Philanthropic organizations committed to education are not new. Colleges and Universities have had them for years, as have private K-12 schools. More and more, independent non-profit organizations are being created by concerned community members who know the value of education and the impact that a reputable school district has on the health of their communities and businesses. They also know that the funding provided from government sources does not cover the real costs associated with providing an excellent public education.
Everett, Mukilteo, Yakima, Spokane, Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, and Mercer Island are only a few communities that have non-profit organizations that fundraise for their respective school districts. Our neighboring districts of Bellevue and Mercer Island have non-profit foundations that date back 30 years. Issaquah's foundation is 22 years old and the Alliance for Education in Seattle has been around for 15 years. Today, they raise funds ranging from $700,000 to over $6 million in support of their respective districts.
Sources: Seattle Alliance (Sec of State 12/07 Filing); BSF (Annual Report 08/09) MISF (Annual Report 6/09); ISF (Sec of State 6/08 Filing).
The primary difference between the PTAs and Friends of Renton Schools is that PTAs focus their attentions on individual schools and Friends of Renton Schools is focused on district-wide needs. Our efforts will not duplicate what the PTAs are doing, but will instead take some of the burden off of the PTAS so that they can get back to their primary mission of getting parents active inside their schools and can raise money for school specific needs. Through our Phone-A-Thon fundraising efforts, which will be a collaborative partnership with the PTA, we will raise money that will go to every teacher in every school so the burden of equipping classrooms with the basic supplies they need to teach can be eliminated.
One of our core goals is to have Every Student in Every School benefit as equitably as possible from our fundraising endeavors. We will have three recurring fundraising events each year which will provide opportunities for funding a variety of needs. The "Launching Lifetime Learning" Breakfast Benefit and "Seahawks for Education" events will raise funds that will go directly to programs that are proven to be successful in advancing academic achievement and excellence throughout the district but are at risk of being cut. The Phone-a-Thon will provide an opportunity for fundraising that will go directly to teachers and classrooms equally and will help fund extracurricular activities.
The 14,500 students in the Renton School District are our most valuable resource. But, education does not just impact students and teachers - the quality of our schools is directly related to the vitality of our community as a whole. Support for our students and schools, right now, is not only a wise investment, but imperative to the future of our neighborhoods and businesses, and for the quality of life in Renton. Having great schools increases pride in our community; increases home and commercial real estate values; provides a trainable and educated workforce; produces more affluent consumers; and reduces crime. Students today become the voters of tomorrow in a world with issues that are increasingly more complex and their votes will impact you.
Chances are that you know a child who struggles with reading or math, or both. Maybe it's your nephew or niece, or your child's best friend. If you don't, you are rare. Your child may not be struggling at school, but odds are that there are other students in his or her class that do and, if not now, at some point in your child's school career, they will certainly share a class with another student who needs help. When one or more students fall behind, the rest of the class is impacted because teachers have to spend more time helping these students. Overall class progress moves forward at the pace of the least accomplished student. Your generous support adds up and helps every school and student and, by extension, will help your child as well.
Over the years, there have been several conversations between Renton School District parents, educators, and administrators, as well as other community members, about the need for a schools foundation or fund to support the Renton School District. It was not until recently, however, that the "seed" money required to start the fund was raised and thanks to generous contributions from Renton Rotary and Kaye Smith Printing, we were able to open the fund. Founding members include several well-known names in the Renton philanthropic, civic, and educational community, as well as a new generation of faces including former and current Renton School District parents, alumni, and business owners.
Friends of Renton Schools is not a part of the Renton School District. However, in order for us to be successful in our fundraising efforts, it is critical that we work in close partnership with the Superintendent and her Cabinet. Our leadership (referred to as the Friends of Renton Schools Advisory Committee) is intended to be inclusive and representative of a variety of perspectives. Voting members include AT LEAST one parent representative from each of the three service areas (Renton High, Hazen, and Lindbergh); business representatives; community representatives; and one school board member. Ex-officio (non-voting) members include one school board member and the superintendent. We are actively seeking additional Committee members, particularly parent representatives for each school service areas. For more information about our current members, Click Here! If you are interested in joining our committee, please contact us by using this contact form.
After collaborating with her Cabinet, the Superintendent presents to the Friends of Renton Schools Advisory Committee a summary of the programs and/or needs which they most feel require funding support. The Committee then reviews these programs and determines which ones fall within our guidelines requiring that they:
Once the committee has determined which programs or needs to fund, we determine which fundraising approach is most appropriate for the need. For more information about our fundraising strategy, see our Fundraising Section and for information about Programs, see our Programs Section.
We are a Fiscal Sponsorship Fund under the umbrella of The Renton Community Foundation (RCF), a charitable not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. (See Below) Partnering with RCF allowed us to get up and running quickly without having to go through the process of setting up a 501(c)(3) . More important, however, RCF provides us with expertise in financial management and fundraising guidance. Because RCF is ultimately liable for the Friends of Renton Schools fund and the actions of the fund's Committee members, RCF reviews all fundraising proposals and disbursements to the Renton School District to ensure that their legal and fiduciary responsibilities as a 501(c)(3) are met.
RCF is comprised of groups of charitable funds established by individual donors and local non-profit organizations, benefiting a variety of causes, including healthcare, the arts, education, youth and families, even senior emergency pet care. Today, RCF serves the greater Renton area and beyond with almost $4 million and over 40 individual funds. For more information, go to www.rentonfoundation.org.
All funds donated to Friends of Renton Schools are held in accounts with the Renton Community Foundation. RCF invests in an ever-increasing pool of assets in a way that will maximize return while moderating risk. An investment committee made up of Foundation trustees and community leaders guides the Foundation's investment strategies, making recommendations to the board on policy, strategy and management. RCF purposely invests in a balanced portfolio (60% equity, 35% fixed income & 5% cash), giving their funds some insulation from market fluctuation. Investments are made by professional money managers (currently the Harris Private Bank in Seattle) to ensure superior performance and adequate diversification.
Friends of Renton Schools is committed to ensuring that our operating and administrative costs remain low so that donations go where they are needed most - to the education of our students. That is why we have NO PAID STAFF and are entirely comprised of volunteers. As a fiscal sponsorship fund under the non-profit umbrella of the Renton Community Foundation (RCF), approximately 3 percent of the contributions received go to RCF for all bookkeeping, tax reporting, and investment management. Other costs associated with event production, marketing, insurance, website maintenance, and general supplies and materials are kept as low as possible and we endeavor to obtain event sponsors and in-kind donations for as many of our needs as possible.
We receive funding from parents, educators, and other individuals who are inclined toward education philanthropy, businesses, and foundations.