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Big-Time Fundraising for Today's Schools
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Big-Time Fundraising for Today's Schools

Foreword by Wendy D. Puriefoy


November 2006 | 208 pages | Corwin

"Makes a groundbreaking, noteworthy, and lasting contribution to the field of public school improvement and reform."
—From the Foreword by Wendy D. Puriefoy
President, Public Education Network

"A must-read book that can change how public education works, thrives, and ultimately succeeds."
—Gerard A. Dery, Director, Zone 1, NAESP
Principal, Nessacus Regional Middle School, Dalton, MA

Harness skills and strategies to achieve "big-time" fundraising success!

In this enlightening book, nationally recognized author and fundraising consultant Stanley Levenson shows school leaders how to move away from labor-intensive, nickel-and-dime bake sales and car washes, and into the world of big-time fundraising. Following the model used by colleges and universities, Levenson presents a wealth of practical strategies for supporting school finances by pursuing grants and gifts from corporations, foundations, the government, and individual donors.

A proactive blueprint, this resource focuses on public responsibility in helping America's public schools become world-class learning institutions. Fundraisers will learn about the entire fundraising spectrum, from corporate, foundation, and government grants, to grants and gifts from individual donors. This valuable package of ready-to-use tools and strategies includes:

  • Basic steps for starting a public school foundation
  • Practical techniques for writing winning grant proposals
  • Examples of winning grant proposals
  • Tips for overcoming obstacles
  • Suggestions for establishing a development office
  • Techniques for obtaining grants and gifts from individual donors
  • Helpful approaches to annual campaigns, capital campaigns, and planned giving
  • A list of 101 foundations and corporations interested in giving to the public schools
  • Extensive bibliography, references, and web sites

In this comprehensive guide, educators will find specific creative solutions for obtaining funding that will support the finest schools for all our children. 


 
Foreword by Wendy D. Puriefoy
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
1. From Needs to Opportunities
There’s Good News on the Horizon

 
Corporations, Foundations, and Individual Donors Are Interested

 
The Federal Government Is Involved

 
Contributions to Worthy Causes Across America Have Increased

 
The Transfer of Wealth in America Will Help

 
 
2. What Is Big-Time Fundraising?
Establishing a Development Office

 
Hiring Fulltime Staff and Consultants

 
Specifications for Hiring Fulltime Staff and Consultants

 
Be Wary of Consultants Who Propose to Work for No Upfront Fees

 
A Dozen Big-Time Fundraising Strategies That Win Every Time

 
Roles and Responsibilities in a Big-Time Fundraising Effort

 
Some School Districts Are Starting to Gear Up

 
Some Important Issues to Be Aware Of

 
Issues Are Legitimate

 
 
3. Public School Foundations
Public School Foundations

 
How Are School Foundations Organized?

 
How to Start Local Education Foundation

 
How to Start a Local Education Fund

 
What’s Happening Around the Country?

 
Twelve School Foundations Making a Difference

 
 
4. How to Get Big Gifts From Individual Donors
Why Haven’t We Gone After Big Gifts?

 
Defining Big Gifts

 
How to Snare Big Gifts From Individual Prospects

 
A 21 Step Approach to Securing a Major Gift

 
Sample Pledge Card

 
 
5. Annual Campaigns, Capital Campaigns, and Planned Giving
Annual Campaigns

 
Capital Campaigns

 
Planned Giving

 
Possible Non-Cash Gift Ideas for the Public Schools

 
Outright Gift of Cash

 
 
6. Applying for Corporate and Foundation Grants
Corporate Giving

 
Foundation Giving

 
Independent Foundations

 
Community Foundations

 
Obtaining Corporate and Foundation Funding is Easier Than You Think

 
Request for Proposals (RFP)

 
Direct Contact

 
Corporate-School Partnerships

 
The Foundation Center

 
Reasons for Applying for Corporate and Foundation Funding

 
 
7. Strategies, Requests for Proposals (RFP’s), and Resources for Winning Corporate and Foundation Funding
Eleven Step Strategy

 
Responding to Requests for Proposals (RFP)

 
101 Foundations and Corporations Interested in Giving to K-12 Schools

 
 
8. Writing Winning Minigrants
Needs Assessment, Goals and Objectives

 
Activities, Evaluation Specifications, Budget

 
Preparing a Winning Mini-Grant Application

 
Blank Mini-Grant Program Application

 
 
9. Writing Major Grant Proposals That Get Funded
Government Grants

 
Needs Assessment

 
Goals and Objectives

 
Activities

 
Example of a Timeline Using a Triple “T” Chart

 
 
10. Preparing the Evaluation Plan for Your Application
Internal (Formative) Evaluation

 
External (Third-Party) Summative Evaluation

 
Using a Third-Party Evaluation Design

 
Seven Tips to Remember When Designing Your Evaluation Plan

 
 
11. Preparing the Application Budget
The Application Budget

 
Presenting a Budget Format

 
Providing the Necessary Resources to Adequately Carry Out the Project

 
Providing the Necessary Detail

 
Calculating the Direct Costs

 
Calculating the Indirect Costs

 
Writing the Budget Narrative

 
Writing the Dissemination Plan

 
Writing the Program Summary and Abstract

 
Fourteen Helpful Hints

 
 
12. After You Receive the Grant, Then What?
Announcing Your Grant to the World

 
Being Good Stewards of All Grants and Gifts

 
What Happens When Grant Monies Run Out?

 
 
13. Some Examples of Winning Grant Proposals
Examples of Winning Mini-Grants (South Washington County Schools, Cottage Gove, MN)

 
Example of Winning Major Government Grant Proposal (Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District, Lubbock, TX)

 
 
14. Conclusions
 
Resource A: Some Examples of Grant Opportunities for K-12 Schools
 
Resource B: Sample Ads for Key Positions
 
Resource C: Sample Cover Letter to Accompany a Grant Application
 
Resource D: The Foundation Center's Glossary of Funding Terms
 
Bibliography
 
Index

"In my pioneer work in the public education foundation movement, and as a former superintendent of schools, I endorse Stan Levenson's suggestions for the role of board members in starting alumni fundraising, the need to listen and establish rapport with prospective givers in a community, and his initiatives for tapping the sources of senior citizens and former teachers. Levenson's acknowledgement that more than 80% of all contributions come from donors fuels the idea that public school education foundations should exist in every community to enhance programs in our K-12 schools."

Judith R. Rovins, President
Rovins Educational Group

"This book helps communities leave no stone unturned in the search for funds that will help improve student learning. In shifting our sights to the new world of big-time fundraising, Stan has made a groundbreaking, noteworthy, and lasting contribution to the field of public school improvement and reform."

From the Foreword by Wendy D. Puriefoy, President
Public Education Network, Washington, D.C.

"The author has effectively and painstakingly provided a blueprint that will help individuals and schools achieve success in fundraising. This is a must-read book that could change how public education works, thrives, and ultimately succeeds."

Gerard A. Dery, Director, Zone 1, National Association of Elementary School Principals
Principal, Nessacus Regional Middle School, Dalton, MA

"Having applied for and been awarded five mini-grants this year, I feel that Dr. Levenson's book will help me take my grantsmanship to the next level. He provides a blueprint for creating successful school grant writing teams and for obtaining major grants to meet larger needs."

Andrew Goldstein, Technology Education Teacher
Boca Raton, FL

"A recommended pick for school leaders who wish to move away from small-scale bake sales into big-time fundraising."

California Bookwatch, April 2007

"Whether you are a funding novice or a veteran grant writer, Levenson provides information that should be at the fingertips of every educator looking for financial support in today's tight budget era."

Edu-Funds, May 2007
Key features
  • Filled with easy-to-implement strategies
  • Coverage of how to overcome obstacles
  • Examples of grant proposals
  • Sample marketing documents, campaigns, scripts, and more, to reproduce for school use

Sample Materials & Chapters

Foreword

Preface

Chapter 1


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