June 2019

Information on the agenda for the training is coming soon. This will be a wonderful opportunity for foundation boards to come together to share ideas, learn new skills, and collaborate with one another. Make plans now for your board to attend!
Foundation Feature: 

Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation

Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation: established 1989

Executive Director: Lindse Barks

District Serves: 14,334 students (2018) with 15 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools

Great Idea to Share: Foundation Friday T-Shirts 

The Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation was excited to celebrate their 30th anniversary as an organization this year. Executive Director Lindse Barks was looking for ways to celebrate, and also to increase visibility in the community.

"Though the foundation has been around for 30 years now we are not always well known in our community or even in our schools. I was blown away my first year when I had teacher after teacher tell me they had no idea we existed or about our teacher grant program," Barks said.

Looking to make an impact district wide, the foundation decided to update their logo, and make T-Shirts for all Mid-Del staff for free to celebrate the 30th. In addition, the district agreed that the first Friday of each month could be Foundation Friday T-Shirt day, with employees free to wear their new shirts. It has been a huge success. Photos of the Friday challenge were shared extensively on social media, providing another visibility boost in the community.

"Foundation Fridays were awesome, but what was better was seeing our shirts constantly, not just on Fridays. I can't think of better way to advertise our new logo in the community. We had shirts available to purchase but we mostly gave them away at parades, football games, or different Mid-Del events. I also ordered shirts for every board member, and they would wear them to any Mid-Del event, or just around town," Barks said.

The success of Foundation Friday T-Shirts has helped transform teacher and community perception, as they now understand the role of the foundation and see it as a group that works hard for Mid-Del success.


Online Learning Opportunities with NSFA Webinars

Did you know the National School Foundation Association offers regular Webinar learning opportunities? Topics range from Alumni Engagement and Board Development to Foundation Fundamentals and lots of Fundraising and Development information. Follow NSFA on Facebook to see promotion of upcoming webinars. 

Your half price PLUS membership with the Oklahoma School Foundations Network gives you FREE access to all of the upcoming webinars, and instant access to a library of all the previous webinars for your use on demand. Call or email Katy Leffel if you would like more information about costs and benefits of a PLUS membership.

Check out three FREE webinars available for preview from NSFA HERE.
A list of upcoming and recent webinars is posted HERE .


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School Foundations 
in the News

Oklahoma School Foundations are doing great work across our state. Take a look and be inspired! We would love to feature YOUR foundation. Please send news article links to Katy Leffel.

Hilldale Education Foundation hands out grants
Big Pasture Educational Foundation Awards $20,000 grant to district
Edmond Public Schools Foundations Pledges over $120,000 for Teacher Grants 

The O
klahoma School Foundations Network is a program of
the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence