INAPEF President and Executive Director of the Wayne Township Education Foundation Lisa Baize and NPEF President Kim Taylor show off the check.
NEW PALESTINE — Officials from the Southern Hancock Community School Corporation say a recent $10,000 grant will be used to help hire the first ever executive director of the New Palestine Education Foundation (NPEF).
The NPEF was established in 2010 as the Southern Hancock Education Foundation. A small group of community members partnered with several educators to start the foundation to support the schools in the Community School Corporation of Southern Hancock County. The mission statement of the foundation is to promote and support quality public education in Brandywine and Sugar Creek Townships. The foundation’s name was updated to its current name in 2021 to better reflect its work in the New Palestine school community.
The grant money is from the Indiana Association of Public Education Foundations (INAPEF). Currently, the NPEF is run entirely by volunteers, officials noted in a press release. The award, in addition to a $10,000 commitment from the foundation, will enable NPEF to hire an executive director and take its next steps in serving the school community of Southern Hancock Schools.
“The growth of NPEF has mirrored changes and growth within Southern Hancock School Corporation,” Kim Taylor, president of the NPEF said in a release. “With the addition of an executive director, the foundation will be in a stronger position to support the schools as we collaborate to provide a high-quality education opportunity for the children and youth of our community, and to expand their worlds beyond the community in which we live.”
Additionally, the school corporation has committed to providing necessary office space and technology support for the new director.
“We are excited to award this grant to the New Palestine Education Foundation,” Krista Baber, INAPEF association administrator said. “Awarding these funds will allow their volunteers to continue to focus on what they do best, identifying needs within the school district and raising the funds to help fulfill them. It will also allow for easier engagement and clearer communications with local supporting businesses, teachers and students.”
Officials with the INAPEF say their 72 education foundation member organizations raises more than $16 million annually to support education outcomes for students throughout the state. While the foundations have traditionally supported classroom grants and scholarships, many of these types of organizations now find themselves more involved in funding district-wide initiatives. By expanding staffing and obtaining fundraising certifications, officials say these non-profit foundations can better meet the needs of their partner school corporations.
Funding for the grant originated with a $180,000 Lilly Endowment, Inc. grant awarded to INAPEF, to fund hiring and capacity-building programming for growing INAPEF-member foundations.
“Our data shows that staff-run education foundations generate 200% more revenue than those run by volunteers; therefore, Lilly Endowment’s grant to INAPEF will likely result in increased funding and educational initiatives for our state’s schools as INAPEF members strengthen their ability to lead,” Baber said. “With expanded professional staffing and training based on defined needs, INAPEF and its members will be able to continue to support public education. We are grateful for this investment in INAPEF and its members.”
