Chairman of the Board's Welcome Message 2012-13

Past Presidents List

CSF Behind the Scenes: Growing Sophistication

by Tom DeSanto, Chairman, CSF Board of Directors

Coronado Schools Foundation (CSF) continues to grow in many ways. Some of our progress is very visible and some happens behind the scenes.

CSF milestones for 2011-12, that you may already know, include:

• Funding. CSF provided a record $747,000to support academic programs and technology, returning an amazing 86 cents of every dollar directly back to programs.
• Endowment. CSF established a separate board to manage and protect $5.4M dollars in endowment funds so they can perpetually return annual school funding. For 2012-13, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) increases by 5% to $210,000. 
• Student Involvement. CSF utilized student talent through project learning, such as the first student-produced Connect-A-Thon and the “River of Giving” mosaic honoring major donors.
• New Programs. CSF provided funding for the STEAM program throughout our district, and piloted a Summer Enrichment program that offers opportunities for students while returning funds back to our schools. Over 175 students are enrolled in this inaugural year with classes held at CMS and taught by Coronado Unified and ROP Adult Ed teachers. 

As you continue to place your faith in CSF through generous contributions, we are dedicated to becoming a stronger, even more effective organization. The outlook for funding sources for public education is dire. Huge budget cuts are likely. Our mission to support academic programs is more important than ever.

In the past year, the CSF board studied the best practices of successful foundations and rewrote our bylaws to guide CSF to the next level of sophistication as a nonprofit fundraising organization.

Some less visible progress CSF made during 2011-12 includes:

• New Board Structure. The Board will now have a chair, vice chair, secretary and board-level committee chairs. The treasurer will be a member of the CSF staff and report to the board.
• Active Committees. Board-level chairs will recruit volunteers from outside the board to serve on finance, governance, fundraising/events, program and donor development committees. To serve, volunteers no longer have to be CSF board members.
• Longer Terms. Officers are no longer limited to a single term. The experience gained and progress made during a first term can continue with continuity for long-term success. CSF’s board chair and vice chair are returning for a second term.
• Staff Structure. Increasing demands of a growth led us to reorganize our small paid staff based on best practices of larger organizations. These changes include the executive director assuming the role of CSF’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the addition of a part-time Chief Financial and Operations Officer (CFOO)/treasurer and the hiring of an additional part-time staff member for much-needed business partner support.

Every change CSF makes as it grows is solely focused on improving our ability to return funds to our public schools. You have entrusted us with an important mission: to support the teachers and administrators with the funding they need to provide an excellent public education for the children of Coronado.

Our schools are among the top-rated in San Diego County. Credit goes to our amazing students, faculty, staff and administrators — and to you for taking a keen interest in our schools. CSF is merely the “grease in the wheels” that keeps education moving ahead in Coronado.

CSF invites you to grow with us by continuing to contribute generously and by becoming involved in the important committee work that lies ahead.

We are grateful for your support. Please visit www.csfkids.org to learn more about what we do or make a donation. 

Thank you.