November 2020

Using the Power of the Press to Advance Foundation Work The success of a school foundation in many ways hinges on the support of the community it works to serve. Foundations often struggle to find ways to communicate the important work they do to the larger community, a critical part of gaining that much needed support. Harnessing the power of the press is one way Oklahoma foundations are working to spread the word about the important part they play in advancing excellence in public schools they serve. Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools CEO and President Mary Mélon publishes a bi-weekly column in The Oklahoman as a way to connect with and inform the community about the work of the foundation. "Forming a relationship with the paper and committing to a regular column allows me to get the word out about the work we do, and connect with community members to build support," Mélon shared. "I am also able to address issues and raise awareness about district needs in a way that district staff cannot. It is a very valuable connecting point for our foundation." Mélon suggests foundations interested in pursuing a relationship with a local news outlet should simply pick up the phone and give the paper's editor a call. Editors are often on the lookout for quality content on local community issues, and would be willing to find ways to work with foundation leaders. Here are some examples of Mélon's past columns: Mary Mélon: Taking a reasoned view of school report cards COVID relief funding helping OKC schools fill technology gap Diversity advancement program has long-term goals for OKC Public Schools Engagement with the press is not just an endeavor for larger foundations. Tahlequah Public Schools Superintendent Leon Ashlock recently published an editorial in the Tahlequah Daily Press celebrating the impact of the Tahlequah Public School Foundation and their teacher grant program. Creating a strong partnership with district leaders and working with your school superintendent to raise the profile of your foundation in the community is an excellent strategy for foundations of all sizes. Has your local school foundation used local press to advance your work? Oklahoma School Foundation Network would love to hear from you. Share your stories with Katy Leffel at kleffel@ofe.org

Fall Forum Fridays Webinar Recordings and Presentation Slides Available On-Demand

Fall Forum Friday Webinar Video Links

The Oklahoma School Foundations Network presented a series of FREE webinars during the month of October. If you were not able to attend these webinars live, we have made recordings available to watch at your convenience. Please share the links with your entire board! Thank you to our presenting sponsor:

National School Foundations Association Virtual Conference Early Bird Prices Expire Soon!

The National School Foundations Association annual conference is going virtual for 2021, offering an incredible opportunity for foundations across the country to participate without the need for travel. The conference will take place Feb. 23 through 26, with sessions available from noon to 3 p.m. each day. Conference registration is open now, with special early bird discounts and additional discounts for NSFA members. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from and be inspired by school foundation experts. The Oklahoma School Foundations Network offers half-price memberships to the National School Foundation Association. Our 2020-21 membership renewals are underway now. You should have received a letter from the Oklahoma School Foundations Network with renewal information at the beginning of September. The forms from that letter are available via the links below. While ALL public school foundations in Oklahoma have access to the free consulting and resources provided by the Oklahoma School Foundations Network, PLUS members will have the added benefit of membership in the National School Foundation Association. PLUS membership, based on your foundation size, is just half of what it would cost your organization to join NSFA separately. In addition to conference discounts NSFA offers its members a large array of benefits. Check out the links below to view the benefits and start your application!

NSFA Conference Information

NSFA Member Benefits

NSFA Plus Membership Application

Welcome to our new 2020-21 PLUS members: The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools Edmond Public Schools Foundation Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation Union Schools Education Foundation Jenks Public Schools Foundation Norman Public School Foundation Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation Claremore Public Schools Foundation Clinton Public School Foundation Foundation for Tulsa Schools Great Plains Technology Center Foundation Metro-Tech Foundation Pryor Academic Excellence Foundation

Call to Recognize Outstanding Mentors- Help Us Spread the Word! As part of National Mentoring Month in January 2021, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is partnering with mentoring organizations statewide to honor their outstanding mentors. Our goal is to recognize mentors (one volunteer per mentoring organization) from all types of youth mentoring programs around the state. Each mentoring organization posted on the Oklahoma Mentoring Organization Database on our website is encouraged to submit its Honored Mentor for recognition. Each mentoring organization is responsible for: Completing the recognition form at the link below Notifying its honored mentor about his or her honor Notifying the mentor’s local, state, and federal legislators of the recognition To recognize your outstanding mentor, please click the button below to complete the form and submit it to the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. You will be required to create an account to start the form and can save and return to it as needed. DEADLINE EXTENDED: All forms must be submitted by Dec. 1st.

Recognize an Outstanding Mentor

The Oklahoma School Foundations Network is a program of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. Follow us on Facebook, and find more information at www.ofe.org.