Looking at potential sources of funding for education reform, Frederic Fransen outlines the dynamics in play as a pragmatist might calculate the worthiness of a cause for his philanthropy. Preeminent is bang for the buck, of course. And though the way to reinvigorate the insatiable blob of higher education isn't readily apparent to Dr. Fransen,…

Numerous corporations offer support to the community through charitable foundations. Some of these foundations focus on national initiatives, but many earmark their resources for regional, state, and local programs. The recent economy has reduced the amount of available money, but education is often a high funding priority and grants are being…

This 2008 foundation report provides an opportunity to look back and ahead as the organization reviews what has been accomplished and identifies challenges to be tackled in the future in the areas of education, scientific and medical research, and the arts. Grant making from the perspective of grantees is presented in each area. [This document was…

Educators can improve their grant-proposal writing by having a fundable idea, following guidelines precisely, seeking out funding sources, carefully crafting the proposal, and critiquing it before sending it. Only the best-written proposals get funded. Resources are listed. (MLH)

Lists steps for a teacher to follow in seeking project funding from a foundation. (SJL)

The director of the South Burlingame (Vermont) High School Imaging Lab shares hard-won lessons on raising money. Grant-seeking educators should be succinct, realistic, and thorough and remember the kids. Using colorful language, real-life stories, and resonating program descriptions increases chances for success. (MLH)

This directory is intended to provide a reference tool for rural educators seeking private sources of funding and includes 91 foundations chosen on the basis of the foundation's interest in rural adult postsecondary education. Sources of information used to identify and research appropriate funding agencies included "The Foundation Directory" (9th…

The Bush Foundation Program at the University of South Dakota supports faculty development activities which have as their goal the improvement of undergraduate learning. The program is designed to address the university's special concerns with respect to faculty development including the diversity of its mission, its small size, and the remote…

Offers guidelines to Catholic schools on obtaining grants from foundations. Discusses three steps: self-assessment to determine how outside funding can best be utilized, the investigation of foundations with religious interests, and the establishment of personal contacts. (DMM)

In the philanthropic field, Hispanics receive an extremely small portion of grants and are underrepresented on boards and staffs of foundations. The Ford Foundation is the biggest benefactor for Hispanic organizations. Other private foundations, such as the Rockefeller and MacArthur foundations, are beginning to improve funding of Hispanic…

This bibliography provides a listing of 174 books and articles to assist libraries in fund raising activities. Sources were suggested by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, the Foundation Center, and the Special Activities Committee, Fund Raising and Development Section of the Library Administration and Management Association of the…

Using McDowell County (North Carolina) Public Alliance Linking Schools (MCPALS) as an example of a working school foundation, this article offers districts advice on picking a board, setting goals, choosing a director, designing fund-raising activities, and applying to large private or corporate foundations for funding. An inset provides a list of…

A strategy for seeking grants from major foundations is presented. A five-step process includes: preparation, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. A grant from one of the private foundations in the country brings not only cash but also important national visibility to a campus. (MLW)

Those responsible for preparing proposals need to adopt principles of successful cultivation before beginning to write. Prewriting research and cultivation, source collectors and selectors, getting the foundation to invite an application, internal cultivation (knowledge of institution's goals, information sources, on-campus networks) and personal…

College and university fund raisers are offered three recommendations for targeting the best donors: (1) make effective use of indexes and directories, electronic or manual, to match foundation and college interests; (2) narrow the pool to true prospects; and (3) make preproposal contact geared to the foundation's style or organization. (MSE)