Langley resident Richard Collins, founder of the Seattle-based fundraising consulting firm The Collins Group, died May 5, 2008 on Whidbey Island. He was 78.

In addition to starting the highly regarded firm, Dick also personally consulted for a number of years with numerous nonprofit organizations, including service as the executive director of the Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE) in Bellevue until his retirement in 2006.

Since his retirement from PACE, Dick had been providing fundraising consulting for Good Cheer, a community food bank in his home community on Whidbey Island.

Dick founded The Collins Group in 1979 and managed one of the city’s first capital campaigns, culminating in the creation of the Bagley Wright Theatre, home of the Seattle Rep.

He is credited with bringing a new level of professionalism, innovation and strategic counsel to capital campaign fundraising. During his tenure as owner of the firm, he led successful campaigns for the Intiman Theater, A Contemporary Theater (ACT), The Empty Space Theater, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Shoreline Community College, the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner and many other important cultural, educational and social service organizations in the Northwest.

Following his retirement in 1993 from The Collins Group, he consulted independently on projects for a number of arts organizations until joining PACE in 2002. This included active involvement in the campaign for the construction of the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley.

A native of Ottumwa, Iowa, Dick attended Ottumwa High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern and a master’s in fine art from the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

It was at the Instituto he met and married his wife of 52 years, Dorchen.

His early career included a communications position with Raytheon, work for the U.S. government in running trade show exhibits in Eastern Europe and a stint with IBM in which he oversaw the company’s business machine exhibits in New York City. He also worked on an IBM exhibit at the Seattle World’s Fair.

In 1967, Dick became the first director for the Maine State Commission on the Arts and Humanities, a position in which he worked to support and raise awareness for the arts within the state. In 1974, he became the executive director for the Western State’s Arts Federation, which oversaw grants and support of the arts throughout the Western U.S.

In 1977, he became the executive director of the Denver Center for Performing Arts and oversaw the center’s major capital building campaign.

He left the Denver Center in 1980 to lead the Seattle campaign for the Bagley Wright Theater.

Dick is survived by his wife Dorchen and children Michael, Steven and Carmela, all who reside in the Seattle area. Four grandchildren also survive him. He also leaves a legacy throughout the Northwest of buildings, programs and services that have made many communities stronger and richer.

A memorial and celebration of his life and accomplishments will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 18 at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley.

Memorial donations may be made to Good Cheer, PO Box 144, Langley, WA 98260.