BASD Foundation dedicated to assisting students, staff
By Jason Arndt
Editor
A coalition of parents with children attending the Burlington Area School District has launched a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving equitable access to district opportunities.
The BASD Foundation, led by a board of five community members, also looks to streamline the donation process for businesses and community members who want to make charitable, and tax-deductible, contributions to students and even staff members.
Foundation chairperson Aubrey Thompson, who also serves on the Board of Education, said she and others on the board decided to move forward with the nonprofit following feedback from the community.
“We have heard the Burlington community asking for ways to further ways to support the district,” said Thompson, who is acting in the capacity as a district parent with the nonprofit group.
Thompson said the foundation is not a response to cuts stemming from the failed referendum earlier this year.
Instead, it’s merely a way to benefit families and staff members who will have their wish lists posted on the foundation’s website.
“Our district needs millions of dollars consistently for its annual budget,” Thompson said. “While our team is ambitious and optimistic about the support BASD Foundation will receive, we are also realistic. The money we raise will have a great impact on families and staff but will likely not make up a significant portion of the district’s annual budget.”
The Foundation plans to sponsor student fees, allowing for equitable access to all areas of education, and co-curricular activities such as sports and fine arts programs.
Additional benefits include supporting individual classrooms, with teachers able to post wish lists online, according to an Aug. 12 presentation made by Thompson and other members to the Board of Education.
Page Carriveau, clerk of the foundation, said in the presentation the group looks to maintain contact with the district through collaboration.
“We are here to help BASD, we hope to creatively collaborate with BASD representatives, the school board, staff members, and bring those groups together in addition to being fiscally responsible,” she said.
Supporting students in need
Thompson, a Burlington High School graduate, said she serves in several roles in the community and wants to see students have the same success she did while attending school.
“I had a very enjoyable, education experience and took advantage of the varied education and co-curricular programs offered as a student. Over the years, I have seen those programs become increasingly restricted due to budget cuts and increasing family costs,” Thompson said in an email.
“All of our board members currently have kids in the district and wanted to do something to help those experiences be accessible to anyone in the community, as we all believe they are part of what makes BASD a great educational community,” she added.
Other foundation members include vice chairperson Molly Souza, treasurer Nicole Brigson, and Piper Howell.
Through community contributions, along with seeking founding partners, the foundation hopes to maintain student participation in activities, while assisting teachers with supply needs.
“We really want to make sure that nothing stands in the way of student success and participating fully in everything that BASD has to offer,” Carriveau said.
Student sponsorships will cover registration, course or activity fees including club memberships as well as fine arts and athletic programs.
Foundation members said the funds will be given directly to the district in the name of student.
Families seeking sponsorships can apply through the BASD Foundation website.
Fiscal responsibility
The Foundation plans on being transparent, including maintaining a comprehensive record of fund management from donation to allocation, and ensuring funds are distributed equitably through applications while maintaining student and family confidentiality.
Brigson said the Foundation plans to post annual reports showing donations, where the funds are directed, as well as honoring the requests of contributors.
In explaining further on donation requests, Thompson said contributors can donate for a specific purpose, such as new playground equipment or student scholarships.
The Foundation plans on making quarterly donations, with proceeds directed to the district as restricted, and earmarked for specific purposes.
Foundation members are seeking founding partnerships as well as business donations.
Founding partnerships will include some benefits for the contributor, based on monetary value donated, according to the nonprofit group.
There will be three different levels for founding partnerships, including orange (minimum $250 contribution), black ($500 minimum and name listed on website), and Demon ($1,500 or more and logo listed on website).
Vice President Marlo Brown, of the Board of Education, asked if contributors can remain anonymous.
“We can keep that information anonymous, but for tax reporting purposes, we do need a name and address, or we can’t actually keep the money,” Thompson explained. “But we don’t have to share your name with anybody if you want it to be anonymous.”
Long-term vision
Thompson, in an email to Southern Lakes Newspapers, said the Foundation has set a goal of raising $50,000 in the first year to use for student sponsorships and the group’s focus areas of classroom furniture and consumables.
“Classroom consumables include curriculum supplies that get heavy use or that students get to keep. These are different than supplies like crayons that families already supply. We identified those focus areas in collaboration with school district personnel. We expect to be able to expand the ways we support students and staff over time,” she said.
Thompson said she is confident in the community, which has often been supportive, in helping the foundation achieve its goals.
“We felt this was important to launch as a way to show support to our schools and meet community needs,” Thompson said. “We know there is a large amount of community support for our schools and what they offer our students. The goal of the foundation is to make it easy for the community to see the needs and how their donations make an impact.”
The Foundation underwent a lengthy process to become a verified 501c3 nonprofit organization, according to Thompson.
In addition to filing paperwork with the state and federal government, the Foundation will have to submit annual financial reports to the Internal Revenue Service.
“It was important to do this so that all donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Both of these points are important to us because we want to be transparent about the money we receive and how it is used to benefit BASD. Being a nonprofit also opens the door for the district to receive larger donations, since there is that tax deduction benefit for donors,” Thompson said.
For more information, including how to contribute and access teacher wish lists, visit basdfoundation.org.
