Educational foundations help schools throughout the region

When Findlay City Schools began looking into how to establish an educational foundation, other educational foundations in the area were eager to help. This week, the district announced the launch of the Findlay City Schools Foundation, which includes a sort of savings account for the school district funded through private donations and kept separate from the rest of the district's budget. Andrea Barger, coordinator of development and alumni relations and leader of the development of the Findlay City Schools Foundation, told The Courier that leaders of other nearby educational foundations helped guide Findlay in establishing its own. "Anyone who is interested in starting a public schools foundation, I and everyone in our little cohort are there to help," said Erica Gatchel Silk, director of development for Ottawa Hills Local Schools. "Because it is so important." She added that their motto is, "We are stronger together. We do not compete with one another. We are here for public school education." Silk is among several northwest Ohio public school development directors who have formed a group to assist other school districts who want to establish foundations. She has received calls from educators in Michigan. She said she is happy to help as she believes it's a civic duty to support public schools in this way. As state and federal funding have decreased "exponentially," public schools are looking at ways to bring in outside sources of funding, she said. The Ottawa Hills foundation has raised more than $8.5 million since its inception in 2013, Silk said. The district educates around 1,100 students in grades K-12, in a Lucas County village with about 4,800 residents. Silk, who graduated from Ottawa Hills in 1989, has been in this role since 2016 and finds it rewarding to see how "contributions at any level come together to make a bigger impact." The foundation reaches out to alumni, parents of current students and others in the community, "telling the story" in a magazine sent to alumni nationwide so that they know the impact their donations can make. The foundation has an endowment fund of around $2.5 million in principal which will remain untouched forever, continuing to earn interest. They give out around $125,000 to $150,000 in classroom grants annually, which over time has added up to more than 200 grants totaling more than $1 million. Classroom grants focus on the arts, academics and athletics. Examples include purchasing pottery wheels for art classes, putting new basketball nets up at the elementary school and purchasing science equipment such as microscopes and supplies for the school's betta fish farm. They are now in their third capital campaign, working to upgrade green space on campus. Silk said those new to philanthropy may see some foundations raise millions of dollars every year, but it takes time to build. Silk said Ottawa Hills started without any sort of alumni database or organized vehicle to reach out to ask people for contributions, and they have worked to build this. When you are asking people for money, it's important to get it right, she said. She said she advised Barger to give it time. "I see Andrea well on her way to a successful organization," Silk said. The Perrysburg Schools Foundation has existed since 1983 and began fundraising on a smaller scale before growing over time. Jeff Abke, a 1996 Perrysburg High School graduate, came on as director of development and alumni relations in 2012. Since that time, the foundation has raised close to $10 million. The foundation has paid for a facility dog in each of the district's schools to provide comfort or therapy to students. One endowed fund focuses on fine and performing arts materials for students. Another fund helps families pay for "extra" things in school, like making sure every student who wants a yearbook can get one, or making sure students can go on field trips. Funds also pay for professional development for teachers and staff, as well as scholarships to Perrysburg graduates as they move on to the next chapter. The foundation has also paid for capital projects such as the Huskisson Athletic Center at Perrysburg High School. Abke said capital projects are often paid for with a combination of public funds and private donations. The district educates about 5,700 students. Abke said the foundation is in contact with about 15,000 alumni around the world. They also contact families of current students, retired teachers and staff, and corporate partners to solicit donations. Abke said alumni have long been familiar with colleges reaching out to encourage them to donate, but it's relatively new in public high schools. As funding sources have become more scarce, "everybody's had to get creative," he said. He added that public schools not considering this model are "missing out on an opportunity… People want to give. They're proud to be, in our case, Yellow Jackets, or Trojans, or whatever." The Arlington School Foundation began work in 2006 and received nonprofit status a few years later, making it independent of the school. The foundation's Tracy McMath said it has taken time to develop, but community leaders have been eager to participate. The foundation has been working with the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation since its inception. On the community foundation's webpage, search "Arlington School Foundation" and you'll see several funds that have been created. They include several scholarships as well as funds that provide mini-grants. One fund helps youth who are going into the trades and need help with equipment, while another helps to pay the fees of school field trips for students who can't afford them. McMath said an annual campaign targets alumni as well as current residents of the village. "People have been really generous," she said. Along with the contributions received through this campaign, McMath said several funds have been created in memory of someone close to the school upon their death, generally for a specific purpose that was dear to that individual. They now have close to $1 million. The Van Buren Schools Education Foundation is newer, having started in 2023. Jeff Winkle, president of the foundation's board, said leaders at the district had been talking for some time about creating something like this. So far, they have raised $169,000. Winkle said their initial goal was $30,000 in the first several months, and they surpassed that, raising more than $50,000 from founding members. They also held two trivia night fundraisers. They received donations following the July death of Cassie Ohlrich, who had taught at Van Buren for 30 years. They have given out three grants so far: one to the art department for engraving equipment, one for enhancing learning for special needs children, and one for translators for students and families who are not native English speakers. Winkle is a Van Buren native who graduated in 1973. Three generations of his family have attended Van Buren. He said he's remained passionate about the district throughout his life because "it was a special place for me and a special place for our family… And education is everything." He said the foundation is set up so that they can never touch the principal, instead using interest to fund the grants. So, "every donation given right now will last forever," he said. The Van Buren foundation plans to announce its next batch of grants next week. Brian Treece, president and CEO of the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, said school foundations provide a stable, long-term funding stream that is separate from public dollars. Several Hancock County school districts house their funds at the Community Foundation. "This independence allows districts to plan and invest in opportunities that go beyond what traditional budgets can support," he said. Treece said they also strengthen the sense of community by engaging parents, alumni and local businesses so everyone has a role in supporting education. "The impact is tangible," he said. "Teachers can innovate in the classroom, students can access experiences like travel and enrichment programs, and schools can pursue projects that elevate learning for every child."