Foundationfocus 
Newsletter for Education Foundations 
            April, 2013- Vol 4 Issue 3
In This Issue
Foundation Features: Frisco ISD Education Foundation & Karnes City ISD Education Foundation
Texas Education Foundation Census
Texas Education Foundation Network Conference
Board2Board Regional Conferences
Education Foundation Toolkit
Who is Foundation Innovation?

Foundation Innovation is a full-service consulting firm specializing in education foundations. Founded in 2003 by Laurie Cromwell and Dr. Milli Christner, Foundation Innovation has had the pleasure to help establish, revitalize and consult with many education foundations in Texas and across the country. To learn more about us, visit our website, foundationinnovation.com 

Dates to Remember

April 24-26, 2013

Indianapolis, Indiana

Major Saver Education Foundation Luncheons
May 21 - Davenport, IA
May 22 - Kansas City, MO


TASB Summer Leadership Institute (SLI)

June 6-8, San Antonio, TX 

 

Board2Board East Texas

June 13, 2013

Region 8 ESC

Mt. Pleasant, TX


TASB Summer Leadership Institute (SLI)

June 13-15, Fort Worth, TX   

Education Foundation Links

Foundation Innovation

 

Board2Board

 

Organizational Capacity Assessment

 

Education Foundation Toolkit

 

Texas Education Foundation Network

 

National School Foundation Association

 

American School Foundation Alliance

 

Texas Pioneer Foundation

 

 

Greetings!

Welcome to the spring e-newsletter developed by Foundation Innovation, LLC. We hope you will find this information useful to you as one who is involved and/or supportive of education foundations that support school systems. 

Have you ever had one of those moments where everything seemed so chaotic and disorganized that you just needed to stop EVERYTHING and assess the situation? Here at Foundation Innovation, we call those "Everybody Out of the Pool" moments. Education Foundations can have these moments too, and that is when we recommend an Organizational Capacity Assessment. 

 

What exactly is organizational assessment? For many organizations it is a periodic or yearly evaluation of the current state of their foundation. Sometimes, however, it is the result of an "Everybody out of the pool" moment in which evaluation is necessary to create a plan of action. In either case, the purpose of the organizational assessment is to stop and evaluate the organizational status by identifying strengths, weakness and immediate critical issues through measurable data and discussion.

 

So, how can we asses our education foundation?

Take a scan of your environment to gather actual data. Surveys can be very useful to gather this data from your board, stakeholders, teachers, administrators, etc. Ask questions about your programs, the perceived awareness the community has of your foundation, ask your board members about their governance practices, and ask for suggestions. You can use the data gathered to address key areas identified. 

Look at the following key components of your organization closely:

  1. Infrastructure: Is our organizational set up effective to accomplish our mission?
  2. Board of Directors: Do we have a diverse board that can bring diverse resources to the table? Do we have the appropriate people in leadership positions?
  3. Image: Do we have a consistent image that is recognizable to the community?
  4. Programs: Do the programs we fund fit the goals of our organization and benefit the school district?
  5. Development: Do we have a fundraising board? Have we reached out to potential donors? Do we contact our stakeholders to say thank you and reach out to them outside of solicitation?

Every foundation is unique and serves a community and school district with unique characteristics. However, organizational assessment is a tool that can serve all education foundations. Does your foundation need an "everybody out of the pool" break?

 

If you need help conducting an Organizational Capacity Assessment, let us know. We would be happy to point you in the right direction.

 

Sincerely,

The Foundation Innovation Team
 
Foundation Dollars Support STEM Summer Camps
Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) programs are an important focus area in many districts, and community partners are very often supportive of STEM initiatives. The Frisco ISD Education Foundation and the Karnes City ISD Education Foundation, though districts of very different sizes, have put their support and name behind STEM summer camps for their students, with great success!
  
A Mind Bending Experience!
A Mind Bending Experience!
The Frisco ISD Education Foundation won an award for Outstanding Fundraising Program at the Texas Education Foundation Network (TEFN) Conference in San Marcos for their program, Mind Bender Academy, a STEM summer camp, benefiting the foundation. 168 spots were available for students to register for the Mind Bender Academy this summer. Within 12 seconds of the opening of registration, all the spots were filled! In response, 168 more spots were offered and these were filled within 1 minute! The Frisco ISD Education Foundation was awarded $2,000 from TEFN for this amazing program. Check out this video to learn more!
 


The Karnes City ISD Education Foundation hosted their 2nd Annual Boots n' Bling gala, featuring country music recording artist John Wayne Schulz. The event raised close to an amazing $119,000 for academic improvements for all K-12 students in the District and for the fun Summer STEM Science Camp for all students in the entire county. The success of their gala came on the heels, or spurs, of another amazing donation from Marathon Oil!
   
2013 Texas Education Foundation Census - Win $500 for your Foundation!
EdCap
Education Capital, through the support of the Texas Pioneer Foundation, is conducting the annual census of education foundations in Texas. Education Capital is collecting all the information and building an updated, online interactive database that you, your board members, and school professionals will be able to review and explore. 


Here is a link to the 2013 Census: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G32BXPH 

The Census should only take about 20-25 minutes to complete. Only one census per foundation should be completed. The census will close on May 7th at 5 p.m.

Win $500 for your foundation just for participating. Each education foundation completing the census by the May 7th deadline becomes eligible for a $500 participation grant from the Texas Pioneer Foundation. As an incentive to complete your census early, an early drawing will take place for those who complete by April 26th, and another for those who complete by May 3rd. If more than 225 education foundations in Texas complete the census by the May 7th deadline, they will draw for one additional $500 participation grant from all participating foundations.

JJ Baskin, of Education Capital, is the contact for the 2013 census effort. You can reach him at [email protected] 
Texas Education Foundation Network Conference AND More Opportunities...

 As seen from this picture of the incomparable JJ Baskin, of Education Capital, a grand time was had by all Texas education foundation board members and professionals at the Texas Education Foundation Network Conference. Over 150 representatives from Texas education foundations convened in San Marcos, Texas for an outstanding conference. Sessions covered everything from legal/governance to marketing through social media to employee giving and fundraising 101. Foundation Innovation presented on organizational assessment. Mr. Baskin emceed an awards dinner Thursday evening (as seen to the left) where the Lindale ISD Education Foundation, Deer Park Education Foundation, Midway ISD Education Foundation, Corpus Christi ISD Education Foundation and Frisco ISD Education Foundation came away winners! Congratulations to Fred Markham and Michelle Coburn of TEFN and the Texas Pioneer Foundation for such a worthwhile and memorable event. 

 

For those of you outside of Texas or who want additional networking and continuing education opportunities, the National School Foundation Association (NSFA) Conference is just right around the corner: April 24-26 in Indianapolis, IN. Foundation Innovation will be there, leading a session on Organizational Assessment and Starting a K-12 Education Foundation. We hope to see you all there!

Join us at the NSFA Vendor Reception!

 
Board2Board Regional Conferences
 
B2BWe have 1 more Board2Board Regional Conference scheduled for this summer! This conference provides an opportunity for education foundation professionals, board members and school district trustees or administrators to learn the best practices and current trends in education foundations. 

If you would like a Board2Board Conference scheduled in your state or region, please contact Foundation Innovation at [email protected].  

Scheduled 2013 Conference Dates and Locations:
 
June 13, 2013 - Register!
Board2Board East Texas - Sponsored by the Texas Education Foundation Network
Region 8 Educational Service Center - Mt. Pleasant, TX
Price: $45 (includes lunch and materials)
 

       

Thank you to the Texas Education Foundation Network for their sponsorship of all our Texas Board2Board Conferences.

 

Four new Board2Board workshop dates are being finalized for 2013-2014. 

Education Foundation Toolkit (Learn how to win a free Toolkit!)
 
Toolbox
Now available for education foundations:
an efficient, cost-effective approach to maximizing the impact of your educaton foundation at any stage in its development with information, products, training, and consulting that lead to long-term sustainability. The Education Foundation Toolkit has all the tools necessary to develop, expand and sustain an education foundation.

Education Foundation Toolkit in hardcover or e-book: $495
NEW!!! Academic Recognition Banquet e-book: $45
Vision & Alignment e-book: $125
Finance & Governance e-book: $99
Marketing & Events e-book: $99
Programs e-book: $125
Development e-book: $99

To order the Toolkit or any of the e-books, please visit 
 
Congratulations to Suzanne Ellis of the Round Top-Carmine Education Foundation and Abigale Flugum of the Killeen ISD Education Foundation for winning Toolkits at the Texas Education Foundation Network Conference!
 
 
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