On May 11, the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey (ELFNJ) ELF and the New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership (NJEFP) joined together to bring NJSBA members a full-day training program, “Education Foundations: Policy and Practice.” About 50 people attended the program, held at NJSBA headquarters in Trenton.
With the understanding that schools must find alternative sources of funding, this collaborative training session covered critical policies for both the non-profit foundation and the school district. Education foundations are their own non-profit entities, with their own boards of directors. They are, however, unique non-profits in that they are directly affiliated with a government entity, the school district. When each organization takes the time, and makes the effort to understand the governing policies of the other, communication becomes easier. Attendees left the session with an understanding that the foundation, and thereby the district, will only realize maximum impact through collaboration by both parties.
Along with hearing about alternative financing options such as foundations and grants, participants learned that an education foundation can be more than just a source of additional funds for a district; it can be a conduit between a community and its schools.
More information about education foundations is available.