|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Roundtable for the Public School Foundations in Westchester/Putnam
Roundtable of Educational Foundations Happy New Year! The Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns is pleased to announce our winter Roundtable for the Public School Foundations in Westchester & Putnam counties. This year’s roundtable will focus on Alumni and Internet fundraising. It will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2007 from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 am in the Washington Irving Conference Room, at Hitachi America Ltd., 50 Prospect Avenue in Tarrytown. We are also planning a second Roundtable in the spring. Topics: If you have any recent brochures, letters, by-laws, annual reports, etc. that could be of help to other Foundations, please bring copies to the meeting. The $50 annual membership fee for 2007 is payable now. Please send a check to the Foundation office (we also take Visa or MasterCard). Please make checks payable to: Foundation for the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns. For security reasons at
Hitachi America, Ltd. it is imperative that you RSVP Sincerely, Shelly Colley
MINUTES Spring Roundtable June 8,
2006 Mr. Sabatella opened the roundtable discussion with a presentation on how to solicit major gifts for targeted projects. Many years ago, in his role as Superintendent of the Brewster Schools, he started the first education foundation in New York. His motto: “Once you start them giving, they’ll keep on giving.” He has launched a “Field of Dreams” turf field campaign this year in Brewster, while he is serving as an Interim Superintendent, and continuing his consulting work with The Clements Group, which primarily works with colleges, and is now helping K-12 schools solicit major gifts. Why major gifts? To get beyond the teacher grants, scholarships – to achieve bigger projects. Think Big! And, work closely with the school district about long range plans and projects. Mr. Sabatella discussed six essential factors for implementing a successful fundraising campaign: 1. What is the essential need for raising this money? This essential need must contain a clear vision for the future, specifies new or improved benefits for students and patrons, provides impetus for educational advancement and effectiveness, and determines fundraising goals. 2. Create A Compelling Case for Support. This case must establish a unique identity, define competencies and strengths, define mission, goals and patrons, and becomes an effective marketing statement for the district and or individual schools. 3. Inspire an Influential Volunteer Leadership. Attract influential leaders in your community (must do the aforementioned 2 points in order to attract these people, without a compelling case, there will be no inspiration for these people to “commit.”), ascertain level of commitment and involvement, establish significant peer relationships (people give to people), determine who are the “worker bees” because these people will be your primary campaign chain. 4. Create a Sufficient Prospect list that says it is Possible to Raise the Money. Target individuals, corporations and foundations with a philosophical rationale for involvement. TIP1: Only 5.6% of corporations give to non-profits compared to 83% of gifts come from individuals, TIP2: target individuals with $400.000 annual income or more. 5. A Plan of Action: Is a blueprint to reach specific fundraising goals, provides a schedule to carry out strategies, and achieves success by matching quality volunteers with prospective donors. 6. Sound Management in Carrying out The Program: This is the responsibility of the senior development officer/executive director of the Foundation. This relies on enthusiastic volunteers, individuals with influence and affluence, motivates, stimulates, coordinates and sustains volunteers Campaign Leadership Form committees of parent/community volunteers
Media/PR Subcommittee – on going promotion and communication or achievements Organization: Establish Timelines Articulate Who does What What are the deliverables Campaign should NOT be elitist Community should be involved, in the capacity appropriate He has structured campaigns where a lead gift is stated: xx will give a lead of $10,000 if 800 others give $20 each – then go after the $20. He is a big believer in 100% participation. He urges faculty – or has a faculty or union member – urge everyone to contribute, even if it is only $1 so that the campaign can brag, we have had 100% participation from our staff. They are behind this project. Won’t you join our efforts? The Ask Don’t worry about asking too much. We’d like you to make a gift of $----, which can be given over three years. Your gift is gratefully received and deeply appreciated.” That’s all – don’t rattle on and on. Make the ask and shut up! Keep in touch with your donors. Invite them to the school play. Cultivate them. Keep them as friends. The Clements Group can provide training and materials, including Thank yous, follow-up correspondences, pledge cards, FAQ If a school district would like to hire The Clements Group on their own, cost is $33,000. If a group of 4-6 districts works together, fee is reduced to $12,000 per district. Joint training for all in consortium over three months, In the 4th month, you get a private consultation in your district Then, the process repeats for the next 4 months. The fee covers a 12 month period. He will go out on the first solicitation with each district. Then, you are on your own. He will make a weekly conference call/check in, and will ask you for a weekly status report – to make sure you stay on track and are working. He advocates having a paid development person to deal with the paperwork and follow-up. Joseph Sabatella 904-669-4311 The Clements Group Salt Lake City, Utah 800-355-0451 K12.clmgroup.com Suggestion for Future Topic for Roundation (Fall 2006): Marketing: Getting the Word Out about the Good Work We Do December 5, 2005 The fall meeting took place Monday, December 5 at Hitachi America, Ltd. in Tarrytown. Representatives from 14 foundations were present, including Briarcliff, Byram Hills, Bronxville, Chappaqua, Dobbs Ferry, Garrison, Haldane, Harrison, Hastings, Hendrick Hudson, Irvington, Ossining, Peekskill, and Tarrytown. The focus of the meeting
was on how various groups spend the money they raise. Most districts award
grants to schools, with payment made directly to the
schools so there are no liability issues with the
educational foundation. The more established
foundations require some kind of follow-up, ranging from
interim and final reports, to gauge the success and
impact of the grants. This effort is often
time-consuming. After some discussion,
the group went around with each foundation mentioning
some of their more successful gifts to schools. These
are summarized below. There was also discussion
about Director’s and Officer’s Insurance. Few
foundations have this protection. Those that do
recommended it, particularly as foundations might be
liable if patrons were involved in accidents following
fundraising events. We will provide more information to
the group about what this costs, and if we could get
some kind of group rate for those that are interested. It was interesting to
hear the range of funds that each foundation awards
annually. Of course, the size and wealth of a community
has an impact on funds raised. Many people expressed an
interest in focusing on fundraising at the spring
meeting. (Let us know what you think!) Summary of grants
discussion: Byram Hills http://byramhillsfoundation.org/GrantsMain.htm awards $350,000/year in two grant cycles a year. They gave $149,000 for SMART Boards in 2004-05. They also funded the program, Facing History and Ourselves (facinghistory.org), and Schools Attuned with Mel Levine (schoolsattuned.org). Chappaqua gives
out about $70,000/year. They provide a kiln along with
installation, a weather station, a greenhouse, a wind
tunnel, global information system, trout studies program
where kids don waders and go out into the water to take
samples, etc, books, music and art awards and a TV
station. Dobbs Ferry
http://www.dobbsferry.com/foundation/ Their
foundation was the catalyst for starting the IB
(International Baccalaureate) program. They provided
funds for extensive teaching training. The IB program
is gaining in popularity across the country.
Previously, they have funded the creation of a new
position for two years – assistant superintendent for
curriculum and instruction; a language lab; and a
TV/film program. They award grants twice a year,
between $10-$20,000 in the fall, and about $60,000 in
the spring. Garrison supports
a Community Resource Series ($9,000/year) that provides
cultural enrichment using community-based artists and
other resources. This program is administered by the
Garrison Art Center. They have also supported a tile
mural, support for a new middle school jazz ensemble,
library books, SAT Prep class, bullying prevention
program with David Levine, trip to Constitution marsh,
Hudson Valley Shakespeare outreach programs. The also
provided almost $28,000 for a new basketball court. Haldane
http://www.haldaneschoolfoundation.org/ gives out
about $55,000/year. They run a Summer Staff Development
Institute, open to teachers in other districts, who work
with staff from The Clearwater, RiverKeeper, and other
experts on the Hudson River. They support Hudson Valley
Shakespeare educational programs. They also support
language immersion weekends, using the affordable
Taconic Regional Center. They rent the facility and the
school provides the expertise. Students sleepover and
are immersed in the language, foods, cultural
activities, music, etc of the language they are
studying. Harrison
http://www.harrisoncsd.org/community.htm#The%20Harrison%20Educational%20Foundation
gives out between $200,000 and $250,000/year. They have
provided numerous SMART Boards and other technology
including laptops for the school library. They have
sent staff to SUNY Purchase for staff development. They
collaborate with the PTA to give out book bags at
kindergarten orientation. The bag includes information
about the foundation, a book to help parents help their
kids in school. This has been very successful, and
resulted in many new donors to the foundation. Hastings
http://www.hastingseducationfoundation.org/ gives
out $60-$90,000/year in increments from $1,000 to
$20,000. The redid the elementary library; funded a
social science institute where students met with outside
experts over breakfast and in workshops; a music lab, a
nutritionist to lead educational workshops and revise
school lunches; new technical equipment for HS
auditorium; and A World of Difference tolerance program. Hendrick Hudson
http://www.henhud.k12.ny.us/hhcef/main.htm worked
with the community to arrange a pre-school lending
library of books that circulate to various
nursery/pre-schools, administered by the local public
library. They have also funded senior citizen computer
classes, a weather station, multicultural dance troop,
and alcohol and drug avoidance speakers. Irvington
http://www.iefonline.org/ gives out about $250,000 a
year, and gives grants in the range of $1,000 and up.
Last year, they provided $25,000 for a character
education program and related staff development. They
have funded interdisciplinary programs at different
grade levels and a project adventure initiative,
including a six-week problem-solving unit. Ossining
http://ossiningmatters.org/ provided a Jump Start
program for K and 1st graders, a
before-school literacy program for targeted youth that
includes a nutritious breakfast. The Ossining
Foundation found a donor, who is keeping the program
going. They also funded the Write Mind writing and
staff development program developed by The Hudson Valley
Writers’ Center, percussion workshop with African
drummer Kazi Oliver, and a Gala Event featuring Gil
Shaham performing with the HS chamber ensemble. Peekskill
http://www.peekskillcsd.org/home.asp is one of the
newer foundations, and is just getting started with
awarding grants. They have purchased books for school
libraries and are working with the Paramount Center to
provide programs/raise funds. They have sponsored trips
for special education students including rafting on the
Delaware River. Tarrytown
http://www.tufsd.org/foundation/whatis.htm gives out
about $100,000/year. October 23, 2003 Minutes from meeting at
Hitachi America Ltd., Tarrytown Foundations in
attendance: Brewster, Chappaqua, Eastchester, Harrison,
Hastings, Irvington, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle,
Ossining, Putnam Valley, Weston, Ct., Tarrytown,
Tuckahoe, Valhalla, White Plains, Yorktown Susan Crucy-Burkhardt,
Community Relations Manager of Hitachi America Ltd.,
welcomed Foundation members. Mentioned Hitachi’s
willingness to facilitate teleconferencing as a tool for
groups to use for discussing/resolving particular
issues. Suggested fundraising
ideas by approaching realtors, title companies, who
might make a donation to the school foundation whenever
a sale is made in that district. Could also provide
realtors with a “welcome package” for new homeowners
that describe the schools and the foundation. SUMMARY OF GRANT PROCESS Tarrytowns: has
one grant cycle a year. Foundation board members attend
a staff meeting in the beginning of December to discuss
and have available the grant applications (also is put
on the website for teachers to access). Proposals due:
January. Announcements made: February. Grant Period:
March to December the following year. This gives
teachers the opportunity to use the grant money this
year and the following Fall. Board members and
community members review grants. Final reports are
required by each grantee. Superintendent reviews all
grants. Principals sign all grants. Teachers,
administrators, support staff and parents and students
in partnership with teachers can apply. An off cycle
grant application is available. Irvington has a
spring grant cycle for regular grants. In the fall, the
committee does a review, in conjunction with the school
principals, of applications that are outside of the
cycle. There is a cap on awards at that time. DESCRIPTION OF SUCCESSFUL
GRANTS AWARDED Harrison: funded an educational toy
teaching physics to 1st & 2nd
graders. It has become an excellent recruiting tool for
getting elementary parents interested in the
Foundation. works with SUNY Purchase
for Arts programs that invite students to the college
one semester & visit schools the next. Created visiting faculty
from pool of parents in district. Parents address
classes in spring & fall career days. Excellent way of
recruiting foundation members & supporters. Gets parents
involved with school activities. New Rochelle: April 22, 2003 Minutes from meeting at
Hitachi America Ltd. Tarrytown Foundations attending:
Bedford, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Greenburgh 7, Haldane,
Harrison, Hastings, Irvington, Ossining, Tarrytown,
Valhalla, Yorktown, Tuckahoe. Effective
Fundraising: Irvington: Plaques for
new auditorium seats Taking advantage of new
construction, offering “ownership” in project. For a fee
of $275 (mostly donation) can name a seat “In Honor
of..”, “In Memory of..”, “Class of..”. Limited number of
seats makes them more desirable. Funds to go 50% to
start Endowment Fund, 50% to other arts programs.
Several districts mentioned being involved with the
programs and opportunities with the Lincoln Center
Institute for the Arts in Education (Jessica Reynolds,
212-875-5535 for summer teacher training & class
visits). Also mention, from
Harrison, similar programs at SUNY Purchase (Eileen
Lieberman, 251-6178, Development Office of Purchase
Performing Arts Center.) Harrison/Dobbs
Ferry/Valhalla: Car raffle Brief discussion of major
raffle idea, with limited number of $50 or $100 tickets. Valhalla has legal
research details (need to be in operation 3 years).
Dobbs Ferry suggested offering car or “cash equivalent”
(10 days to choose) to avoid problems of paying taxes &
registration fees, or out-of-town winner. Brewster (not
present) has for many years run a Corvette raffle. Yorktown: Wine-tasting Held at new restaurant
looking for publicity (small per head charge for hors
d’oeuvres), plus wine retailers supplying free wine. Not
major fundraiser, but priced reasonably ($35 ticket, $20
cost) to stay within reach of all community & teaching
staff. Possibility of Foundation getting “commission” on
subsequent sales for period after fundraiser. Brief mention of
Dine-Around idea, all restaurants in town giving
percentage to Foundation on a particular night. Also
would Octoberfest (beer-tasting) have a different
appeal? Eastchester: Start-up
Fundraisers Sunday Brunch at local
Golf Course ($65 ticket, $45 cost). Raffle included
those making donation even if not present. Next Brunch
at Lenoir Preserve, using their Culinary School ($45
ticket, $20 cost), & music from HS students. Special
raffle to benefit donors not present. Tarrytown: Annual
Appeal Mailing School organizations can
use nonprofit permit to mail to Postal Patron (all
households in the community). Look for local sponsor to
offset the cost of the mailing e.g. local bank. Name of
sponsor printed on back of envelope. Tarrytown sends
out a personalized pre-letter to all previous donors,
soliciting continued support and flagging appeal letter
to come. Always include highlights of a
foundation-sponsored project that has enriched the
education process (arts projects, hands-on science
opportunities).
Dinner/Dance./Auction Get as many volunteers as
possible. Break down tasks to non-threatening amounts. Get Board members to each
assemble a table of 10 (A Board of 20 would then have
200 diners). Board should see the dinner as a working
evening, welcoming new faces, promoting the Foundation,
recruiting committee members & potential Board
candidates.
In order to get ticket
orders in on time, offer early-bird discount, have phone
committee to clarify seating arrangements. Suggested
phone solicitation committee to promote interest in the
dinner. Golf Tournament Harrison briefly and
discussed and recommended hosting a golf tournament.
Profitable fundraiser. Suggested working with golf
course to get low golf fees and discuss hosting on days
(Mondays) that they are normally closed. Other Irvington suggests
getting new people each year by promoting the Foundation
at the beginning of the school year with early grade
neighborhood teas, co-sponsored by Foundation/PTA.
Tarrytown and other foundations fund early-reading
packages to kindergartner families with foundation info
too. Fall Roundtable
Suggested Topics:
Most successful grants
awarded. Please bring to share list of grants that you
have awarded in your district. Grant applications and
evaluation forms to share. Please bring Dinner
Dance/Gala Journal samples. Continue Board/Committee
development. Please
continue send us any flyers or other information that
you are able to share with other Foundations. A
reminder for 2003 Dues. Please send your check for
$50.00 for calendar year to the Foundation for the
Public Schools of the Tarrytowns office located at 200
North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591.
Respectfully submitted,
Francesca Spinner & Joan Bucci Note
the date for the Connecticut Consortium of Education
Foundations Conference, Wednesday, October 8th
8:30-2:00 at the Radisson Hotel, Cromwell, CT. “The
Power of Education Foundations: A Strong Foundation for
Vibrant Schools and Communities.” Keynote speaker, Ron
Wolk, founder, editor and publisher of Education Week.
For more information call Liz Stokes at 203-227-9323. October 22, 2002 Meeting
Minutes Districts in attendance: Tarrytown, Valhalla, Somers, Ossining, Rye, Bronxville, Yorktown, Chappaqua, Bedford, Mamaroneck, Eastchester, Hastings, Irvington, Pelham Francesca welcomed everyone. Introduced Susan Crucy-Burkhardt from Hitachi America. Susan also welcomed everyone. Discussed the renovations of the lobby and also stressed the importance of “RSVP” to the Tarrytown Foundation for future meetings due to heightened security. At this
time Francesca introduced Sue Formato, Fundraising
Consultant, to discuss Board Development, with Ellen
Seabring, Bronxville.
A special thank you to Susan Formato and Ellen Seabring for their presentation of information at today’s meeting. Briefly
opened the floor to any questions or burning issues.
Discussed various fundraising ideas: campaign letters,
mini-grants, etc. Discussed future ideas for spring meeting. A consensus agreed on “Effective Fundraising”, raising funds using direct appeals, mass mailings, special events, corporate giving, etc. Please give us input on this. We need each Foundation to have a brief (5 minute) presentation on a fundraising topic. A
reminder that 2003 Dues are payable now from
incorporated Foundations. Please send $50.00 payable to
the Tarrytown Foundation and mail to Joan Bucci,
Administrator, Foundation for Public Schools of the
Tarrytowns, 200 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY
10591. Please send Joan Bucci any new brochures, bylaws, grant ideas, etc. that you are willing to share with other Foundations. Thanks to those who have sent in valuable material. Respectfully submitted,
FrancescaSpinner, Tarrytown Foundation |
|||
 |
|||
