Cave Creek committee seeks tax-credit boost, corporate sponsors to fund buses, tech and athletics
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Summary
The district’s capital-raise committee proposed pushing tax-credit donations, courting corporate sponsorships and soliciting tech donations to fund transportation, technology and athletic facility needs without asking voters for a bond or override.
Vanessa Clifton, a member of the capital raise committee, told the Cave Creek Unified School District Governing Board on Oct. 28 that the group has focused its work on three priorities—transportation, technology and athletics—and is pursuing alternative revenue sources after recent bond and override efforts failed. "We're looking for alternative methods of raising funds...getting the community involved, sustainable funding," Clifton said.
The committee split into two subteams: one pursuing donations and corporate sponsorships, the other targeting tax-credit donations. Clifton said the donations effort includes seeking in-kind technology gifts such as new public-address systems and virtual-reality science labs, and soliciting corporate sponsors for named assets (scoreboards, LED lighting upgrades, track replacement and other athletic improvements). "Sports are important...Student athletes will change school districts to come to a new district to play for certain coaches," Clifton said, arguing athletics draw students and community interest.
Scott Brown, another committee member, urged tightening the district’s existing tax-credit mailer and improving the online donation flow, including a QR code that would link donors directly to a designated landing page. "What we propose is a small tweak to this form to highlight the 3 areas that the capital raise committee is focused on," Brown said, urging outreach through school social media and business partners to expand the donor base beyond immediate CCUSD families.
Trustees pressed for targets and historical donation figures; Brown said the committee has the data and will work to set concrete goals. Board members suggested a one-page mailer with a QR code to keep messaging concise and recommended reaching CPAs and business partners to help publicize the tax-credit option during the limited donation window tied to taxpayers’ year-end filings.
The presentation concluded with board members thanking the committee and asking staff to coordinate follow-up materials and next steps. The committee’s work is intended to supplement district funds without placing another bond or override on the ballot.
The board did not take formal action on the fundraising recommendations at the Oct. 28 meeting; committee members said they will refine targets and outreach plans and return with implementation details.