SOS

Last year, our 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 our world-renowned media library to remain publicly accessible but also strengthened our capacity to fulfill our nonprofit mission. 

These numbers are remarkable but the work to truly “save” this incomparable archive and establish Scarecrow as a resilient and sustainable nonprofit is far from over. That’s why we’re reintroducing S.O.S. in 2025 with renewed determination and a new moniker: Sustain Our Scarecrow. 

Sustain Our Scarecrow reflects the critical next phase and invites you to be part of this transformational change. Our target is to raise the remaining $600K of our initial S.O.S. goal, and dedicate the next $85K milestone towards completing and improving the functionality of our Zardoz database. 

These improved features will make search, recommendations and other essential functions far more powerful. Once complete, Zardoz will reward exploration and empower our members and patrons with unprecedented access to the full range and diversity of our incomparable collection, much of which is legitimately unavailable anywhere else.

The past year was extraordinarily difficult for most independent arts and cultural institutions and by all indications, the year ahead appears to be even more perilous. The climate has shifted and several of Scarecrow’s neighbors and peers have either gone into hibernation or vanished entirely.

But the outpouring of support last year made it clear that our community in Seattle and beyond understands the importance and irreplaceable magic of this archive and will stand with us to sustain Scarecrow Video for future generations.

They know the rare value of Scarecrow as an institution where anyone can access infinite multitudes of human stories at their fingertips, and also a place where memories are made.

A place where first dates can morph into something more, where childlike wonder remains tangible to the young and the young-at-heart, and where—no matter who you are—you can truly find an authentic representation of yourself on-screen.

Make your gift today to renew your commitment to S.O.S. and help power a sustainable and secure future for Scarecrow!