Community Partnership in Action: Nonprofit Foundation Training for a New Generation of Leaders

Every student deserves a learning experience where opportunities aren’t limited by budget constraints, but for many schools those opportunities depend on the success of volunteer-run foundations. 

These small nonprofits play a crucial role in generating revenue and resources to support a fuller educational experience for the students. The funds they generate can be put towards programs for sports, arts, music, robotics, or even used to support essential supplies. 

“School site foundations help to bridge the gap between what the district can provide and what our schools need,” said Kathleen Porter, Executive Director of Career Technical, Adult and Alternative Education at Poway Unified School District (PUSD). 

But running a school site foundation is no easy bake sale. 

School site foundations often face significant challenges with the complexities of nonprofit laws, tax requirements, and financial oversight—all while ensuring their schools get the resources they desperately need. 

“There's a lot of responsibility in managing these organizations,” Porter continued. “The volunteers who step up to do the work don’t always have the time, experience or background to manage it all. As school site foundations continue to grow, the need for their leaders to understand proper governance, compliance, and effective fundraising has only intensified.”

Recognizing these challenges, UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies and PUSD came together with a vision: to create a community action partnership focused around a comprehensive foundation training program that empowers leaders to navigate the complexities of running a school site foundation with clarity and confidence.

The Challenges of School Site Foundations

The nature of school site foundations are often as diverse as the schools themselves. 

In some cases, a foundation might be responsible for managing significant budgets and complex projects. 

In others, it could be a small, grassroots effort led by just a few dedicated parents. 

There may also be multiple school site foundations operating out of each district, with a top one managed by district representatives, and additional smaller and independent foundations for each individual school.

Regardless of size, each foundation must comply with legal requirements, maintain accurate financial records, and create effective fundraising strategies. 

While many foundation leaders are eager to support their schools, they can easily feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. 

"These are volunteers who are passionate about supporting their schools but may not realize what they've signed up for," said Porter. "The work is complex, and it's not just about raising money—it's about managing a business.”

PUSD administrators were doing what they could to help support the many different site foundations within their district but found that they were consistently falling short. 

"We were hosting foundation summits twice a year, but it wasn’t enough," Porter added. "Our leaders were looking for more opportunities to connect and get the training they need. That’s where UC San Diego came in."

A Community Action Partnership with Purpose

The partnership between UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies and PUSD evolved through a series of in-depth conversations aimed at understanding the unique needs of community school districts and how UC San Diego could potentially assist.

“The plan was to work together to think about where the needs lie and how we can attend to them,” said Morgan Appel, Assistant Dean of Education and Community Outreach with UC San Diego Extended Studies. “It wasn’t about us being the ‘resident experts’ and delivering a prepackaged solution. It’s about being equal partners with the district to co-create something meaningful and impactful.”

Through these conversations, Porter and Appel identified that a key gap was a lack of ongoing support for school site foundation leaders, who wanted more opportunities to connect, learn, and share resources.

“When I talked with Morgan [Appel] about it, I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we could create an academy for foundation leaders?’” said Porter. “Morgan grabbed onto that and immediately got to work.”

Porter and Appel worked together to identify important topics based on feedback from PUSD foundation leaders. From these initial conversations, a rough outline of a potential program emerged. 

A Unique Approach to School Foundations Training

The foundation training program Appel and Porter developed covers a wide range of topics that are essential for nonprofit management. These include legal and financial fundamentals, effective governance, fundraising techniques, communication strategies, and more. 

For each session, local experts will be brought in to lead a discussion about the topic. Rather than simply delivering information to participants, the idea is to explore their specific pain points, develop an atmosphere of collaboration, and even uncover expertise that might already exist in the group. 

“We know that some school site foundations are operating at maximum efficiency, while others are just learning the basics,” said Appel. “This program creates a unique opportunity for foundation leaders with experience to share their expertise and create a community of support with those just starting out.”

Appel emphasized the flexibility of the program, noting that it allows foundation leaders to focus on the areas most relevant to their roles. 

"If someone is a treasurer and wants to learn more about financial management, they can attend those sessions. If someone else is focused on fundraising, they can join the sessions that address those challenges,” said Appel. “It’s about giving each leader what they need to be successful in their specific role."

Offering a mix of in-person and virtual sessions, the program format allows participants to engage deeply with topics relevant to them while accommodating busy schedules.

"We wanted to make this as hands-on as possible," said Appel. "It’s not just about learning theory—it’s about applying these principles in real-world scenarios that foundation leaders are facing every day."

School and Community Impact 

The ultimate goal of the program is to strengthen the foundations that support PUSD, enabling schools to operate more effectively and better serve their students and teachers. 

Yet perhaps the larger value will be in empowering volunteers to lead their foundations with renewed skill and confidence. 

"We want to make sure our foundation leaders have every tool available to be as effective as possible," said Porter. “With the right training and support, they can do amazing things."

Beyond the immediate impact on individual schools, the program also reflects UC San Diego’s broader mission of service and community engagement. 

“This partnership is one way we can use our expertise to support and uplift local communities,” said Appel. “It's about truly engaging with our community and meeting real needs. It’s an honor and a privilege to do this work."

Expanding Community Partnerships and Support

The foundation training program is set to begin its first sessions in November, with participants already expressing excitement and anticipation. 

"We have over 30 people signed up so far," said Porter. "There’s a real hunger for this kind of support, and I think it’s going to make a huge difference."

As the program evolves, there is hope that it will serve as a model for other school districts facing similar challenges. 

"This is definitely a ‘proof of concept,’" said Appel. "We’re going to learn a lot as we go. I’m confident that the impact will be positive, not just for the foundations themselves but for the entire district and community."

By providing school site foundations with the training, tools, and support they need, UC San Diego and PUSD are working together to build a stronger, more resilient future for their schools, and a brighter future for the students who depend on them.

To learn more about the program and other community partnerships, visit UC San Diego Extended Studies Education and Community Outreach or email unexeduc@ucsd.edu.