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8| Funding <br />Response 8.1: Does your organization have, or have you applied for funding from other sources?* <br />Response 8.2a: If not, please explain why not.* <br />Response 8.3: What changes will be made if funding for your request is not available or recommended?* <br />Matching Funds Percentage <br />Response 7.10: Please explain your methodology.* <br />Please explain. <br />Since 2022, the Washington State Ski & Snowboard Museum (WSSSM) has used a QR-code Visitor Survey to track guest <br />origins and overnight stays. This survey has proven to be a valuable tool, providing more reliable data than previous estimates. <br />WSSSM also has a paper guest book and volunteers speak to every guest personally. The most recent results show: <br />• 12% of visitors stay overnight in a hotel or AirBnB near Snoqualmie Pass. <br />• 6% stay overnight in a private home, indicating that nearly one in five visitors now extend their trip with an overnight stay. <br />(Earlier surveys suggested only 5% of visitors stayed overnight.) <br />• 97% of visitors are from outside Kittitas County, compared to earlier estimates of 90%. <br />• 13% of visitors come from outside Washington State, confirming that WSSSM draws regional and national tourism. <br />These findings demonstrate a clear and growing tourism impact, with overnight stays increasing significantly in recent years. <br />How WSSSM Measures Results <br />WSSSM uses multiple methods to monitor visitor trends and evaluate the effectiveness of tourism promotion campaigns: <br />• Volunteer Counts – Visitors are counted as they enter the museum, with totals tabulated on spreadsheets for consistency. <br />• QR-Code Visitor Survey – Guests are encouraged to scan the QR code and complete three quick questions about zip code <br />and overnight stays, giving us detailed geographic and lodging information. <br />• Guest Book Tracking – Visitors are invited to sign the guest book, which provides additional city and zip code data. <br />• Volunteer Interaction – Volunteers are trained to ask simple questions such as “Where are you from?” or “Are you staying <br />overnight?” and record responses on the daily visitor report. This adds qualitative insight to the quantitative data. <br />• Digital Analytics – Google Analytics and social media reports measure the reach and engagement of advertising campaigns. <br />• Seasonal Comparisons – WSSSM tracks average monthly and seasonal visitation and compares results to previous years, <br />allowing us to identify trends, evaluate promotions, and adjust strategies. <br />Conclusion <br />Through this layered approach—combining volunteer counts, surveys, guest book data, personal interactions, and digital <br />analytics—WSSSM can demonstrate with confidence that it is drawing visitors from beyond the 50-mile radius, encouraging <br />overnight stays, and effectively using Lodging Tax investments to expand tourism in Kittitas County. <br />2500 character limit <br />Application Questions: Part 5 <br />Yes <br />No <br />WSSSM has funding to sustain our operations and staff and current events. With such a small staff, WSSSM has not applied for <br />a lot of other grant funds. We have identified at least 2 grant opportunities that we will apply for in 2026. <br />2500 character limit <br />Without Lodging Tax support, WSSSM will be unable to conduct the type of broad, multi-channel marketing campaign that has <br />proven effective in drawing visitors to Snoqualmie Pass. In 2026, we would be limited to only minimal outreach, most likely a <br />very small, targeted paid social media campaign—if end-of-year fundraising exceeds expectations. <br />As a small nonprofit with free admission and modest earned income, our operating budget leaves little room for discretionary <br />advertising. While we continue to expand our fundraising efforts and donor base, the reality is that general marketing campaigns <br />of meaningful scale are only possible with Lodging Tax funding. <br />Our long-term goal is to sustain operations and build sufficient capacity to dedicate budget for regular tourism marketing. Until <br />then, Lodging Tax funding remains a critical investment, ensuring that WSSSM can continue to promote Snoqualmie Pass as a <br />year-round cultural and recreational destination. <br />2500 character limit. <br />877.67 <br />This field will auto fill with the correct percentage based on your input to budget section below.