© Copyright 2008 National School Foundation Association Your Foundation: A Powerful Partner for Schools

© Copyright 2008 National School Foundation Association

Your Foundation: A Powerful Partner for Schools

© Copyright 2008 National School Foundation Association 2

Thank you NJEFP for your work……

Benefits your school foundation work brings to your community (see handout for more details)

Builds communication Raises awareness of school needs Improves academic and educational opportunities Prepares future school board members Adults acting on behalf of children 57% of school superintendents: high or very highly

felt the foundation encouraged academics!! Meets needs currently unmet in children’s lives Offers the community the opportunity to be a

part of supporting kids!!


Over 20,000 ESO’s in the US today:

ESO = Educational Support Organization: PTA, PTO, booster clubs, education foundations

Education foundations (EF’s) = 12% of all ESO’s EF’s = highest producers among all ESO’s EF production: 60% < $100,000, however the

balance produce up to and more than $1M/year. ESO’s combined raise over $4.5 Billion

Urban Institute 2010

K-12 foundations place in school fundraising world

2009 charitable giving Total = $303.75 billion

Giving by individuals, 1969–2009

Individual giving as a share ofdisposable income, 1969–2009

Data began in 1978 for foundations and in 1987 for environment/animals and international affairs.

Giving by type of recipient as a percentage of total giving Five-year spans; does not include “unallocated”

8

Now…..what would you like to accomplish…….

If money was not a problem?



Seven Steps to Success in your Foundation

1. Clarify your mission: why you exist

2. Build a team to assist you: start with core group

3. Develop a vision: be definitive, written plans (30 days to 5 years)

4. Get equipped: program, Case, add to team

5. Raise awareness: website, media

6. Ask for support: see hierarchy of effectiveness

7. Recognition and rewards: keep the gifts coming, prepare for next fundraising cycle

1. Clarify your mission (25 words or less)

Over the top Under the radar Down the middle

• Scholarships• Equipment • Graduate degrees • Return alumni to work, teach, create• Advocacy (Dental, eye glasses, coats, backpacks, psych

testing, mentoring)



Start with a clear mission & then…..

1.Mission &

2. Vision

Develop team, Case

Raise awareness

Ask for support

Fundraise

R n R

Internal External


2. Build a team


Average yearly amount raised over the past 3 yearsvs. BOD helping to identify, cultivate, and solicit donors

41%

70% 71% 72%64%

87%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

BOD (and all team member’s) Responsibilities

Attend and participate in meetings Donate ID, Cultivate, and solicit on behalf of the foundation Understand your responsibility to donors Understand your responsibility to integrity Understand you are building a stand alone NPO business

• Legal parameters• Reporting responsibilities• Policy standards• Financial integrity (Insurance, employee care)


Committees of the Board (average 3.5/EF)

“ Committees offer members a unique chance to recruit others from the community to deep dive into projects, tasks and or oversight of specific programs. ”

Supports Foundation’s mission

Individually contribute to fundraising goals

Proving ground for new BOD members

K-12 foundations average four working committees Your “walk on” program….can be very successful!


What does a ‘great board member’ bring?

Capacity Connections Commitment

C

Time Talent Treasure

T Wealth Wisdom Willingness to work

W

3. Establish a vision

What do you want to accomplish for kids over the next 30 days to 5 years

Develop written plans addressing who will do what, when, spending how much

ID outcomes for kids Develop simple JD’s


4. Get equipped

Develop A Viable CaseWritten document showing programs needing donor support“Arms” foundation personnel with a tool to take to potential donorsWhat are you specifically trying to do to improve the education of children in your community….Be specificList multiple opportunitiesSurround these with success stories and picturesInclude BOD member’s names List donor categoriesAbbreviated annual report



ID programs that resonate with your community


Align with the School/District & Superintendent

“ Responsible for children’s education and responsible for marshalling the resources needed by the school’s staff to accomplish this task.”

Provides visibility and influence

Shares the district’s strategic plan and greatest needs

Demonstrates support for the foundation within the district staff

Most do not fully understand the critical power and potential of the foundation board

5. Raise awareness

Website E-mail Media: Radio, TV, billboards Newsletters Local newspapers Donor letters Events Palm cards Brochures



6. Ask for support

Direct Solicitation: Face to FacePhon-a-thonsE-solicitationsDirect MailEventsGrantsSponsorships/sales/endorsements/part-

nerships/contracts

Key components

Case: discussed previously

Sources: Grants (corporate or foundations) , Major donors, Alumni, Parents, Internal campaign, Corps, Businesses, entrepreneurial, selling, PMO partnership

Actions: card, e-mail, coffee, call, media clips, speaker’s bureau, event (Martini event) etc.

Ask: ED calls, BOD member calls, e-mail news blast, on-line, direct mail (personal or bulk), Rotary, Alumni event, your event, door to door, whatever


Sample fundraising plans

Case + source + actions + ask = $ Robotics + high tech corporation + appointment + face to

face meeting = 3 years of support ($100,000)

Mentoring + local donor + mailings, cards, calls, media, appointment set by a board member + face to face meeting = 5 yr program of volunteers from his company assisting.

I-pads + alumnus + newsblast, website with on-line giving program.

Alumni bricks + alumni + alumni event + group request



Foundation Performance: Implications from this survey.

Selling small items is becoming less popular Events are reduced in favor of a “Signature Event” Major donor “asks” are becoming more popular Planned giving is growing in popularity as the US

faces an aging society. More than one third have endowments. 20% are considering capital campaigns Average K-12 foundation performance: $10 -

$20/student. Alumni are more and more a focus of K-12

foundations

Alumni must be a part of the process

Smart Boards in all classrooms, PhD’s for high tech teachers: (6,000 students K-12/ EF raises $200,000 +/year)

Each high school graduate receives $3,000 annually for all four years of college. $13 M endowment added to annually at alumni event. (1,000 students in K-12)

A Midwest school district (1,200 students K-12) added $7.2 million in capital additions to their building largely through the efforts of an alumnus.

7. Recognition and Rewards

Thank donors (more x’s the better) be creative, be genuine, think how you would like to be thanked.

Recognize contributors: bricks, wall, plaques, annual report, newsletter, picture etc.

Steward donors: talk with them about how their gift made a difference, meet with them to show them pictures, offer them a tour of the facility etc.



Key Foundational Structural Benchmarks

Data base/Alumni…. JD’s with budgets Strategic plan accountability (who, what, when, where) Annual report Gift acceptance guidelines Liability insurance Board orientation Policies and procedures manual

• Conflict of Interest

• Fund management

• Fund handling/Audit policy

• Whistle blower

• Document Destruction

© Copyright 2008 National School Foundation Association

Thank you for your POWERFUL work !

Documents

© Copyright 2008 National School Foundation Association Your Foundation: A Powerful Partner for Schools