Green Bay Packer coach Vince Lombardi is quoted as saying, "Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is." Whether it's a major university or an urban school district, pulling together and developing a plan and being confident in the financing through performance contracting is the best way to meet student, taxpayer and community needs. The good news is that educational institutions actually have several options to choose from when it comes to financing. Perhaps the most interesting is performance contracting--a procurement tool that allows schools to leverage the savings they get from improving buildings in order offset the costs of the projects themselves. Meanwhile, beyond performance contracts, educational institutions and school districts can explore other funding options, such as bank loans, bonds and capital, operating or tax exempt leases. No matter what, the first step is setting a goal.