteer team to guide our next phase of growth.
Join Our Founding Board
We are currently seeking 3–7 founding board members with expertise in nonprofit governance, communications, trauma-informed advocacy, or law enforcement collaboration.
Our initial board structure includes:
- Chair — Oversees strategic direction, governance, and partnerships.
- Treasurer — Maintains financial oversight and ensures transparent reporting.
- Secretary — Manages records, filings, and documentation.
- Communications Lead — Oversees digital campaigns, social media, and volunteer communications.
- Governance/Compliance Reviewer — Provides guidance on nonprofit ethics, bylaws, and adherence to state and federal standards.
Board members will help shape our bylaws, budget, and initial policies, including our Conflict of Interest, Whistleblower, and Records Retention policies.
📄 Download Conflict of Interest Policy — [Coming Soon!]
📄 Download Whistleblower Policy — [Coming Soon!]
📄 Download Records Retention Policy — [Coming Soon!]
If you’re interested in joining the founding board, please fill out our Founding Board Interest Form.
Volunteer & Staff Roles
While our long-term plan includes a small paid staff, all roles are currently volunteer-based as we transition into formal nonprofit operations.
Volunteer Coordinator (Part-Time / Volunteer)
Oversees digital and field volunteer onboarding, scheduling, and communication. Works closely with search and research teams to ensure safe, structured participation.
Learn more: Search Team Coordination Program (Coming Soon!)
Communications Lead (Volunteer or Contracted)
Manages social media, email updates, and press outreach. Oversees public storytelling, campaign design, and fundraising communication through platforms like Givebutter.
Learn more: Public Awareness & Campaign Strategy (Coming Soon!)
Treasurer / Bookkeeper (Volunteer or Contracted)
Provides bookkeeping and financial reporting in coordination with the Board Treasurer. Prepares quarterly financial summaries for transparency and grant-readiness.
Learn more: Financial Transparency & Reporting (Coming Soon!)
Additional board members are being recruited to bring complementary skills in grant writing, fundraising, volunteer coordination, and trauma-informed advocacy.
Board bios will be updated regularly as new members join.
What Funders Can Expect
Transparency and accountability are central to our structure.
Funders and partners will have access to:
- Our Strategic Roadmap & Budget
- Board and Staff bios (coming soon)
- Documented nonprofit policies (as they’re finalized)
- Annual impact summaries and public financial reports (to be published beginning FY2026)
We believe that strong governance is the foundation for trust, credibility, and long-term impact.
Risk Assessment & Mitigation
- Risk: Reputation & privacy concerns when handling case info.
Mitigation: Strict verification process, privacy policy, redaction guidelines, informed consent processes for family materials. - Risk: Volunteer safety in field searches.
Mitigation: Mandatory safety training, documented SOPs, liability waivers, and insurance coverage. - Risk: Financial shortfall.
Mitigation: Conservative budgeting, runway targets, multi-stream fundraising plan, fiscal sponsor option. - Risk: Regulatory non-compliance.
Mitigation: Use pro bono legal/accounting review, board oversight, and a compliance checklist.
Success Metrics
✅ Strategic roadmap published
✅ First-year budget established
⬜ Articles of Incorporation filed with Tennessee Secretary of State
⬜ 501(c)(3) application submitted to the IRS (Form 1023-EZ or 1023)
⬜ Tennessee Charitable Solicitation Registration completed
⬜ Founding board confirmed and bios posted
⬜ Conflict of Interest, Whistleblower, and Records Retention policies finalized and posted
⬜ Volunteer Coordinator and Communications Lead roles filled
⬜ Treasurer / Bookkeeper in place and financial systems established
⬜ Bank account opened and accounting system set up (QuickBooks, Wave, or similar)
⬜ First fundraising campaign launched (e.g., Givebutter)
⬜ Monthly donor program established
⬜ Volunteer training programs developed and first cohort onboarded (digital and field)
⬜ First case database and digital coordination platform live
⬜ Partnerships with universities, community organizations, or forensic/search experts initiated
⬜ Annual report completed and publicly shared
⬜ First program or service officially launched (awareness, volunteer coordination, or family support)