When Palisades Charter High School’s board of directors hired fundraising consultant Candice Koral in August to oversee the school’s annual giving campaign, the school’s booster club was caught by surprise. The booster club, which was incorporated in 1965 and has served as the main fundraising group on campus, has historically conducted the annual campaign, which focuses on parents of students currently attending PaliHi. The club, with 20 to 25 volunteer members who attend regular meetings, raises about $300,000 annually, with about $170,000 coming from the campaign. All the money goes toward school programs, and the club votes on which groups receive funding. With the hiring of Koral, the annual campaign money will now be given directly to the school, and the board of directors, with input from stakeholders and PaliHi’s Budget and Finance Committee, will decide how it is spent. Parents will be able to direct their donations to broad categories such as the arts, sciences and athletics. The administration hired Koral, owner of Koral & Company in Century City, because it wants to intensify fundraising efforts to supplement the general fund. The school had to cut about $1.2 million this summer from its $22-million annual budget and dip into the $5.3-million reserve by $500,000 in order to open doors this fall. The board’s goal is to replenish the reserve. Koral, who has boosted annual giving campaigns at private schools such as Milken Community High School in Brentwood and Turning Point School in Culver City, believes she can raise 10 percent of the operating budget (about $2.2 million) from the annual campaign within the next couple years. According to her contract, she will receive $25,000 for her services and 10 percent of what funds are raised. Koral told the Palisadian-Post that her entire focus will be on the annual giving campaign and not on corporate sponsorships or private/government grants. The booster club met on September 1 and September 10 regarding the changes and voted to ask the board for the following: ‘The booster club firmly supports the efforts of the school to raise funds by conducting the annual campaign for the school year of 2009-10. In order for the booster club to maintain its traditional levels, the club respectfully requests $170,000 from the Palisades school direct donation campaign for school year 2009-10.’ At a board meeting on September 15, PaliHi Executive Director Amy Dresser-Held presented the board with a proposal to form a foundation to meet the booster club’s request and help the school with its future fundraising efforts. The school could give part of the annual campaign money to a private entity such as the booster club through a foundation without creating the perception that it is gifting taxpayer money, Dresser-Held told the Post. The foundation would also shield funds raised from potential liability. Dresser-Held, who sits on the board, recused herself from discussion on the recommendation because she is the daughter-in-law of the booster club’s longtime president Dick Held. After hearing from stakeholders and discussing the information provided, the board voted not to establish a foundation at this time and directed the school’s administration to research further the foundation concept and make recommendations. ’I really think we need to take time,’ said board member Vicky Francis. ‘We need a lot more study done before setting up a foundation.’ Board vice chair James Paleno agreed, saying it’s unclear how the foundation would function. He pointed out that a foundation would need bylaws and a board. In addition, there are start-up costs and operating expenses to consider. Francis asked why the booster club and the school could not host separate campaigns, where they both send letters and call parents asking for money. Koral responded that ‘it dilutes both entities’ messages. You want to do [fewer requests] and encourage parents to make [their donations] bigger.’ Following the meeting, Dick Held told the Post that he understands the board’s decision. ’We support the school’s fundraising efforts, especially in these economic times,’ Held said. ‘It’s a little bit of a jolt to us. What it means is we will have to find different ways to fundraise.’ Other than the annual campaign, the club hosts a silent auction and asks for donations through Vons and Ralphs, where people donate to the club through their purchases. Dorothianne Henne, treasurer of the booster club, is concerned that the club might not be able to fund as many requests from students and teachers this school year. The club has a reserve, but has already received $10,000 worth of requests. ’Solicitation to the parents was our main source of income,’ Henne said, noting it’s hard to imagine how the club can put together new fundraisers that would compensate for the loss this school year. Henne believes the booster club provides an invaluable service because it is able to dole out money faster than PaliHi’s Budget and Finance Committee, which requires notice months in advance. Teachers will ask for money to purchase books for that semester, and Henne often writes them a check on the spot. Gail Wirth, a PaliHi parent and booster club member, said the club is willing to assist Koral with her efforts. Members will share the parent database and help Koral with the letters. Koral said she plans to mail the letters within the next month and will rely on parent volunteers to make phone calls. Board Chair Rene Rodman told the Post she is grateful to the booster club for supporting the school all these years and is glad the group has offered to aid Koral. ‘In this environment of severe ongoing budget cuts, both Pali’s internal fundraising plan and the ongoing efforts of the booster club will be required to ensure that Pali continues to deliver exceptional programs and services to its students,’ Rodman said.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
