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Board approves creating CPS foundation in partnership with Activities Beyond the Classroom, final MOU to be negotiated
Summary
The board voted to authorize Cincinnati Public Schools to enter an agreement with Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC) to form a CPS foundation, with remaining MOU language to be negotiated and returned to the board by March 17 for final approval.
The Cincinnati Public Schools Board on March 3 approved a motion to create a CPS foundation in association with Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC), directing administration to complete final negotiations and return the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for board approval.
ABC’s executive director, Sally Grimes, told the board ABC has raised more than $17 million for district programs since 2018, manages fiscal sponsorships and school-based funds, and has served as a district booster organization since 2004. ABC presented a governance model that would keep ABC as an independent 501(c)(3) while adding four district representatives to the foundation board: the superintendent, the treasurer, one board member and one community member selected by the board.
General Counsel Dan Hoyne reported a draft MOU has been circulated and revised with input from board members, the superintendent and the treasurer; the draft contemplates a five‑year term beginning in the 2025–26 school year, during which ABC would be identified as the district’s primary district‑level partner for donations and gifts. The MOU includes an administrative fee that CPS would pay initially (the treasurer indicated that fee would be paid from the district general fund), and ABC provided a five‑year budget and preliminary fundraising goals. Hoyne noted remaining areas of “push and pull” include (1) CPS’s desire for flexibility and (2) ABC’s desire for a stable funding stream during start‑up.
Board discussion included concerns about process and transparency; several board members requested additional time to review the draft MOU. President Moffitt said ABC had a time‑sensitive opportunity for grant funding (about $250,000) that would assist ABC’s transition to a foundation and urged timely action. After a motion to create the foundation and a friendly amendment that outstanding MOU language be finalized through further negotiation and returned to the board for final approval, the board voted: Board Member Craig — yes; Board Member Crossett — yes; Board Member Lindy — yes; Board Member Weinberg — yes; Vice President Bolton — yes; President Moffitt — yes.
The vote authorized CPS to enter into an agreement with ABC to form a CPS foundation; the final MOU will come back to the board for approval, with the administration aiming to present final language at the board meeting on March 17. The board and administration agreed ABC would continue school-level fundraising and fiscal sponsorships; the foundation would focus on district-level fundraising aligned to CPS strategic priorities (extracurriculars, career readiness, wellness and an unrestricted CPS fund). The board asked administration to continue negotiations on the two outstanding issues in consultation with ABC.
