In mid-2024, the community heeded the S.O.S. call and supported Scarecrow in historic numbers, with nearly 7,600 individual contributions and over $1M raised. This transformative support not only allowed the world-renowned media library to remain accessible to the public but also strengthened the cultural institution’s capacity to fulfill its mission.
These numbers are remarkable but the work to truly “save” this incomparable archive and establish Scarecrow Video as a resilient and sustainable nonprofit is far from over. With this objective in mind, Scarecrow is reintroducing S.O.S. in 2025 with renewed determination and a new moniker: Sustain Our Scarecrow.
Sustain Our Scarecrow (S.O.S.) more accurately reflects the critical next phase and invites the Scarecrow community to be a crucial part of this transformational change. The target for the first half of 2025 is dedicated to raising the remaining $600K of the initial S.O.S. goal. Scarecrow’s next milestone in this fundraising—a vigorous $85K—will be directed towards completing and improving the functionality of its proprietary Zardoz platform, enhancing the benefits for all who use Scarecrow’s services.
“The consciousness-expanding experience of a visit to Scarecrow is only partially reflected online,” elucidates Jonathan Marlow, Executive Director of SV Archive. “The site requires enhanced tools that facilitate discovery. The next iteration of Zardoz will make search, recommendations and other essential functions far more powerful than ever before, allowing for expanded access to the full range and diversity of our incomparable collection.” These improved features, developed in collaboration with Portland-based Cast Iron Coding, will reward exploration and empower Scarecrow members with unprecedented access to the vast and varied collection of film and episodic television, much of which is legitimately unavailable anywhere else.
“Scarecrow’s collection has always been larger than any off-the-shelf software could effectively handle,” clarifies Carl Tostevin, former Scarecrow owner and present SV Archive advisor. “People may not know the extent to which ongoing investment in technology—from in-store customer stations to online engagement—has been critical to the enjoyment of the many titles in the archive. Our mission of connecting people to the vast history of film is fundamental, yet we have only scratched the surface of what is truly possible.”
The past twelve months were extraordinarily difficult for most nonprofits. By all indications, the year ahead appears to be even more perilous for independent arts and cultural institutions. The climate has shifted and several of Scarecrow’s home video compatriots have either gone into hibernation or vanished entirely.
The resourceful team behind Scarecrow has laid the groundwork to ensure that it will thrive despite looming and persistent challenges. The outpouring of support last year made it clear that the community in Seattle and beyond understands the importance and irreplaceable magic of SV Archive’s immense physical media selections and will stand with it to sustain Scarecrow Video for future generations. They know the rare value of Scarecrow as a destination where anyone can access seemingly infinite multitudes of human stories at their fingertips. The archive is also a place where memories are made. A place where first dates can morph into something much more, where childlike wonder remains tangible to the young and the young-at-heart, where—no matter who you are—you can truly find an authentic representation of yourself on-screen.
To achieve this end and lead the next iteration of the S.O.S. campaign, Scarecrow has expanded its executive team and hired seasoned fundraiser and nonprofit professional, Tyler Mesman, as its Development Director.
A visit each Wednesday for the weekly two-for-one has been a tradition in Mesman’s household for the last several years. As a long-time patron, he not only grasps the unique power and diversity of Scarecrow’s collection but understands the urgency of sustaining and safeguarding this priceless cultural resource.
“I had the pleasure of connecting with Tyler during the recent Arts, Heritage and Science Week in Olympia,” added Hannah Palin, SV Archive Board member and founder of Moving Image Preservation of Puget Sound. “I watched him effortlessly connect with our colleagues in the nonprofit sector, making the case for the importance of Scarecrow in the Pacific Northwest. Tyler was an absolute pro and he made friends wherever he went that day. It was a joy to watch him at work! I'm thrilled that he's in our corner and I look forward to his future with Scarecrow.”
Mesman’s experience in overseeing multi-million dollar fundraising campaigns, managing an array of nonprofit projects and nurturing a collaborative team made him ideal to meet the needs of Scarecrow at this moment. In an additional and necessary rearrangement of the SV Archive team, longtime staffer Malakie Peters has also been promoted to a full-time role within
Development, bolstering Scarecrow’s capacity to foster deeper relationships with donors and form unique community partnerships.
“When I first stepped into Scarecrow many Halloweens ago, I never could have imagined the vital role this remarkable place would play in my life,” reflected Tyler Mesman. “That visit became a weekly ritual, my husband and I splitting up and culling the aisles for our next incredible and intriguing find. When I first heard the S.O.S. call last year, I knew that I could and should do more. I’m thrilled to officially be joining Scarecrow to use my diverse skills and innate perseverance to secure and strengthen an extraordinary institution. An institution that is meaningful not only to me but to the cultural fabric of Seattle and beyond.”
The refocused S.O.S. campaign—combined with an expanded Development team—places SV Archive in a stronger position to overcome any substantial challenges and achieve its ambitious objectives ahead. Sustain Our Scarecrow, on the heels of SV Archive’s tenth anniversary of its emergence as a nonprofit, puts Scarecrow on a viable path for the decades ahead.
