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
"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 spectrum of the fundraising process, including donor research, appeal letter and proposal writing, goal development, program evaluation, effective stewardship, budgeting, and much more! This valuable package of ready--to--use tools and strategies includes: * Examples of winning grant proposals * Techniques for preparing a budget * Tips for overcoming obstacles and getting grants * Reproducible marketing documents, campaigns, and scripts * A list of 101 foundations and corporations interested in giving to 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 our children.