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Big-Time Fundraising for Today's Schools

By: Stanley Levenson

Foreword by Wendy D. Puriefoy

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

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
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

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Product Details

Grade Level: K-12
ISBN: 9781412939164
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2006
Page Count: 208
Publication date: November 22, 2006

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Description

"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.

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.

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

Author(s)

Stanley Levenson

Table of Contents

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

Reviews

"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

Other Titles in: Finance/Funding/Grantwriting

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This book is not available as a review copy.