How can I find funding for a school?

March 27, 2008 9:33 AM

How do you find private / corporate funding for educational institutions?

I'm trying to raise money for a fitness facility at a local high school. This is a great project with very cool and worthy kids...

In addition to the standard high school fund-raising activities (bake sales, etc...), I'd love to be able to secure additional funds through grants, corporate sponsorships, promotional opportunities, etc.

I've search the Web with pretty poor results. I'm wondering if there is a better way to do this sort of research. Is there any sort of clearing house for this type of funding?

Any thoughts and pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Hive!

posted by LakesideOrion to education (4 comments total)

What state are you in? Some states have legalized the practice of selling naming rights in high schools. Some states have expanded that to cover the name of the school itself.

"Tyson Chicken Nugget High School"?
"Dollar General High"?

Seriously though, you may be able to sell the naming rights to the facility. "John Smith Sports Facility"? "Target Sports"?
posted by unixrat at 9:38 AM on March 27, 2008

First of all, make sure a donation for this would count as a tax-deductible charitable contribution. If it's a private high school it is almost certainly a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, which means that gifts are tax-deductible. If it's a public school I'm not sure of the tax ramifications. Also, see if the school has a development or advancement office you should be working with on this project.

Start with prospective donors who have a close linkage to your project. A local gym (a private one, not the YMCA) might be interested in donating the whole thing or being a "lead sponsor" for the opportunity to put its name and corporate logo on the facility. Don't rule out individuals, as they are more likely to be interested in the project, have a connection to the school, and be easier to get money from than grantmaking organizations. Talk to parents from the school. Work through the school's alumni organization to ask former students for help.

As for grants/foundation support, look for local funders interested in health, wellness, and education. It might be interesting to look into the foundations of professional sports teams in your area -- I'm not sure if they would support something like this but it could be fun to find out! Don't waste your time applying if a funder expresses that it does not give to causes like yours.

Good luck!
posted by TrixieRamble at 9:48 AM on March 27, 2008

Consider a brick or tile campaign: http://www.giftbricks.net/engraved_brick_fundraising.htm. (Link is not an endorsement; just an example of companies who do this kind of thing.) It allows you to raise funds from a large group of prospects (parents, community members, companies both small and large) who might not have the capability of naming the facility, but who will get recognition for their contribution. Keep an eye on the overhead costs (some companies will help you manage the campaign for a fee).
posted by Sweetie Darling at 10:28 AM on March 27, 2008

First of all, let us know where you've been on line-- once I know what you've already checked out, I can direct you to some other resources (you may have already found them on your own.) Or, go to your local public library and ask the reference librarian what resources they have (specific software or on-line memberships).

You've already figured out that good fundraising relies on good research. What you need to understand is that you have huge resources at your fingertips, you just need to know what they are.

You *can* identify (if not actually secure) foundation grants through simple research-- find a foundation that supports programs like yours, write a proposal, do the follow up, chew on your nails while waiting for the rejection response (sorry, a little fundraiser cynicism there). However, corporate and private money is a little trickier-- you have to know someone.

The good news is, you *do* know someone. I can't tell how large your high school is (Assuming it's Pentwater High), but I'm guessing that the entire community sends its kids there. So you need to identify every local business owner and hit them up for grants. Furthermore, start researching family foundations, for instance at The Foundation Center by simply entering the last names of all the people you think come from money (I know it's crass, but this is how it's done). Pick up program booklets from every local not-for-profit arts organization, and annual reports from every local social service organization, in a 20 mile radius and check out their donor lists-- anyone an alumnus or have kids in your high school? That's a match.

You're going to need the cooperation of the school, if possible, for access to alumni lists and current enrollees, but even if they don't cooperate, just go to the library; they'll probably have yearbooks. Sign up for classmates.com to see where people are.

And then, there's the summer people...

I am a professional fundraiser, for my sins. I've never done fundraising for public schools; you may have to set up a "Friends of Pentwater" 501-c-3 to make this tax deductible. Any part of the hive mind know for sure? (Setting up a 501-c-3 is not that difficult. These people or their local equivalent can help you.)
posted by nax at 10:47 AM on March 27, 2008