Stephanie Collet discovered her passion and incredible talent for fundraising when she became the North Glendale Trivia Night Chairperson. In her first year as chair, Stephanie took the event’s profits from $40,000 to $80,000, continuing at that level for the next three years. Due to her success in fundraising and her past career in recruiting and advertising, Stephanie began to look for a career change to meld the two at a nonprofit. The position with the Kirkwood School District Foundation caught her eye; now, she is the first-ever and only employee of the Kirkwood School District Foundation.
Describe your role with the Kirkwood School District Foundation.
As the executive director, my goal is to build awareness and increase the impact of the Foundation throughout the community. We have a tremendous opportunity to directly engage with parents who have pre-K to high school seniors in the district. I want to show parents how the money they donate to the Foundation goes back into the schools to make things brighter for the kids.
What is the mission and purpose of the Kirkwood School District Foundation?
The Foundation was started in 1989. The mission is for friends, alumni, and neighbors to raise private funds to help enrich the lives of Kirkwood School District students. We are different from a PTO in that we are the overarching organization for all students in the district, including our partnership with KSD NOW and Kirkwood Area Every Child Promise. The money we raise is granted back to the schools and students.
How have the schools appropriated their grant money?
For the last 10 years, each pre-K through middle school in the district received a $5,000 grant. The principal chooses how to appropriate the money. Robinson used the money to install black-and-white hallway murals with photos of all their kids. Nipher used the money for technology in their library. KECC purchased gross motor trikes. North Kirkwood used the money to fund “Pursuit Week.” These things are over and above what PTOs and taxpayers provide. Grants are also given to high school programs and district-wide initiatives, such as funding Project Lead the Way and sponsoring Unified Night Lights. In addition, KSDF is exploring opportunities to offer enrichment grants to meet smaller, more urgent needs. These new grants will be available to any KSD staff member to apply for as soon as fall 2022.
How does the Foundation raise money?
We have three community events each year. The Chili Bowl contest is our fall tradition on Turkey Day Eve. In March, we had our inaugural Splash Expo at the KHS pool benefitting the Legacy Fund for the Walker Natatorium, and in May we held our biggest fundraiser, Spring Fling, featuring a comedy show and auction.
Families also donate directly to the Foundation. The high school pool was 100% donated by the Earl E. and Myrtle E. Walker Foundation, and KSDF has established an endowment fund for pool maintenance. We also have over 20 named awards that are established by private donors. High school students can apply for scholarships from those awards that range from two-year tech school scholarships to arts and sports scholarships. KSD staff also donates to the Foundation through the Pay It Forward payroll deduction donation program.
What is your vision for the Foundation going forward?
The Foundation started with a 25-person, all-volunteer board and ran successfully for over 30 years. I plan to expand on that success, increase our reach, and be a constant contact for KSDF as board officers come and go each term. I would love the board to have diverse representation from our district and continue to bring student-centric ideas that honor traditions and start new ones as well. Ultimately, we have such generous families in our community, and I want to show how their donations impact Kirkwood kids at the classroom level and for years to come.
Learn more at KirkwoodFoundation.org or contact Stephanie: stephanie.collet@kirkwoodfoundation.org.
