Strapped for Cash, Public Schools Get Creative

Laurie Coffroth looked at the sorry state of funding for public education and saw a business opportunity. The Elk Grove mother of three recently launched Cash for Classrooms, which charges local businesses to have their coupons inserted into students’ backpacks. Cash for Classrooms will funnel part of the proceeds back to schools.

With California’s schools losing $18 billion in state and federal funding over the last four years, it’s falling on parents, teachers, students and administrators to raise the money needed to keep classrooms supplied with basics and programs like music and art part of the school day. Even some schools that are traditionally prolific fundraisers, however, are finding it more difficult to attract donations than in previous years. And like Coffroth, they’re trying all kinds of creative tactics to catch up.

As part of Patch’s ongoing look at private fundraising for public schools, here are some methods schools are using to raise money in bad economic times.  

Old School

The Eureka Schools Foundation has been raising money for schools in Roseville and Granite Bay since 1992. Last year, the foundation raised $600,000. For the most part, they did it the old fashioned way with auctions, galas and a campaign. The auction, however, was online. With items donated from local merchants, the 10-day auction capped with a gala raised $250,000.

“We’re very fortunate that we live in a community where they really support their schools,” said Renee Nash, the foundation's president.

New School

Online services aimed at matching donors and schools are becoming essential tools for teachers. DonorsChoose.org, for example, allows teachers and schools to post specific needs online. Donors can peruse the wish lists until they see something they want to fund. Jim Bentley, a teacher at Foulks Ranch Elementary School and a Patch blogger, wrote recently that over the years his students have received everything from class sets of a Harriet Tubman biography to high-tech projection equipment thanks to DonorsChoose.org.

While DonorsChoose.org matches philanthropists directly with classrooms, QlubbGive is a new social fundraising service that helps nonprofits by partnering with local merchants. Think of it as Groupon meets the bake sale. At the end of last school year, North Davis Elementary School used QlubbGive to raise several hundred dollars, according to Sophia Chiang, the company’s CEO.

Partnerships

The urgent need schools have for extra money has not gone unnoticed in the for-profit world. Several large retailers have programs that return a percentage of proceeds to local schools. Last year, the Roseville City School Foundation raised $3,700 with Whole Foods, which donated 5 percent of net sales on a particular day to the foundation. This year’s “5% Day” will be on Wednesday.

“The whole community can get involved,” said Megan MacPherson, the foundation’s president. “Anybody who shops there can help us”

Coffroth, who is piloting her new business at Foulks Ranch in Elk Grove, is offering schools a bigger cut than 5 percent. She estimates she’ll be able to cut the school a check for $1,000 to $1,500 each month.

“I’m going to help these kids and make money at the same time,” said Coffroth. “And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

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Patch is taking an ongoing look at private fundraising for public schools in the Sacramento area. This story is the second in the series. Click here to read about how schools in wealthy areas are outpacing those in poor and middle-class neighborhoods.