May 2022

Education Leadership Conference Specialized Learning Track for School Foundations Friday, August 26, 2022 The Oklahoma State School Boards Association and the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration 2022 Education Leadership Conference will once again offer specialized learning tracks. A school foundation track will be offered on Friday, August 26, 2022. Specialized learning track registration will include one-day Conference attendance featuring the daily general session, exhibit hall entrance and four 50-minute focused breakout sessions designed for foundation leaders, volunteers, and interested school district staff. This is a great opportunity to connect with other school foundation leaders and to learn and get energized for a great 2022-23 school year. Registration for school foundations is $200. The Oklahoma School Foundations Network will offer a limited number of scholarships for school foundation volunteers. More information will be available in June.

Register for the Conference

Tax Credit Information for Public School Donors: A Short Commercial Oklahoma School Foundations Network Director Katy Leffel filmed this short video as a tool foundations can use to provide donors with an informational overview of the new Oklahoma tax credits available to public school donors. This short six minute video is intended to share with donors to your foundation, so feel free to send this on to members of your community.

Presentation Slides

Recorded Webinar Library Expands There are now 14 recorded webinars on a variety of topics relevant to school foundation work available on demand on the OSFN website! Two new webinars were added this month: Strategic Planning Design: Join Oklahoma School Foundations Network Director Katy Leffel and Edmond Public Schools Foundation Executive Director Deanna Boston to talk about the importance of strategic planning to school foundation success, and how your foundation can use a strategic plan as a powerful communication and fundraising tool. School Foundations and Homelessness: Join OSFN Director Katy Leffel in a discussion with Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation Director Lindse Barks and Moore Public Schools Foundation Director Clayton Ramick. The Moore and Mid-Del foundations are both engaged in homeless student support and will share background on how they got started and the actions they are taking to make an impact. This is a great FREE resource for all Oklahoma school foundation leaders and volunteers. Head to the website to see what is available.

Visit the Network Learning Hub

Program Award Nominations Open August 1, 2022 The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence annually presents one or more Outstanding Program Awards to recognize innovative programs sponsored or administered by school foundations in Oklahoma. Trophies and monetary awards of $1,000 each are presented to the winners.  Recognized programs may include but are not limited to: curriculum enhancement, arts integration, student leadership development, student scholarships, mentoring, professional development for teachers, public relations and fundraising. Nominations for recognition may come from anyone knowledgeable about the foundation, including its board members. Only one program per foundation may be nominated for recognition. Winning foundations must wait one full year before they are eligible to nominate another program.  Program nominations are open from August 1 to September 15 each year.

Learn More

On-Call Help for Foundations Oklahoma School Foundations Network Director Katy Leffel provides FREE on-call help to all Oklahoma foundations. Have a question or need a sample document? Call or email Katy for support: (405) 922-5420, kleffel@ofe.org. Katy is also available to lead board retreats and strategic planning sessions.

The Oklahoma School Foundations Network is a program of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. Follow us on Facebook, and find more information at www.ofe.org.