Scholarship Fund Gala

1. Scholarship Fund Gala Event Plan by Emily Hosoya

2. Client Profile • Created in October 2000 • Merged under Community Foundation of Northern Colorado in October 2008 • Board of Directors includes community leaders of local non-profits, private for-profits, news media, PSD, CSU • Central office location (Prospect & Stover) • Uses donations toward: • SPIE/E3 grant awards • Excellence in Education awards • Digital Educator Program • Current primary event is Annual Community Breakfast

3. “The Foundation’s mission is uniting community resources for excellence in public education. “ --Christine Chin, past foundation president “In the last seven years, $588,000 has been awarded in grants to PSD teachers, staff and schools to fund innovative and creative ideas submitted by PSD staff to the Supporting Partnerships in Innovative Education program.” --Mike Demma, past foundation director

4. Situation Analysis Strengths: • Strong cause, well-established community support toward local schools Weaknesses: • Low awareness about the Foundation • Apathy within the community Opportunities: • Improved partnerships with donors and potential employers, financial gains for students and families Threats: • Tight budget for education

5. Goal/Objectives Goal: • To expand the Foundation’s outreach toward student scholarships and academic grants Objectives: • To raise awareness about the Foundation by 10% in the Fort Collins community • To reinforce positive attitudes about the Foundation by 5% in the Fort Collins community • To raise $30,000 from event ticket sales and silent auction proceeds

6. Target Audience • Primary • Fort Collins business owners and professionals – They are likely to donate large amounts of money, technology and other resources. • Fort Collins families and community members – Many are employed in town and can help raise awareness about the cause. They are also likely to be donors of money and time. • Secondary • Media – News coverage of the event will provide an incentive to be a donor.

7. Key Messages • Community-driven support for PSD students can be accomplished through donations of money, materials, time and services • Anyone can donate; no contribution is too little • There are potential returns of higher academic achievement, civic engagement and overall community well-being

8. Strategies/Tactics Strategies: • Highlighting family-friendly, professional entertainment • Great Loudini magic show • Carousel Dinner Theatre musical scene from “42nd Street” • Mountain Gymnastics acrobatics team • Showcasing current accomplishments, current and future needs from students • Inviting PSD superintendent and Foundation board of directors president to speak • Continuing communication from the foundation after the event Tactics • Using social media to feature student accomplishments and donor recognition • E-newsletters to donors each semester, showing them how much their donations have helped

9. Key Event • Held Saturday, May 7 from 6-9 p.m. • Located at the Fort Collins Hilton • Tickets: $50 per person, $80 per couple • 6:00 p.m. – Doors open, silent auction opens • 6:30 p.m. – Keynote speech by Barb Wilson • 6:40 p.m. – Presentation of scholarship award winners • 7:10 p.m. – Dinner, dessert and variety show begin • Magician the Great Loudini • Cast of the Carousel Dinner Theatre • Mountain Kids Acrobatics Team • 8:10 p.m. – Donor recognition, silent auction closes • 8:30 p.m. – Closing speech by Dr. Gerald Wilson

10. Budget

11. Timeline

12. Evaluation • Raised awareness about the foundation among potential donors and families • 100 e-newsletter subscribers by end of event follow-up • 200 Facebook followers by end of event follow-up • Changed attitudes about the need for community support toward students, not just schools/teachers • Raised $30,000 from ticket sales, auction items and donations • Attendance: 300 • Ticket sales: $20,000 • Silent auction/donation revenue: $10,000 • Continuation of donations throughout the year