As Funding for Education Month comes to an end, we'd like to share these highlights from one of our programs. On June 16, the Foundation Center hosted a panel of nonprofit leaders who have built successful partnerships with local schools. ENACT (a creative drama organization), the Food Bank for New York City, Row New York (which teaches rowing skills to young girls), and MOUSE (a group which builds students’ aptitude for technology), have all developed programs for students within New York City public schools, and learned quite a bit along the way.
They shared with us some of the rewards and challenges of their collaborations. Here are some of the highlights of the discussion:
- A school partnership does not always turn out the way your nonprofit envisions it and can often be changed by the culture or circumstances of the school. To maximize the potential of your collaboration, make sure that you have clear communication with the school. Sit down with the principal to explain your program and your expectations, and see if it’s a good match for this particular school. Also be certain of how much time the teachers have to give for your program!
- Find someone within the school to designate as the liaison between the nonprofit and school staff; this will facilitate better communication. Try to partner with other groups that are involved with the school, such as community organizations. They will be helpful allies for your nonprofit.
- Focus on research and evaluation to determine your program’s effectiveness. This way you’ll know how well your partnership is working, and it will also help you secure more funding in the years to come.
- Recognize that you can’t be everything to everyone. The school and other people involved in your partnership may have demands or expectations that conflict with your project. In that case, focus on your group’s mission and be aware that you can’t do everything!
Thanks to all the presenters who gave their time and shared their knowledge with us and to our colleague organizations for collaborating with us to bring about Funding for Education Month programs. And thanks to everyone for taking time from your busy schedules to attend these events.
Keep an eye on our Events Archive, as audio files from this and other Funding for Education Month programs are posted. Find information you can use about the education sector in the Focus on Funding for Education area of or web site.
Tracy Kaufman, Library Assistant, Foundation Center-New York
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