American Schools Foundation Alliance ASFA - Fundraising Resources for Schools and School District Foundations Newsroom

What are the key ingredients of a successful corporate/non-profit partnership?

Nicole Hlinovsky — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:31:17 GMT

Non-profit consultant Paula Oyer Berezin says “sexy” out, “impact” in

Many school foundations are reaching out to local corporations or businesses to sponsor events or other program initiatives...

The interview with Paula Oyer Berezin of Social Capital Partnerships, Inc. discusses what kinds of partnerships are working now and what kinds we will see more of in the future.

Foundation funds Summer Soccer Camp

Nicole Hlinovsky — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:03:23 GMT

Summer Soccer Camp July 19 – 30, 2010

From: Buffalo Public Schools Foundation www.buffaloschoolsfoundation.org

Many school districts around the country are highlighting the importance of students’ physical activity...

as one way to minimize childhood obesity. The Buffalo Public Schools Foundation (Buffalo, New York) funded a soccer camp in July giving children a great opportunity to stay active while having fun and playing soccer. The camp was open to children in grades one through eight to heighten the interest in the game and to provide an opportunity to develop competitive playing skills.

Foundation works with local service providers to form an after school program

Nicole Hlinovsky — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:30:32 GMT

In Real Life: Engaging and Enriching After School Experiences for Middle Schoolers

From: Asheville City Schools Foundation In Real Life in Asheville

Many parents seek after school programs for their children...

The Asheville City Schools Foundation in Asheville, North Carolina, is launching the “In Real Life” or IRL Program in fall 2010. The program will allow middle school students a variety of after school programs to allow the kids to spend their time wisely before their parents arrive home from work.

ASFA Newsroom Alert! On May 17, approximately 365,000 non-profits could lose their tax-exempt status

Nicole Hlinovsky — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:36:36 GMT

Thousands of non-profits could unwittingly lose a tax status

From: USA Today

An IRS filing requirement which imposes a deadline of Monday, May 17, 2010 could
result in approximately 365,000 non-profit organizations losing their tax-exempt status...

The 2006 Pension Protection Act included a provision which requires all non-profits, even small ones, to file IRS form 990s or a simplified version of the form. According to the article “Nonprofits that fail to file a return for three consecutive years lose their tax-exempt status. On May 17, the three-year clock runs out for (all) non-profits that haven’t filed a return since 2007.”

The article refers to the Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics to determine which non-profits tax exempt status is in jeopardy. Only churches and church-related operations are not subject to the filing requirement.

School Districts, Schools, and Other Non-Profits have until May 12th to Apply

Nicole Hlinovsky — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:43:34 GMT

Foundations offer $506M for Education Innovation

From: eSchool News www.eschoolnews.com

Twelve prominent foundations, which include the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are offering funds that will match federal grants from the Investing in Innovation Program from the U.S. Department of Education...

The matching grants are meant to encourage education reform and ease the angst that educators might otherwise have in finding matching dollars to receive the federal grant money.

The article states that “school districts, schools, and other nonprofits have until May 12 to apply for the money, which will be paid out by the end of September”. Arne Duncan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, was “ecstatic about the foundations’ interest in the innovation program and called the partnership (with the foundations) to be unprecedented.”

Full Article>>

High School Foundation Begins First Phase of $10 Million Stadium Project

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:39:36 GMT

Work Begins on State-of-the-Art Stadium at Lahainaluna High School

From: LahainaNews.com

What might be the most effective way for a foundation to successfully realize a multi-million dollar project for its community?

In January, 2002, the Lahainaluna Foundation began to notify its community of its desire for a completed stadium. A series of Power Point presentations were given to interested teachers, parents, students and community organizations. The results of these communications were that public and private partnerships contributed size-able donations to the $10 million project. A representative of the Foundation also “worked closely with vendors and reached out to the community in an effort to raise money and find partners willing to reduce costs."

New York High School Honors Alumni

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:53:51 GMT

Lockport High School seeks Distinguished Alumni Nominees

From: Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

Many K – 12 education foundations are realizing that alumni might be viable, potential donors...

The Lockport High School Foundation in New York may encourage its alumni to contribute to their school district’s foundation by recognizing graduates who “stand out in their field or community”. This is the fourth year that the Foundation is accepting nominations for distinguished alumni. “Graduates must have been out of high school for at least 10 years and made significant contributions in their career, community or other humanitarian endeavors“, Principal Frank Movalli said. The selected alumni are honored at an induction ceremony in the fall.

Oklahoma’s Governor Brad Henry supports the mentoring program that the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence started in 2005

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:38:22 GMT

Make a Difference for an Oklahoma Child: Be a Mentor

From: Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence News Release

Governor Brad Henry has made education a central focus of his administration since taking office in 2003...

He recognizes that the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence started the Boren Mentoring Initiative to promote school-based mentoring programs across the state. Mentoring an hour a week offers enormous benefits to Oklahoma’s children and caring adults are encouraged to become volunteer mentors.

Any education foundation could collaborate with a school district to initiate this program with relatively low overhead costs. The appreciation of the mentoring program’s benefits might result in donations for the foundation.

Foundation’s Year End Donation Allows Four District Schools to Go Wireless 26-Dec-09

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:13:17 GMT

Big donation to help L-Way schools go wireless

From: Lincoln-Way High School District Foundation for Educational Excellence, New Lenox, Illinois

While some foundations concentrate on fundraising activities like golf outings and dinner dances...

The Lincoln Way High School District Foundation for Educational Excellence has contributed $200,000 to a wireless environment in four of its high schools. According to a resident who is quoted in the article “A wireless environment opens the door for dynamic and highly interactive lessons”.

Click here to view the PDF Article

Foundation collaborates with School Board of Trustees on building new sports facility

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:49:37 GMT

Center Grove Education Foundation (“CGEF”) Announces Capital Campaign for New Facility

From: Center Grove Education Foundation www.centergrovefoundation.org

In Greenwood, Indiana, the Center Grove Education Foundation is partnering with the Center Grove Community School Corporation Board of Trustees to build a new multi-sports locker room and indoor practice facility.

click here to read the entire article>>

Foundation secures over $100,000 in donations in Phone-A-Thon

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:22:33 GMT

People were “so kind to our students” during annual BEF phone-a-thon

From: Beaverton Education Foundation www.beavertonEDfoundation.org

At a time when a school district is experiencing budget cuts and limited resources...

The Beaverton (Oregon) Education Foundation surpassed its goal of raising more than $100,000 in donations. During its 11th annual Phone-A-Thon, the Foundation’s goal to fund programs at the district’s 50 schools this year may be realized...
click here to read the entire article>>

Birmingham joins

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:53:33 GMT

Birmingham joins the school foundation community

From: The Birmingham News www.al.com/birminghamnews

Mountain Brook has one, Vestavia Hills has one, Hoover has one and, by the end of the year, Birmingham will have a schools foundation, too.

The Birmingham City Schools Foundation, incorporated this week, is a resident-led nonprofit organization designed to provide financial support for city schools as well as community influence over them.

click here to read entire article

Community rallies to raise money

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:10:44 GMT

Community rallies to raise money for longstanding school foundation with 17th annual phon-a-thon

from: Los Altos Town Crier www.losaltosonline.com

Cell phones and land lines in hand, volunteers for the Mountain View Los Altos High School Foundation recently staged their 17th annual fundraising phon-a-thon.
click here to view entire article

School foundation joins internet

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:20:04 GMT

School foundation joins internet era by launching website

from: Estherville Daily News www.esthervilledailynews.com

The Estherville Lincoln Central School Foundation has launched a new Web site to help inform the public about the foundation and to accept contributions for student scholarships and educational enrichment.
click here to view the entire article

Poor communities struggle

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:48 GMT

Poor communities struggle, lack of school foundation regulation fosters inequity

from: KPBS Radio www.kpbs.org

MAUREEN CAVANAUGH (Host): Welcome back. I'm Maureen Cavanaugh. You're listening to a special These Days broadcast from the campus of Lincoln High School. click here to view entire article

School foundations continue to provide positive impact

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:34:20 GMT

School foundations continue to provide positive impact on students with laptop donation

from: Whittier Daily News www.whittierdailynews.com

The SELAC Foundation, a nonprofit group that raises money for southeast Los Angeles County schools, has donated four laptop computers provided to them by Southern California Edison for the after school program at Los Nietos Middle School.
click here to view entire article

Students benefit

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:39:55 GMT

Students benefit from more than $420,000 in contributions from school foundation

from: SC Now.com www.scnow.com

The School Foundation was created in 2000 with the idea of improving the quality of education in Florence School District 1. Local business leaders raised $1 million in seed to fund and support innovative ideas from school district employees.
click here to view entire article

Foundation Lawsuit

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:03:05 GMT

Kearney, Neb., foundation settles lawsuit

from: The Associated Press posted to www.siouxcityjournal.com

KEARNEY, Neb.— The Kearney Public Schools Foundation has settled its lawsuit over hundreds of thousands of dollars its former executive director stole.
click here to view the entire article

School District seeks rules

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:25:43 GMT

School District seeks rules on spending foundation funds

from: Sign On San Diego www.signonsandiego.com

SAN DIEGO — As schools turn to private foundations to help fill gaps left from budget cuts, parent-run nonprofits are getting new scrutiny from the San Diego school district — prompting concerns they might lose the ability to spend donations as they see fit. click here to view entire article

School foundation engages community foundation to manage its financial resources

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:02:55 GMT

School foundation engages community foundation to manage its financial resources

from: Community Foundation of Greater New Britain www.cfgnb.org

With nearly 159 years of school history behind it and a half million dollars in assets, the New Britain High School Foundation has engaged the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain to help manage its financial resources.
click here to view entire article