Ten years ago, MDC's report, "The State of the South 2007: Philanthropy as the South's 'Passing Gear,'" (ED519455) examined how philanthropy can accelerate progress toward a South that is both equitable for all its residents and competitive with other regions of the country. A decade later, our second iteration, commissioned by 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…