Newsroom

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

From:  Crain’s Chicago Business                            

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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>>   

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."

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.

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.

Big donation to help L-Way schools go wireless

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

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>>