Leadership Insider, Jan. 2004: Additional Resources
Here is an expanded list of resources on the issues discussed in the January 2003 issue of Leadership Insider, including links to those resources listed in the printed newsletter:
School Foundations
Foundations and Fundraising Generally
News and Other Resources
School Foundations
National Center for Public and Private School Foundations:
The University of Northern Iowa’s College of Education has set up a center with a national Web-based support system to encourage and assist in the development of public and private K-12 school foundations. The center’s Web site features overviews, resources, frequently asked questions, and discussion boards.
Beyond Money: The Benefits of an Education Foundation. American Association of School Administrators, August 2001:
Good overview of school foundations as a community relationship-building tool at a time when parents of school-aged children are a decreasing segment of the population.
“How to Start a Local Education Fund.” Public Education Network:
Lists steps and provides resources on forming an “LEF.” The rest of PEN’s Web site compiles lots of information and resources on LEFs and school reform.
“Elements of Successful Public School Foundations.” By Michael Pinto for California Consortium of Education Foundations, April 1998:
Short summary of doctoral dissertation identifying eight elements of success. The rest of the consortium’s Web site includes other
“How to Create an Educational Foundation.” Ohio School Boards Association, 2003:
Introduction in question-and-answer format, including list of issues for school board to consider.
“How to Start a Local Education Foundation in Oklahoma.” Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence:
Includes resources on formation, legal requirements and filings, allocation of grants to schools, fundraising, public relations, and accounting.
“Education Foundations: Changing Public Education And the Way Connecticut Communities Pay for It.” By Jim H. Smith in Connecticut Policy and Economic Council Best Practices Report, April 2001:
Includes 10 steps for formation and tips from experts.
“Summary - Private Giving to Public Schools and Districts in Los Angeles County: A Pilot Study.” By Ron Zimmer, Cathy Krop, et al. for the Rand Corporation, 2001:
Online table of contents and lengthy summary of this report, which can be purchased in hard copy from this site. The report addresses three issues: (1) Who the private givers to public education are; (2) How schools and districts attract private support and what personnel and mechanisms they use; and (3) What types of support are provided and how contributions are used.
Foundations and Fundraising Generally
“Beyond the Bake Sale: How local districts can cash in on big-time fund-raising.”
By Stan Levenson in American School Board Journal, May 2003:
Article by school fundraising consultant stressing the importance of private fundraising and identifying ways school districts can raise funds.
News and Other Resources
This story about the appointment of a business executive who served on the board of a school district’s foundation to a vacancy on the school board highlights another advantage of school foundations: the foundation board can be a good place for people with outstanding skills, resources, and community prestige to gain knowledge and experience with the school system. Not only can this help with community relations, but it even has the potential to be a source of talented prospective school board members.
Community Guide to Understanding the Greenville County Public School Budget. Alliance for Quality Education, 2003:
Although specific to the Greenville County South Carolina schools, this guide is an informative and attractively designed overview of public school budgets and budget process from a layperson’s perspective. Better public understanding of these issues can help build public support for a school foundation.
“Local Education Funds: Complicity or Reform?” By Hayes Mizell, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, April 18, 2002:
Remarks delivered as member of a panel on “LEFs’ Insider/Outsider Role in Moving Community Change” at the Public Education Network's Policy Initiatives Convening in Washington, D.C. Ms. Mizell argues that, as local education funds gain familiarity with the school system and its challenges, their role frequently expands from an effort to support schools to a broader one of pushing for reforms.
“Parents Buy In to Paying For the Basics.” By Michelle Galley in Education Week, February 12, 2003:
Reports on school fundraising across the country and describes some local efforts to ensure that foundations do not exacerbate disparities among schools based on parent affluence. These efforts include prohibiting foundations from funding the basics that the school district should provide or requiring that a percentage of donations above a certain amount go to a central district foundation.
“Parents raise funds to help schools hire more teachers.” By Carol Chmelynski in School Board News, December 24, 2002:
Raises one cautionary note: some observers, while applauding community generosity and commitment to schools, worry that too much reliance on private fundraising could exacerbate wealth disparities among schools, especially when private funds are used to pay for basic operational expenses like salaries and textbooks.
“Making the Grade: Public School raise millions with sophisticated techniques.” By Nicole Lewis in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, August 21, 2003:
Describes impressive fundraising efforts by schools and school systems seeking to spare school program from cuts as budgets are increasingly strained. Also discusses some policy concerns with reliance on this mode of financing education. This article is available online only to subscribers, but your library may subscribe to the printed publication.
"Thou Shalt Not Help Thy Kids."
By Amitai Etzioni in Education Week, April 8, 1998:
Op-ed piece critical of attempts by school districts to prevent parent fundraising from exacerbating disparities among schools. Argues that such attempts will make middle class parents less likely to return to, or more likely to abandon, public and/or urban schools. Asserts that the distinction between expenses for "basics" and "extras" is arbitrary and meaningless.
“School-Supply Charity Helps to Lighten the Load for Needy Kids.” By Elizabeth Greene in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, January 9, 2003:
Profiles a nonprofit, Sack it to You, started by an 11-year-old boy in Boca Raton, Florida. The organization uses student and parent volunteers and has provided thousands of school children with backpacks. This article is available online only to subscribers, but your library may subscribe to the printed publication.
NSBA’s Online Policy Database:
NSBA’s national database of sample policies is a membership benefit of National Affiliate districts and is available to state school board associations. The database includes sample policies related to school foundations and public gifts/donations.