Through its free outreach services to school foundations, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has helped build one of the nation’s largest and most effective networks of public school foundations, now numbering more than 200.
These citizen-led, nonprofit organizations serve as a bridge between the community and the school district, raising private dollars to complement existing school budgets and encouraging community involvement in the betterment of local schools.
Whether your school district needs guidance in launching a new foundation or your long-established foundation needs to re-examine your mission and goals, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is here to help.
The Oklahoma School Foundations Network (OSFN) is here to provide support to all Oklahoma school foundations free of charge.
Services OSFN provides include
Are you interested in starting a school foundation in your community? Please contact OSFN for support and access to resources to help guide you. Here are two important things to consider as you work to start a foundation:
Purpose: Deciding on the purpose of your school foundation is an essential first step.
Procedures: Starting a school foundation is a major undertaking, with important legal and accounting steps. The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits has published a comprehensive guide to starting a 501(c)(3) that includes helpful background information and links to forms and government websites you will need in the process. We recommend taking the time to read this guide carefully.
Do you need sample documents like bylaws or examples of policies to use as you update your foundation’s board documents? Are you looking for guidance in developing a strategic plan? Would you like help planning and hosting a board training or retreat? Contact OSFN for access to a wide variety of sample documents and resources available free of charge.
For more information on OSFN, contact info@ofe.org.
