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Ferguson‑Florissant Foundation for Education reports $544,000 in funds, advisory board formed; $300,000 six‑month goal described as unrealistic
Summary
At the Feb. 12 meeting the district’s foundation director presented a four‑month update: the foundation’s three funds at the St. Louis Community Foundation total about $544,000, a newly appointed advisory board was announced, and the director said a $300,000 fundraising goal for six months is unlikely without sustained capacity building.
Doctor Shaw presented a four‑month update on the Ferguson‑Florissant Foundation for Education and reported that three funds held at the St. Louis Community Foundation totaled about $544,061.89 as of early February 2025.
Shaw said gifts to date in the fiscal year totaled about $49,082.48, including a $24,000 gift designated by the John Moses Lanier (John Moses Lane) Memorial Fund to be split across first‑grade teachers for classroom resources and field trips. Shaw told the board that roughly $336,000 of potential gifts and grant requests are in the pipeline.
An advisory board for the foundation was announced; members include alumni, community supporters and district staff: Dr. Isaac Butler, Jamie Jenkins, Carolyn Randazzo, Melanie Randalls, Joseph Hosea, Anya Holloman and Doctor Shaw (nonvoting members Ellen Viator, Bradley Johnson and Doctor Lavonne Singleton were also noted). Shaw said the advisory board was appointed by the St. Louis Community Foundation and will recommend grant distributions back to the district.
Shaw described a fundraising goal of $300,000 by March 1 as “a very lofty goal” and said in her professional opinion the district does not have the existing fundraising capacity to reach that target within six months. She recommended joint planning, capacity building, targeted initiatives (peer-to-peer, planned giving, annual giving, events and grant writing) and a modest operating budget for the foundation to support sustained fundraising.
Shaw highlighted several near‑term opportunities: a social‑work department trivia night fundraiser in April, participation in GiveSTL Day on May 8, and alumni ambassador outreach tied to the district’s 50th anniversary year. She also described ongoing alumni‑led fundraising efforts and ideas raised by alumni participants, including mentorship programs, an HBCU college fair, alumni business support and a potential 50th‑anniversary gala.
Board members thanked Shaw for the presentation and asked procedural questions about the foundation’s legal relationship with the St. Louis Community Foundation. Shaw explained that the foundation’s funds are held by the Community Foundation (the foundation is not a standalone 501(c)(3)), which provides administrative oversight; she said having the funds housed there allows the foundation to qualify for some smaller grants the district could not apply for directly because of the district’s large budget on paper.
Shaw asked the board to consider whether the district should eventually establish its own 501(c)(3) fund for greater autonomy, but said that while an independent nonprofit can widen grant opportunities, the current arrangement helps qualify the foundation for certain micro‑grants and local gifts.
