Bex provided a financial update, reporting that March's individual giving exceeded the goal, with $10,500 raised against a target of $5,000. She noted that sponsorship payments were largely received, leaving only about $2,000 in outstanding dues. The teacher time raffle raised just under $3,000, lower than the previous year's $10,000, and the committee discussed the $40,000 gap remaining toward their year-end goal of $200,000.

Betsy Oliver from Purpose Possible discussed the formation of the ANCS Foundation with the team. She confirmed that the group is on track with their timeline and emphasized the importance of determining roles and responsibilities, including potentially recruiting new members for the Advancement Committee and Foundation Board. Betsy explained that school foundations are typically volunteer-led, with families and parents doing most of the work, as traditional public schools don't have dedicated development staff like charter or independent schools.

Betsy presented a research report on fundraising practices at 5 different schools, noting that only one school (Tapestry charter school) had a part-time staff member dedicated to fundraising, while the rest were volunteer-run. The research covered 9-10 aspects of fundraising and foundation management, including key events like fun runs, annual funds, and readathons, with auctions and events appearing to phase out. Betsy assured the group that while the responsibilities might seem overwhelming, it was manageable with the right committee members and emphasized the importance of setting specific goals for their annual fund.

 

Foundation Structure Nomenclature Change

The discussion focused on a nomenclature shift regarding how funds are managed, with ANCS explaining that it involves moving from "Gather and Grow" to a Foundation structure. Betsy reassured the group that Stacey would be working on communicating this change to current donors, including details about the fund separation. The group discussed using founders and ambassadors to help explain the shift to the broader community, with Betsy emphasizing the importance of parent-to-parent communication in promoting the new foundation structure.

Foundation Founders Event Planning

The discussion focused on planning for a foundation founders event and the management of foundation funds. Betsy indicated that a founders event could take place in late August or early September, prior to the official fall launch, with identification and qualification of founders happening through June. The conversation also addressed governance structures, with ANCS raising questions about fund management and approval processes, particularly regarding potential spending thresholds that might mirror the current governing board's approval requirement. Betsy noted that foundation boards typically work closely with school leadership to ensure funds are used for legitimate school needs, drawing from her experience with other schools.

ANCS Foundation Fundraising Strategy Discussion

Betsy advised keeping the foundation named "ANCS Foundation" to clearly indicate its connection to the school, as it operates under a 509(a)(3) structure. She recommended establishing three key fundraising themes or buckets, such as inclusiveness, faculty development, and facility improvements, which could guide future fundraising efforts and specific initiatives. The group discussed potentially having a specific project to raise funds for when launching the foundation, though Betsy noted that raising unrestricted funds could also be effective.

The group discussed the establishment of a foundation and its relationship with PTCA, including how philanthropic funds and existing donations would transition under the new framework. They agreed to present the foundation details to the new advisory council at their May retreat and to finalize the bylaws before then. The team also reviewed upcoming fundraising initiatives, including a spring campaign launching Tuesday with various announcements and activities planned across both campuses, including morning meetings, table setups, and drop-off line promotions.