1. Tapping Community Resources to Sustain Your CTE Success
Ashley Parker, Media Relations Manager
CTE Support Fund Liaison
Association for Career and Technical Education
Fundraising for Your CTE
Program

2. We need money! Now what?!
 “Melting pot” funding for education programs, including
CTE, not uncommon.
 As Perkins funding diminishes, CTE programs, school districts
and tech centers have looked to private and other public
sources of funding.
 Before you begin researching funding possibilities, sit down
and gather your resources & develop a plan.

3. What type of support do you need?
 Cash/Monetary?
 In-kind (products or services)?
 Talent (employee hours, etc.)?

4. Your fundraising plan or “appeal”
 4 W’s & H
 Why is this funding/purchase/ necessary? (What’s the
problem?)
 What is the impact of this funding/purchase? (What is the
solution from this funding? How will it help with the
problem?)
 Who benefits? (Who will be direct beneficiaries? Indirect?)
 Who administers this funding/purchase? (What
qualifications/plans are in place for effective spending?)
 How much do you want?

5. Who do you ask?
(or, where the money is!)
 Individuals
 Major donors
 Grassroots
 Corporate Giving
 Corporate gifts
 Partnerships & sponsorships
 Foundations and Grantmakers
 Community Foundations, Family foundations, etc.

6. Some quick thoughts on time &
energy
 Is this a “one and done” or a longer-term project?
 Program & capital expense vs. operating expenses
 Target your “ask” to the right funder.
 Smaller amounts up to $5k- grassroots/individual donors
 5k-25k- foundations, grants
 30k and up- corporate giving or blended

7. Tips on Foundations/Grants
 Do your research!
 Foundation Center
 Council on Foundations
 Initial contact: phone, letter of inquiry, email?
 Relationship-building matters.
 Ensure you have infrastructure in place to support a grant, if
one is made.

8. Tips for Individual Donors
 Special events are a good way of raising money all at once.
 Leverage your resources- challenge gift from major
donor, matching funds from a business, etc.
 Focus on return for donor (thank you, incentive item, etc.)
 Business kick-back events- donor spends $, you get
percentage.
 Online tools
 Donorschoose.org
 Indiegogo

9. Tips for Corporate Giving
 Make your network do the work: board members, etc.
 What’s the ROI for them? What’s the business benefit? What
incentives can you provide? (advertising, etc.)
 Have a clearly defined ask.
 Research, research, research!!
 Is our need a match to the corporate giving program’s
priorities? Do they give what we need? (Cash/in-
kind/product)

10. Going back to the plan…making the
“ask”
 What matters to donors?
 Proof of impact- is my money helping?
 Transparency- where is my money going?
 Connection to their personal values & acknowledgement of
that connection.

11. Things to Consider When Making
Your Case
 Use answers to 4 W’s & H as your guideline to build your ask.
 Connect it to the real world problems: workforce
development, skills gap, joblessness amongst
youth, unemployment, U.S. economic strength.
 Student testimonials- flaunt your success stories

12. Don’t put the horse before the cart:
what’s your administration plan?
 Designate a point person.
 Make sure you are aware of reporting requirements of
funders- can you meet them?
 What’s your long-term plan for sustainability? (nearly every
funder wants to know this anyways)
 Ethics- use the money for what you say you’ll use it for, or else.

13. Where do we find funders?
 DO NOT fall for the trap of “grant guides” online.
 All foundations must report application details on IRS Form
990 (non-profit tax return)
 Tons of FREE information on funders via Foundation
Center, virtually every library has cooperating collection
agreements with FC.
 Community foundations, United Way
 Solicit for yourself! Simple asks lists, etc. at open
houses, “learn more about how to support Oak Grove CTE”
flier, etc.

14. Great! We have our $! Now what!?
 Follow reporting guidelines as applicable.
 Share your success! Tell your story to local media.
 RECOGNIZE DONORS.
 Leverage your successful asks against new ones.

15. Where else can I find help?
 The Foundation Center
 Ashley Parker, Media Relations Manager
 aparker@acteonline.org
 @fleuredeflorida