• Focus Areas: Fundraising infrastructure, partnership building, and long-term financial planning; developing toolkit, prospectus, and visual assets (photography scheduled Nov 7).
• Enrollment Strategy: Collaborating with Angie Lundgren on enrollment leads (currently 66 vs. 75 target) and coordinating with Mariposa for digital ad campaigns. A 45-day recruitment push is planned before the January semester change.
• Budget Scenarios: Developed multiple five-year projections showing sustainability risks if enrollment remains below target.
• Internal Systems Work: Addressing attendance monitoring, behavioral systems (vaping, student safety), and family communications to improve retention and recruitment messaging.
• Board Preparation: Drafting detailed board packet including updated budget workbook, enrollment projections, and policy approvals; clarifying agenda flow and executive session timing.

Budget built on 75 students; current 65–66 impacts state apportionment and revenue projections.

• Goal: Increase to 85 students if possible to stabilize apportionment.
• Cash Flow: 124 days cash on hand (Sept), healthy reserve position.
• Restricted Funds: Monitoring special education spending to avoid fund reversion; safety net award of ~$28K confirmed.
• New Costs: Added teacher, paraeducator and bus aide due to new student enrollment.
• Management Fee: 1% Rooted Foundation fee under review; written agreement to clarify future terms.
• Audit & Reporting: FY23-24 audit in progress; F-196 report due to OSPI.
• Grants: Gates Foundation continuation (Year 3 pending), 9th Grade Success (~$17K), and Growth Grant accrual ($28K).
• Financial Risks:
  • Sustainability concerns for small charters due to state funding model.
  • Tight margins below 120–140 student threshold.

Give More 24!: Achieved Firstenburg Foundation match; +40 new donors.

End-of-Year Campaigns:

• Giving Tuesday (Nov–Dec) mini-campaign with storytelling focus.
• 30 Days of Giving recurring donor drive with potential challenge match.
• Direct mail letters highlighting tax-benefit giving.
• Long-Term Goal: Raise $500K over 24–36 months for FY25–27 sustainability.

Infrastructure:

• Fundraising toolkit, case statement, and donor prospectus in development.
• Prospect and stewardship database built; new visuals/testimonials in progress.
• Board Capacity: Committee acknowledged need for stronger donor networks and potentially forming a Development Advisory Board to extend reach.
• Partnerships: Community Foundation and Firstenburg Foundation identified as near-term relationship targets once prospectus and case are finalized.

Scenarios Modeled:

• 1.0 FTE ED + SpEd staffing increase → Sustainable in FY24-25 but cash dips in FY25-26 without enrollment/fundraising growth.
• Enrollment at 65–66 students produces deficit by Year 3; must rise to ≥75 by Spring to maintain solvency.
• Key Levers:
  • Enrollment: Ninth-grade recruitment is top priority (long-term cohort stability).
  • Fundraising: Bridge funding of $200K–$350K annually needed for next two years.
  • Cost Containment: Reassess 1% management fee and contracted services.

Systemic Factors: Small high schools (<140 students) face structural funding inequities; sustainability requires diversified revenue.

Purpose: Evolve from Finance & Fund Development into a Finance, Sustainability, and Fundraising Committee.

Goals:

• Strengthen multi-year fiscal planning and enrollment alignment.
• Build sustainable fundraising infrastructure (toolkit, case, donor base).
• Oversee grant management, compliance, and fiscal accountability.
• Serve as a thought partner for long-term school sustainability.

• Proposed Additions: Include external community or advisory members to strengthen fundraising and donor cultivation.
• Membership Focus: Maintain current financial oversight roles while expanding development expertise.
• Coordination: Alignment with Executive Director, Operations Director, and PNW Partners on budget and fundraising deliverables.

• Draft and circulate committee charter | Jamila Singleton | Before next meeting
• Clarify management fee calculations | Katie Silberstein | Provide written documentation
• Finalize fundraising toolkit & prospectus | Jamila Singleton, Eddie Allen | Meeting on Oct 31
• Update budget workbook w/ grants | Jamila Singleton | Before board meeting
• Coordinate enrollment leads & outreach | Jamila Singleton, Angie Lundgren | Ongoing
• Prepare detailed budget scenarios | Jamila Singleton | For board meeting
• Order board dinner | Jamila Singleton | Prior to board meeting