By Dr. Mike Hendricks, Superintendent, Charter Oak Unified School District; Brian Akers, President, Governing School Board, Charter Oak Unified School District; and Alex Parslow, HMC Architects/School Advisors and CEO, COPE
We all know the effect great education programs can have on a student’s life. With the State of California experiencing a severe financial crisis, whether you are a parent, teacher, community member, or student, we have all felt the cuts.
Local support for funding school programs and facilities has never been more important. In response to this crisis, schools districts everywhere have formed educational foundations to raise the necessary dollars to fill public funding gaps. Just as it is common-place in university and private schools, public school districts have begun to realize they must invest in fundraising opportunities that will afford them the ability to provide high-quality, competitive schools in their communities. In fact, the California Consortium of Education Foundations (CCEF) reports that in 2009, there were more than 675 active local educational foundations in California contributing more than $230 million annually to address public education needs at the local level.
Foundations have engaged more than 36,000 volunteers on their boards and committees and serve more than 4.5 million children*. Building on the success of the Charter Oak USD, which serves over 5,000 students from Covina, Glendora, and San Dimas cities, the Charter Oak Partners in Education Inc. (COPE) Foundation was formed in 2009. As a non-profit organization, raising funds on behalf of the District, working as partners with the Board of Education directing resources towards projects that benefit students and the community alike.
Districts must build their own capacity to institute a fundraising program that will financially support its goal of becoming a destination district. A successful fundraising program will garner this support by soliciting a diversified field of potential donors. Residential and business communities must be asked to support their schools in ways they have never been asked before.
The CCEF outlines industry standards for creating a successful educational foundation to serve public school districts. They include:
• Good tax standing as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization
• By-laws that clearly define the relationship between the school district and education foundation
• Internal controls and regular reporting to the School Board creates the necessary transparency of goodwill between the separate entities
• Strategic, well-connected, community leaders serving as members of the Board of Directors
• Personnel resources to meet the ongoing needs of a fully functioning fund development program
• Agreement between the district and the foundation on all program priorities, funding initiatives and fundraising strategies
In the end, the most common pitfall is organizing an educational foundation without a clearly defined purpose. Without a clear mission, a foundation will struggle in identifying funding priorities, opportunities, and developing a well-defined marketing and fundraising campaign.
With a clear plan and a community that cares about education, your educational foundation can be a critical part of your own community’s future.
For more information contact Dr. Mike Hendricks at mhendricks@cousd.net and Alex Parslow at alex.parslow@hmcarchitects.com
Download and print the full edition of School News, Fall 2011
