|
What is the East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation and what is its purpose?
The East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation (EGRSF) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 community-based foundation that raises money to enrich the educational experience of the students in the East Grand Rapids Public Schools. It pays for programs (equipment and supplies) which require funding beyond the state or district. State funding for education in Michigan is continuing to tighten for many basic programs and insufficient to fund enrichment programs.
EGRSF is a non-profit organization that helps to maintain the excellence in education while enhancing the quality within the East Grand Rapids Public Schools. The EGRSF is solely dependent on tax-deductible donation from the community and alumni. Without donations to EGRSF, many exceptional programs that parents value within in the classrooms would be impacted, or in some cases, simply disappear. EGRSF has granted nearly $800,000 since its inception in 1983. For the 2007-08 fiscal year, the foundation generated over $110,000 in net revenue.
Back to top
How much should I give?
If you are a new donor to EGRSF, we ask you to donate to our annual fund at the various levels. In addition, be a leader in closing out the second million in our campaign. Any pledge toward the campaign can be spread over 5 years and will go directly to the endowment. Give what you can. Be a leader in education for the children of East Grand Rapids.
There are more than 3,000 children enrolled in East Grand Rapids’ five public schools. EGRSF encourages parents to give for each child. If every parent gave $50/child each year to the annual fund, these donations would annually generate $150,000; and these funds could provide program support and continue the enhancements in programming that foster excellence. We need your support. Every dollar counts. Give what you can.
Back to top
Why do we need to provide supplemental funding for public schools, especially in a town that pays so much in property taxes to East Grand Rapids?
Since Prop A was passed, property taxes in almost all jurisdictions including East Grand Rapids do not stay within the community. Instead, all property taxes are allocated on a fair-share basis to cities and counties across the state. Because East Grand Rapids receives no more than other communities and in fact, often less funding, since the demographics of our students do not provide much in additional funding (like Title 1 funds), our schools receive the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding per student and little additional public funding to operate the schools..
Back to top
How do East Grand Rapids’s public schools score on the statewide MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program) tests?
MEAP data here
Back to top
How does EGRSF raise money?
EGRSF conducts an annual appeal through the district-wide newsletter at the beginning of each school year to raise money for grants to the schools and sends a similar appeal during the year to Community Members at large. The Foundation also hosts two major fundraisers each year:
- Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner in Novmeber every other year at the Amway Grand Plaza.
- HURRAH!, a cocktail party with entertainment, held the first Saturday in March.
EGRSF solicits corporate and foundation donations directly through matching gift programs as well as alumni donations throughout the year.
Back to top
Why do we need both EGRSF and PTSA groups at each school?
Both the Foundation and PTSA groups are critical to the quality of education in our community and work together to support the schools. Both of these groups ensure our school and classroom needs are being met. We like to summarize the roles by saying, "EGRSF provides program support and enhancements that are the icing on the cake while PTSA groups and the school board pay for the cake.” EGRSF and the PTSA organizations at each site are two pieces of the funding puzzle.
- PTSA Groups fund classroom and office supplies, instructional materials, computers and printers, field trips, school beautification, cultural arts and other school-specific needs.
- EGRSF provides funding for new initiatives or programming that goes beyond that standard curriculum. These ideas may be new, innovative or supplements to the curriculum.
Back to top
How does the EGRSF Grants process work?
Grant Explaination here
Back to top
How will EGRSF ensure that donations fund the highest academic priorities of all students?
The Foundation board believes the disciplines built into the granting process will result in better and higher uses of community donations for schools and in greater academic preparation and achievement by East Grand Rapids students. The independence of the Foundation board is highly valued and carefully guarded by EGRSF officers and directors. It serves as a check-and-balance in the grant-making process and affords a meaningful level of oversight to the Site Strategic Plan process. The Board has a history of returning grant requests without funding where it has felt the proposed use of funds did not meet the Foundation’s standards or its donor’s intentions check this with grants people
Back to top
How do I know the District is using EGRSF funds for their intended purpose?
EGRSF does not write a blank check to the District. Instead, EGRSF makes a commitment to fund certain grants and programs based on the recommendations of the superintendent, the curriculum office, and a vote of the EGRSF board. These grants, and their costs, are detailed on the website.
Back to top
What can I do to help?
Give generously to EGRSF. EGRSF now returns over $59,000 per year in funding support for our classrooms. To maintain the programs and excellence that parents and educators value but that are not possible for the district to fund, EGRSF asks parents, whatever their means, to give what they can to ensure quality education for their children. Get involved. Contact an EGRSF representative and offer to help with the annual appeal at your school. Attend an EGRSF board meeting and learn more about our work. Volunteer to help at an event like the Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner or HURRAH! Plan to attend both events. If you are a donor, encourage your friends to join you in supporting EGRSF.
Back to top
Are my donations tax exempt?
Yes. The East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation is a Michigan non-profit corporation. It is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The federal tax ID number for the foundation (EIN) is 38-2486451. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Back to top
Why does EGRSF print a list of donors’ names? Can I give anonymously?
There is no Foundation without donors. It may sound trite, but every donor makes a difference, and each gift deserves to be acknowledged. We publicly thank annual appeal donors once a year in the Foundation newsletter. This publication usually reports giving by levels. Alumni gifts are listed by class with the total amount of the class gift listed. You can give anonymously to EGRSF by noting it on your donation form or in the “comments” box on the online form. We will honor your request.
We like to thank our donors by name because we believe it honors their gift, and establishes them as leaders in the community. Many people new to the District, or to EGRSF, give because they are prompted by someone they know. Seeing your name on a public acknowledgement tells the people who know and respect you that you have lent your support to our efforts. That means more than all the letters we can write.
Back to top |
