By Meg Drazek, Mowglis Mom, Onaway Alumna, and former HEMF Trustee
In 2018, the Holt Elwell Memorial Foundation (HEMF) and Director Nick Robbins launched a deep strategic planning process, engaging more than 300 alumni, staff, parents, and friends of Mowglis to chart a course for 2021–2026. The resulting “Mowglis 2026” Strategic Plan (which can be read in full here) focused on three enduring strategic priorities:
- Preserve and strengthen our traditions and culture—ensuring leadership, integrity, empathy, and resilience remain at the heart of every camper’s experience.
- Sustain leadership excellence—recruiting, developing, and retaining the best youth development professionals at all levels.
- Build lasting financial stability—growing our endowment and managing resources to safeguard Mowglis for generations to come.
The details of this plan acknowledge the challenges of an evolving economy, shifting parental expectations, and the need to protect our historic traditions while embracing tools that enhance communication, governance, and preservation. The commitment is clear: to maintain the special essence of Mowglis while preparing for an enduring future.
Achievements to Date: Strong Momentum
The past decade—and especially the last few years—has been marked by work against this planning and measurable progress. Thanks to strategic leadership and the generosity of our alumni and friends, the endowment has grown threefold, significantly improving our ability to weather challenges and keep tuition accessible.
Key accomplishments in the first four years of the plan include:
- Community and Tradition
- Formally clarified preferred camp size and term vision (approx 110 boys and one 7-week session) to protect program quality and preserve traditions.
- Expanded archival efforts and publications to safeguard Mowglis’ history.
- Enhanced alumni engagement through initiatives such as 10-year Den reunions, special 50-year reunion recognition, and a greater alumni presence on Crew weekend.
- Leadership Development
- Launched the HEMF Leadership Fellowship, providing custom professional development for promising counselors and staff.
- Sought external expertise on fundraising staffing, education, and outreach.
- Strengthened administrative and staff capacity through competitive pay, professional growth opportunities, and recognition programs.
- Financial Strategy
- Grew the endowment from $1.8 million in 2015 to $5.5 million in 2025; simultaneously investing in plant and program.
- Grew annual endowment contribution to tuition and program (5% spending rate) from $80k to $230k over this time period.
- Moved to a more actively-managed endowment plan to guide both growth and responsible use of proceeds.
- Increased accessibility of camp and broadened our reach through greater tuition support.
- Prioritized debt philosophy and used financial tools strategically when needed.
- Sought outside council and expertise to balance our approach.
Looking Forward: The Work Ahead
While we have built a solid foundation, key priorities are ongoing in the last year of the current plan:
- Documenting proven enrollment and leadership “playbooks” and challenges to preserve institutional knowledge on succession planning and recruitment.
- Creating a permanent and functional staff recreation area; enhancing staff post-collegiate career support; building stronger alumni support to staff recruitment pipelines; and developing additional non-monetary staff benefits.
- Continuing long-range “vision enhancements” beyond the current strategic cycle.
- Continuing prioritization of endowment growth.
Your Role in the Future of Mowglis
We welcome your input and thoughts as we continue to build out strategic goals for the next decade. Keep an eye out for outreach on such.
Mowglis’ enduring strength comes from its people—campers, staff, alumni, families, and friends who believe in its mission and invest in its future. The strategic plan is clear: to preserve what is timeless, to adapt wisely to change, and to ensure that every boy who comes to Mowglis leaves better prepared for life.
In the last decade, we have shown that together we can achieve remarkable growth. But to preserve this extraordinary place for the next century, continued endowment growth is essential.
Every gift—large or small—strengthens the three pillars of People, Property, and Program, ensuring that future generations experience the friendships, challenges, and transformations that only Mowglis can provide.
