Mar 10
1
Establishment of a Grant Acquisition and Development Office for XYZ Christian School
Executive Summary
Believing the adage, “give a fish, feed for a day; equip to fish, feed for a lifetime,” XYZ requires funding to set-up and implementation of a comprehensive Grants Acquisition and Development Office. Unlike direct mail fundraising, establishing a successful Grants Acquisition and Development Office requires two-years start-up and implementation of project period due to the unique application, proposal, and review processes involved. Grant proposals will be submitted and grant awards acquired during the first two-year period. Similarly, special events such as educational dinner, auctions, Christmas and spring banquets, jog-a-thon, golf-a-thon, etc. will be planned to raise revenues additional revenue. It is our goal that by the end of year two, a self-sustaining Grants Acquisition and Development Office, will produce $200,000 in additional revenue to support XYZ academic projects.
The purposes of the proposed Grant and Development Office are to plan and execute fundraising to increase revenues for the school. This new office will be responsible for community relations, grant writing, and special events. To carry out this project, XYZ is soliciting one-time grants totaling $109,700.00 to establish the Grant and Development Office. The expected return, after the second project year $150,000. By the end of year three, $150,000 in grants will be awarded and special events will raise another $100,000 for XYZ. This represents a return on investment of almost 300%. Over time, the return on investment will grow as the revenue generated in the Grants Acquisition and Development increases.
Problem Statement
In 1990, President George Bush and fifty governors announced that by the year 2000 that American students would be “first in the world in mathematics and science.” However, almost a decade later, public education is failing. According to a February, 1998 report “Third International Mathematics and Science Study,” by the U.S. Department of Education involving forty-one nations and more than one-half million students, shows that American students rank in the bottom sixth or lower in mathematics and science. This report should be of concern to every American. Public educators have been asking for more money to improve a failed system. This year over $360 billion is being spend to educate 46 million students. Per pupil, the United States spends 50% more than Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, and 85% more than Japan (USA Today, Feb. 28, 1996), and yet our students rank last in the world. If more money is the solution, then why do public schools in Washington, D.C., which spends more than any schools in America, rank near the bottom in every measure of efficiency and competence.
In contrast, Christian schools do not use tax money and operate with 50% less revenue than public schools, but still provide better education than public schools. For example, the results of Stanford Achievement Tests show that Christian school students achieve 79% on the percentile ratings as opposed to 70% for public school students. America needs Christian education. Christian schools do not need the government to regulate their schools in ways that violate the integrity of their practice, unduly impede their existence and formation, or have no compelling state interest. Rather most Christian schools need a Grant and Development Office to help them revolve many financial problems that many small schools must face.
II. Applicant Overview
XYZ grew from a vision by to provide quality education that is Bible based. The purpose of XYZ is to educate students from a Biblical perspective for lifelong learning and Christian character. Convinced the Bible should be integrated with a good academic curriculum, the XYZ Association, an interdenominational organization, was formed in 1991. Members of the Association vote for two different leadership groups. The first, the Parents Auxiliary, coordinates school events. The second, the Board of Directors, is responsible for the spiritual, academic, and financial direction of the school.
Students experience a wide variety of academic programs. The studies are both challenging and enjoyable and each class is designed to better prepare students for the future. The core academic subjects of education are emphasized for the full intellectual and spiritual development of the student. These are supplemented with Foreign Language, Computer, Music, Art, Science Fairs, Spelling Bees, and extra curricular activities to round out the students’ experiences. XYZ blends parental involvement, high academic standards, and God’s Word to build a strong foundation in the life of the students. In partnership with the family and local church, XYZ teaches values, discipline, love of family, prayer, and Christian discipleship. If the best education is one that prepares a person for life now and forever; then it can be said that a Christian education provides the very best education.
XYZ is housed in a 20,000 square feet building, constructed in 1995. XYZ is perfectly situated to carry out this project. Located in GGGGG, Illinois. While tuition fees at XYZ are very competitive, the school manages a financial assistance program for qualifying families. XYZ offers students state of the art convenience. Whether studying in the library, writing compositions in the computer lab, or relaxing and enjoying lunch in the cafeteria, the year round temperature-controlled interior allows students to concentrate on what is important – relationships and learning. XYZ also offers great places for recreation. The fall and spring will find the students playing in the playground, soccer field or basketball courts. Winter activities include indoor basketball, volleyball, or roller blading in the full size gymnasium.
The Problem and Solution
Though our tuition and fundraising bringing little over $600,000, this amount barely scratches the surface in relation to the need. Currently, our funds are acquired through parents’ gift, auction, jod-a-thon, golf-a-thon, sale of books, etc. But, fundraising is only one-half an effort. Grant acquisition will be the other half. We need, and believe we can raise, an additional $150,000 a year through grant awards for our projects. To serve our students more effectively, we must invest in a full-time grant seeking and other special events in our fundraising efforts. However, we have few resources to initiate such an endeavor. The start-up and implementation phases of establishing a successful Grants Acquisition and Development Office must be two-years in length. At the end of two years, the Department will be self-sustaining. The funding we need is to support the first two years of the program.
The start up for grants acquisition is slow, but the rewards are great. The reason for the slow start-up rests on the complexity of the grant process. Whether grants are individual, corporate, or foundation, one must first identify a project, then research grant makers, acquire proposal guidelines, analyze the guidelines, write and publish the proposal, and submit it. Some proposals are less than five pages in length and others are 20 pages or better. Proposals must go through a multiple step review process. This review can take from one month to nine months to complete. The effort expended does not go unrewarded.
In fundraising, we count on donations from $5 and $10 to amounts over $10,000. We put those funds together to support continuation of projects, purchase of curriculum for science, mathematics, English, school supplies, and other necessities. Through Grants Acquisition and Development Office, we hope to supplement our donations with targeted grant awards covering special academic expenditures such as curriculum development, classroom equipment, offering new courses, and career counseling for junior and senior. In addition, more special events will be planned for additional revenue.
Once a grant seeking process has begun in earnest, grant proposals can be written and submitted on a regular basis so that multiple endeavors are at various stages of submission and review at all times. The seed funding we are requesting will be an investment in a long-term program of Grants Acquisition and Development Office at XYZ. Dollars donated to our Grants Acquisition and Development Office project are guaranteed to bear fruit for the future.
What Do We Need for the Project
To accomplish our goal to develop a self-sustaining Grants Acquisition and Development Office for XYZ, we need funding for the following:
1. Personnel, one writer and one Administrative Assistant – it is important that we hire an in-house grant writer to insure the grant proposals are consistent with our policies and mission.
2. Training – the newly hired grant writer will take at least several training courses. He/She will take a fundamental course focused on technology and equipment acquisition techniques, an advanced course offered by the Foundation Center.
3. Equipment – the grant writer must have a computer, printer, CD ROM, and modem, as well as Internet access for the necessary writing, publishing, and research involved.
4. Materials – a small library of foundation publications and tools are needed