Lake Forest City Schools. K-12 School Division

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You are the Vice President of Development at Lake Forest City Schools (LFCS). The school district is over 75 years old, with a solid academic reputation and a large, supportive alumni base. However, fundraising has never been a high priority in the school district. The school receives about $250,000 per year in tax donations. Your mission is to build a development staff as well as a fundraising plan to support the growth and challenges facing the school over the next five years.
This assignment will be completed in two parts. Part one of the assignment is written in such a way that you will address key discussion points through research and elaboration.

Part two of the assignment requires you to compare and contrast two public funding sources (for example, government grants) and two private funding sources (for example, private donations and alumni donations) in K-12 and higher education. You will compare and contrast the eligibility requirements for obtaining each type of funding.
Create a development plan to address short-term and long-term strategies. Include the following:

Specify how to make immediate improvements to the chosen fundraising program.
What do you intend to use the donations for?
Detail two initiatives you will execute to convince community members and K-12 parents or institutions of higher education alumni to support your fundraising effort and increase their contributions to the school.
Explain technological and non-technological ways to approach alumni and encourage them to contribute or increase their contributions to the school.
Develop a long-term goal to grow the funding.
How will you accomplish this goal?
Identify two private and public funding entities.
Outline the process for obtaining the funding sources in a table.

Sample Solution

Part 1: Introduction

Lake Forest City Schools is a 75-year-old school district with a solid academic reputation and a large, supportive alumni base. However, fundraising has never been a high priority in the school district. The school receives about $250,000 per year in tax donations.

The mission of the Vice President of Development is to build a development staff as well as a fundraising plan to support the growth and challenges facing the school over the next five years. The goal is to increase annual fundraising to $1 million per year.

Part 2: Public vs. Private Funding

There are two main types of funding for K-12 and higher education: public funding and private funding. Public funding comes from the government, while private funding comes from individuals, businesses, and foundations.

Public funding is typically used to support the basic operating expenses of schools, such as teacher salaries, textbooks, and utilities. Public funding is often restricted to certain uses, such as specific programs or initiatives.

Private funding is more flexible and can be used for a wider variety of purposes, such as scholarships, capital improvements, and extracurricular activities. Private funding is also often more competitive, as there are many schools vying for the same pool of money.

Eligibility requirements for public funding vary depending on the source of funding. Government grants typically have specific eligibility requirements, such as being located in a low-income area or serving a specific population group.

Private funding is typically less restrictive, but some foundations may have specific eligibility requirements, such as supporting a specific cause or having a certain level of need.

Part 3: Development Plan

The development plan for Lake Forest City Schools will focus on both short-term and long-term strategies. The short-term goal is to increase annual fundraising to $500,000 per year within the next two years. The long-term goal is to increase annual fundraising to $1 million per year within the next five years.

Short-term strategies will focus on increasing awareness of the school’s fundraising needs and building relationships with potential donors. These strategies will include:

  • Creating a comprehensive fundraising plan that outlines the school’s goals, strategies, and timeline.
  • Developing a database of potential donors, including alumni, businesses, and foundations.
  • Conducting outreach to potential donors, such as sending letters, making phone calls, and attending events.
  • Hosting fundraising events, such as galas, auctions, and walkathons.

Long-term strategies will focus on building a sustainable fundraising program that can generate long-term revenue for the school. These strategies will include:

  • Creating a development staff with the expertise and experience to raise money.
  • Developing a marketing plan to promote the school’s fundraising efforts.
  • Partnering with businesses and foundations to secure funding.
  • Investing in technology to streamline the fundraising process.

Specific initiatives to convince community members and K-12 parents or institutions of higher education alumni to support the fundraising effort and increase their contributions to the school will include:

  • Creating a website that highlights the school’s achievements and fundraising needs.
  • Sending regular newsletters to keep donors informed about the school’s progress.
  • Personalizing outreach to donors, such as sending handwritten notes or making phone calls.
  • Offering incentives for donors, such as naming opportunities and tax deductions.

Technological and non-technological ways to approach alumni and encourage them to contribute or increase their contributions to the school will include:

  • Sending email and text messages.
  • Creating a social media presence and engaging with alumni on social media.
  • Hosting alumni events and inviting them to give back to the school.
  • Creating a personalized giving page for each alumni.

Long-term goal to grow the funding will be accomplished by:

  • Increasing the number of donors.
  • Increasing the average donation amount.
  • Diversifying the funding sources.
  • Investing in technology to streamline the fundraising process.

Public and private funding entities that will be identified include:

  • The federal government
  • The state government
  • Local governments
  • Foundations
  • Businesses
  • Individuals

Process for obtaining the funding sources will be outlined in a table, as follows:

Funding Source Eligibility Requirements Application Process
Federal government Located in a low-income area or serving a specific population group Apply online or through the mail
State government Located in a specific state Apply online or through the mail
Local governments Located in a specific city or town Apply online or through the mail

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