Schools should beware questionable practices of many dot.com companies offering attractive rebates for purchases made online. High rebate rates are often designed to drive traffic to a particular site, but fine print can change overnight. Companies' connections to schools are tenuous and are driven by profit. (MLH)

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)

A school district and community endeavor brought a fine arts facility to Byron Center, Michigan. The Van Singel Fine Arts Center includes gallery space as well as a performing arts theater. Private donations purchased pianos and the acoustical shell. Academic results in the classroom include increases in average ACT scores for 5 consecutive years.…

A Kentucky school district accepted a challenge to make computers and computer-assisted instruction available to all the district's students. Creative partnerships with businesses and searches for federal, state, and local grants helped raise the funds for technology in education. (MLF)

Describes Durham County (North Carolina) schools' new communications center, which employs a business liaison to coordinate contacts with local businesses and uses sophisticated public relations techniques to lobby for funds. Since 1985, the center has received $300,000, free facilities use, and volunteer support. Reciprocal benefits are…

The superintendent of schools in Edina, Minnesota, describes the nonprofit foundation that the schools and the city have formed to raise funds for school and city projects. (IRT)

Discusses issues in school "pay-to-play" policies, the charging of fees for sports or other extracurricular activities, as a fund-raising strategy in response to budget shortfalls. Fees sometimes discourage economically disadvantaged students from participating and place pressure on parents. (LMI)

Installation of a new metal halide lighting system at an old athletic high school stadium serving the Red Lion School District in Pennsylvania made night games possible. Community members raised funds for the installation. Because of increased attendance, the district made a $10,000 profit. Provides facts and figures on the stadium lighting. (MLF)

This "quick course" in grantsmanship explains how school systems apply and obtain funding from major outside agencies. Provides examples of kinds of programs that stand a better chance of receiving funding. Recommends how to answer questions required of proposals and offers an application checklist to follow. (CJH)

Roberta Guaspari-Tzavoras teaches 125 young violinists in 2 East Harlem elementary schools. Students are chosen by lottery. The only prerequisite is a willingness to do the hard work of practicing and learning. Her success in coaching inner-city students to a performance in Carnegie hall is the subject of a documentary and a feature film. (MLF)

Budget problems are causing schools to look at developing nonprofit foundations for new sources of financing. Outlined are examples of successful foundations. Included are critics' concerns and suggestions for starting fund-raising foundations. (MD)

Outlines the benefits and steps of establishing an education foundation to raise supplementary funds for the long-term benefit of a school district. (MLF)

Princeton, Illinois, is a case study for districts that might be considering setting up education foundations. Interest from a permanent funding base in excess of $120,000 provides funding of grants made to the community's single high school. Consideration is given to initiatives that generate enthusiasm for learning and include the greatest…

In exchange for the exclusive right to sell their beverages at school events and on school grounds, large companies are competing avidly for schools' soft-drink business. One Ohio district negotiated a new PepsiCo contract expected to yield over $700,000 over the next 10 years. Everyone wins, including taxpayers. (MLH)

Many corporations, foundations, and individual donors are committed to supporting public education. Solicitation of grants and gifts from individuals is practically nonexistent in the public schools. Few board members or school administrators know whom to ask for them. Offers some fund-raising tactics and sources for funding opportunities. (MLF)