Become a Foundation Supporter The Shaker Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that gratefully accepts contributions. All gifts are tax-deductible. Options for giving: Annual Fund Gifts provide much-needed operational support that enables the Foundation to carry out its work. The Legacy Fund is a permanent, unrestricted endowment to provide long-term substantial support in the areas of academia, arts, technology, health and fitness, and special initiatives. Bequests, trusts, other planned gifts and outright gifts are welcome. Donor-Created Funds may be established in honor or memory of a family member or Shaker faculty member. Seat Endowments in the Shaker Heights High School Large Auditorium can be recognized in honor or memory of an individual. Employer Matching Gifts are available from many companies; please check with your employer. Donations may be made online at www.shaker.org/foundation.aspx or by check, payable to the Shaker Schools Foundation at: Shaker Schools Foundation 15600 Parkland Drive Shaker Heights, OH 44120 For more information or to speak with someone about planned giving, please call (216) 295-4329 or visit shaker.org/foundation. A Big Gift Leads to Bigger Dreams For its first 20 years, the Foundation operated only with a volunteer Board of Trustees. The Board’s chief function was to help manage and distribute private gifts that were made in honor or memory of Shaker Heights teachers, primarily in the form of teacher grants. In 1998, the Foundation received an unexpected bequest of a halfmillion dollars from a grateful family whose child with special needs had been well-served by the Shaker schools. This transformational gift became the seed money that allowed the Foundation to dream bigger dreams. In 2000, Auginas joined the District’s administration and also became the Foundation’s executive director. Arlene Sheeran became its first employee in 2001. With dedicated staffing now in place, the Foundation could turn its attention to large-scale projects like the renovation of the Large and Small auditoriums at the High School. When Sue Starrett came on board in 2005 as director of development, she was tasked with bringing this capital campaign to completion, which ultimately required raising more than $1.1 million. “Completing those two projects gave us the confidence that the Foundation could really undertake major fundraising initiatives,” says Starrett. Now, each year the administration identifies a major project that fits within the District’s strategic plan, for which a substantial amount of money will need to be raised. Last year, the Foundation raised more than $150,000 to help implement a new preschool program, Shaker’s First Class. Funding came from a variety of sources, including the Cleveland Foundation, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, the Arminius Foundation, and private donors. That funding helped to ensure a socioeconomically balanced class for the tuition-based program, as well as to secure high-quality teachers, equipment, and resources. While working with area foundations and corporate sponsors is certainly critical to the Foundation’s success, the largest source of funding is individual gifts. “Private contributions of every size, both large and small, combine to make up more than half of the dollars we rely on to fund projects and grants,” Starrett says. “The reason the Foundation has been successful is the loyal and growing community of generous donors who give to us as a way of expressing their gratitude for the Shaker Schools.” The Foundation manages about 100 restricted funds that are earmarked for items like student awards and teacher grants. Donors can also contribute to the Legacy Fund, which is an unrestricted endowment to ensure that the Foundation will be able to meet unidentified needs in the future. 52 SHAKERONLINE.COM | WINTER 2017
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