Category: Fundraising

Brookwood Christian reaches GuideStar’s highest Seal of Transparency

Platinum Seal allows donors to focus on progress and results. [PDF Version]

Acworth, Georgia (April 8, 2020) – Brookwood Christian today earned the 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, a service of Candid. By sharing metrics that highlight progress Brookwood Christian is making toward its mission,the organization is helping donors move beyond simplistic ways of nonprofit evaluation such as overhead ratios.

“In accordance with our long-held belief in being transparent about our work,” said Tammy Urban, Director of Development, “we are excited to convey our organization’s results in a user-friendly and highly visual manner. By updating our GuideStar Nonprofit Profile to the Platinum level, we can now easily share a wealth of up-to-date organizational metrics with our supporters as well as GuideStar’s immense online audience, which includes donors, grantmakers, our peers, and the media. These resources are going to be invaluable now, more than ever, with the current COVID-19 situation.”

To reach the Platinum level, Brookwood Christian added extensive informationto its Nonprofit Profile on GuideStar: basic contact and organizational information; in-depth financial information; qualitative information about goals, strategies, and capabilities; and quantitative information about results and progress toward its mission. By taking the time to provide this information, Brookwood Christian has demonstrated its commitment to transparency and to giving donors and funders meaningful data to evaluate nonprofit performance.

Sharing these metrics will be critical for Brookwood Christian during these uncertain times as they postponed two major fundraisers that raise scholarship money to aid their families who want what is best for their child(ren) with reading/processing struggles. “As the parents of a child with auditory processing disorder and several other special needs we were determined to give our son every opportunity we could for him to succeed” said Shan Burnette. “We are confident that Brookwood was the key that opened the door for our son to have everything he needs for success.”

“I encourage you to visit our profile on GuideStar to see what we’re all about,” added Tammy Urban. “We’re thrilled that our GuideStar Platinum Nonprofit Profile and its associated benefits help us better communicate our organization’s exciting initiatives.”

About GuideStar Nonprofit Profiles
In February 2019, GuideStar joined forces with Foundation Center to form Candid, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Today, GuideStar is a service of Candid. The GuideStar database contains a profile for every tax-exempt nonprofit registered with the IRS. The profiles are populated with information directly from nonprofits, the IRS, and other partners in the nonprofit sector. Candid encourages every nonprofit to claim and update its profile at no cost to the organization. Updating allows nonprofits to share a wealth of up-to-date information with the more than 13 million people who visit guidestar.org to learn more about nonprofit organizations each year. Updating also allows nonprofits to share information with the more than 200 philanthropic websites and applications that are powered by GuideStar data, such as AmazonSmile, Facebook, and Network for Good. To reach a given participation level, organizations must complete all required fields for that level. The GuideStar participation levels, acknowledged as symbols of transparency in the nonprofit sector, are displayed on all updated participants’ profiles in the GuideStar database.

About Candid
Every year, millions of nonprofits spend trillions of dollars around the world. Candid finds out where that money comes from, where it goes, and why it matters. Through research, collaboration, and training, Candid connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to do it. Candid’s data tools on nonprofits, foundations, and grants are the most comprehensive in the world. Find out more at candid.org and on Twitter @CandidDotOrg.

Media Contacts:
Tammy Urban
Director of Development
Brookwood Christian School
first.last@brookwoodchristian.com
678-401-5855

Can you help our Scholarship Fund?

As the result of the current COVID-19 pandemic and the understandable mandates regarding social gatherings, we have had to postpone 2 fundraisers, and may possibly have to postpone a 3rd. These fundraisers are crucial in helping fund scholarships and our reading programs.

Dyslexia and other reading issues affect 1 in 5 people in the United States. Sixty-five percent of Georgia 4th graders are not reading at the proficient level and 4th grade is considered the “watershed year”, meaning a child not reading proficiently has a 78% chance of NOT catching up. Two-thirds of those not reading proficiently by the end of 4th grade end up in poverty. We aim to prevent that for our students.

Most of our students attend private school out of need only, they are not being served in public school, it is not a luxury, and many struggle with our tuition, though it is among the lowest in the Northwest Metro Atlanta area.  Many of our students do not start with us until about 3rd grade, when parents start realizing their child is not progressing with reading. Our curriculum, combined with very small class sizes, gives these students an environment in which they can learn. You can read many of their stories HERE.

Our Ride 2 Read as well as our Spring Tea and Auction were postponed, and possibly our Dyslexia Rocks Concert, depending on upcoming developments. Combined, these fundraisers would have generated over $30,000 toward scholarship funds for our students. While we still plan to have these fundraisers, the timing & participation level are so uncertain at this time.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed Friday has measures to help non-profit organizations such as ours. This will apply only to charitable contributions made in 2020. You can read the full bill HERE.

The CARES Act temporarily creates something nonprofits have long sought: a “universal charitable deduction,” also known as an above-the-line” deduction for donations. That means taxpayers can easily claim the deduction on their tax forms without having to go through the extra step of itemizing.

If you, or someone you know can help, please support our school and our students, who need these services.

Here is how you can give:

  • You can text SCHOLARSHIP to 404-491-7724 or click HERE.
  • You can also donate on FACEBOOK. Just click the DONATE button.
  • You can also donate to the Georgia Tax Credit Scholarship, which not only gives us the much needed funds, but you get a dollar for dollar TAX CREDIT on your Georgia Income Taxes. You can read more about that HERE, and pledge and donate HERE. 
  • Businesses (Both S and C-corps) can participate too, depending on their Georgia Tax Liability, so share with any friends or family who are business owners. More details HERE.
  • You can read more about other Giving methods HERE.

We depend on and appreciate the generosity of donors, parents, grandparents, foundations, and community friends to support annual operating expenses, financial aid, and future growth. It really takes a village! <3

Brookwood Christian School respects your privacy and will never release your contact, check, or credit card information.

Brookwood Christian School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
TAX ID [EIN]: 20-8499098.


Senate Bill 173 up for Reconsideration

Senate Bill 173 is up for reconsideration during this legislative session. The bill addresses  Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and was introduced last session and defeated 28-25.

The bill would allow parents to use funds earmarked for public education to pay for qualified education expenses, including private school tuition. This would not be dependent on an IEP or 504, though we are not clear if this could supplement other scholarships or if receiving others, students may not be eligible for this. We will update as we find out.

Bills such as this would greatly benefit so many of our families. Most of our students, 93%, receive some sort of financial assistance, and over 40% receive at least 2 sources of financial assistance. The largest funding source is the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (SB10) with other sources including: Georgia Tax Credit Scholarship, Easter Seals, and other Foundation Scholarships. 

Having an additional option for many families would help students receive the services they desperately need without a financial burden on their families.


House Bill 939

Georgia House Bill 939 will keep the cap on Georgia’s Tax Credit Scholarship program at $100 million. House Bill 217 (March 2018) made a cap increase from $58 million to $100 million. However, the bill has the cap returning to $58 million by 2029.

We realize this is not an immediate concern, but we also realize how much this scholarship benefits many of our families, and want to keep it as an option for our younger students who may still be enrolled at that time, as well as future students.

The $58 million cap was first exceeded in 2016 (2015 pledge year), which had the approved pledged amounts diminished to keep the totals under the cap. At that time, the approval rate was 91% of what was pledged. During the 2017 and 2018 cycle, the approval rates were 42% and 55%, respectively.

Last year, 2019, we saw not only a marked increase in pledges (42%) over the previous year, with the cap increase, it generated 146% more scholarship money for our students, many of whom would not be able to attend without this assistance.

The chart below shows how amazing our families are, the increase in pledging support as well as fulfilling their commitment. In each instance where the yellow bar (fulfillment) does not meet the red bar (approved amount), there was an unexpected financial situation that reduced the amount they were able to contribute, which is entirely understandable.

As we are embarking on 15 years of helping students reach their full reading potential (you can see our RESULTS), our ultimate goal is to have no child unable to attend because of his/her family’s financial situation. This scholarship, as well as our fundraising events, are essential for that endeavor. The graph below clearly shows the negative impact the $58 million cap had, where red & yellow were considerably below the blue (pledged amount) for 2017 & 2018.

PLEASE REACH OUT to your Representative and share this information.

Also, the 2020 cap has not been met! You can still help!

Click HERE for MORE INFORMATION and HERE to PLEDGE

#UntilEveryoneCanRead #1in5

Santa at the Holbrook

The Holbrook in Acworth was the title sponsor of our recent Acworth Charm Tour fundraiser, and instrumental in the success we had. Please consider supporting them and thanking them for their generosity.

Students will be bringing home information about the upcoming Christmas Event the Holbrook is hosting:

Sunday, December 15 the Holbrook will be hosting Santa and Mrs. Claus from 2:30pm – 4:30pm and Brunch at Zinnia Cafe & Market from Noon – 3pm.

Please RSVP for Brunch by email or calling: 678-424-3053.

Ways You Can Give

As we approach the end of the year and the beginning of the Christmas season, please remember us whether it’s by directly giving, planning your tax season, or during your Christmas Shopping.

Three easy ways to donate:

1. Use Amazon Smile while shopping

2. Donate on Facebook during Giving Tuesday

3. Pledge then donate in March to the Georgia Tax Credit Scholarship

As you all know, Brookwood Christian depends on the generosity of donors, parents, grandparents, foundations, and community friends to support annual operating expenses, financial aid, and future growth. Tuition & the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (SB10) support approximately 80% of the annual operating budget. Your generous donations helped us raise over $100,000 last year, and we are heading toward another successful year, thanks to all of you!

#GivingTuesday 2019

Acworth, GA (November December 2, 2019) – December 3, 2019 is #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners – charities, families, businesses, and individuals—to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this year, December 3, 2019, to kick off the holiday giving season and to inspire people to give. Millions of people around the world have participated in the movement.

This year, Facebook will be matching up to $7 million of funds raised on Facebook for US nonprofits. Whether you have $10, $100, or $1000 to give, it all adds up for us! Especially when being matched! This is also a great way to maximize an end of year tax deduction. In our first #GivingTuesday we raised $1,870. During our second one, last year, we raised $2,765 and exceeded our $2,500 goal! … Our goal this year is $3,000.

In the spirit of giving, we will rekindle our #GivingTowelTuesday campaign to donate towels to Lake City & Acworth Animal Hospitals (one of our biggest supporters) to use for their Road Trip Home Animal Rescue support. On the last Tuesday of the month we will collect gently used towels and blankets to donate to help them help the rescue.

“After an overwhelming show of support from our community during our 2018/2019, raising $122,340.65, we feel compelled to continue our Giving Towel Tuesday program.” Said Kim Wigington, Principal, “One of our biggest sponsors & supporters, a local veterinary service, is constantly needing towels for one of the charities they support, Road Trip Home Animal Rescue. We knew our families would support this and they did not disappoint. We collected over 175 towels and blankets during our first year and almost double that last year!

Those who are interested in joining Brookwood Christian’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit 
https://www.facebook.com/donate/473334129957473/

###

About Brookwood Christian

Brookwood Christian School is a private, non-profit, non-denominational Christian school that serves students who have not been successful in public or private schools due to their unique learning needs: individual or multiple learning disorders such dyslexia, reading & language processing disorders, auditory processing disorders, attention deficit disorder, neurological disorders, and other specific learning disabilities. Most of our operating budget comes from tuition payments augmented by the Georgia SB-10 scholarship program. Eighty percent of our students receive some sort of financial assistance. Recognition such as this helps with our fundraising which helps keep our operating costs and tuition low.

About #GivingTuesday

Founded in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y – a community and cultural center in New York City − #GivingTuesday inspired millions of people to give back and support the causes they believe in. Over $300 million was raised online to benefit a tremendously broad range of organizations, and much more was given in volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and acts of kindness. “It’s been a privilege to work with remarkable leaders all over the country building a movement around #GivingTuesday,” said Henry Timms, 92Y’s Executive Director and founder of #GivingTuesday. “This initiative has truly been crowd-sourced by some of the smartest and most connected minds among the next generation of philanthropists and entrepreneurs.”

It inspires people to take collective action to improve their communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they believe in, and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday demonstrates how every act of generosity counts, and that they mean even more when we give together.

To learn more about #GivingTuesday participants and activities or to join the celebration of giving, please visit:
Website: www.givingtuesday.org

or follow @GivingTues and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on social media.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday
Twitter: twitter.com/GivingTuesday

Media Contacts:

Tammy Urban
Director of Development
Brookwood Christian School
first.last@brookwoodchristian.com
678-401-5855

Acworth Charm Home Tour

Our 5th Annual Acworth Charm Historic Home tour is this Saturday. The weather is going to be wonderful and perfect for a home tour.

This is a joint fundraiser for Brookwood and The Acworth Cultural Arts Center, which has been very supportive of the school and our other fundraisers.

Get your tickets now! Only $40 until 6pm Friday, $45 day of the tour.

See 9 beautiful homes, an Old Jail, and a 150 year old Church.

>Text “CHARM” to 404-491-7724 OR

>Visit: https://acworthhistorictours.wordpress.com/ OR

>Stop by the Old Jail, Acworth Cultural Arts Center at 4361 Senator Russell Avenue between 9:30am and 4pm through Friday.

Brookwood families can text “CHARM” to pay and we can send tickets home with your student.

Henry’s Helps!

Join us for dinner at Henry’s Louisiana Grill on Tuesday, October 29, as we wrap up Dyslexia Awareness Month. Just leave your itemized receipt in the #HenrysHelps jar before you leave.

Henry’s will donate 15% of food and non-alcoholic beverage sales to Brookwood Christian from the collected itemized receipts! Dine in or take out! Make your reservations now if you are going to dine in!

#SayDyslexia #UntilEveryoneCanRead #1in5








Important FACTS Updates

Brookwood Christian is in the process of implementing several services to make things easier for our families, students, staff, and to consilidate & minimize redundancy in the office.

Features to look for:
-Premier Billing (FACTS Tuition & SIS merge)
-Grant & Aid Applications
-Online Application and/or Reenrollment
-Giving

PREMIER BILLING

As many of you know, in Fall of 2017 we began utilizing FACTS Tuition to reduce the amount of time spent in the office dealing with bookkeeping and deposits. Within 3 months, the only regret we had was not doing it sooner!

During the Spring of 2018, McGraw-Hill announced that Engrade would no longer be an option for Student Information Systems (SIS) and Report Cards, so the logical step was RenWeb, a “sister company” of FACTS, both of whom have been leaders of these services for private schools across the U.S.

During the Fall of 2018, FACTS & RenWeb formally merged into one company and as we learned this summer at the FACTS conference, many changes are coming that will make things easier for both our families and staff.

The biggest one, which we are in process of implementing, is having FACTS Tuition and FACTS SIS system integrated into ONE easier to use system, Premier Billing. Below are some of the benefits for our families:

Simplified Enrollment

  • FACTS offers a faster, easier way for parents to enroll using Premier Billing. Parents simply select a payment plan as part of their enrollment/re-enrollment process.
  • Re-enrolling parents can pay registration fees using the stored bank account information in FACTS and view their enrollment fee payment in their FACTS financial activity.

Easy Login

  • Parents can view academic information and pay tuition and fees from any device with one username and password.
  • Premier Billing allows parents to access correspondence and account details, add funds to their prepay accounts, and make payments on tuition and bills from a single login.

Information Security

  • Your family data is kept under digital lock and key with the highest security standards in the industry.

GRANT & AID

This service will streamline applying for scholarships and aid (excluding the Georgia Special Needs (SB10) Scholarship). With a true, independently determined need of our families, this can not only make it possible to find other sources of funding, but also give a clear picture of need for other funding and grant writing.

  • Easy online application guides families through the entire process.
  • With one application and a single application fee, families can apply for aid at multiple FACTS schools.
  • All required verification documents are easily uploaded.
  • Families are alerted of their award status via email and can accept or decline online.
  • FACTS offers in-house customer service center staffed with best-in-class live agents and web chat.
  • Accessible through all modern internet browsers with a responsive design that gives families access through their preferred device, from desktop to tablet to phone.
  • FACTS provide the highest security standards in the industry when it comes to the collection and storage of financial and demographic data.

ONLINE APPLICATION & ENROLLMENT

Using a cost-effective school enrollment solution allows us to go paperless and view applications and enrollment packets as they are completed – saving time, resources, and making school budget projections more accurate. Benefits for families include:

  • Easy applications. School admissions solutions shouldn’t be complicated. Responsive application design and pre-populated demographic fields make admissions and enrollment a breeze.
  • Quick and simple. Families can sign up for payment plans during enrollment or re-enrollment.
  • No paper needed. No more leaving work early to turn in school paperwork. Parents can make their application fee payment on the go and send/receive referral forms online.
  • Access from anywhere. Parents can complete application and enrollment packets with any device – from laptop to smartphone.

FACTS GIVING

This service will make it easier for people to donate. Whether it’s our families, our alumni, or the broader community, this gives us the flexibility to create various appeals and events, and offers donors the ability to give via online gifts, text, pledges, event registrations, and more.

  • Donors can easily donate from any device via credit card, debit card, or ACH.
  • Text-to-give capability makes giving easy and convenient for our donors and for fundraising events.
  • Progress tracker updates, so donors can see their immediate impact on a project’s goals.
  • Donors can choose to cover transaction fees.
  • Supports one-time gifts, recurring donations, and pledges.
  • Email and text receipts make it easy to track individual giving and organize information for tax purposes.
  • No worries about payment or demographic information thanks to FACTS’ industry-leading security standards.

All four of these services are currently in
the implementation process. We will let you know once they are available for your use.

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding during this process, we are confident that once implemented this will make things so much easier for all of us. If you have ANY questions, Ms. Tammy will be available during Sneak-a-Peak, Wednesday, August 7th from 1-3pm.