The Vancouver School Board and individual schools received more than $2.7 million in donations last year and $6.8 million over the last three years.
What the board and each school received is outlined in a report that’s going to the VSB’s finance and legal committee meeting Feb. 25.
A subcommittee of the board’s advocacy committee completed a report in 2013 that didn’t specify the amounts per school. Vision Vancouver trustee Mike Lombardi said then that school administrators felt reluctant to see the amounts they raised, which ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, publicized.
VSB secretary-treasurer Rick Krowchuk said staff undertook the latest report to see whether trustees want the board to fundraise more actively.
“The senior management team is currently reviewing our policies, procedures and practices with respect to donations,” the report states. “This will include methods to improve communications and awareness, and management of donated funds.”
Krowchuk said money raised wouldn’t be used to address the board’s annual shortfall, which is projected to be $17.9 million for 2015-2016, or to replace provincial funding.
“But at least it could be some positive things in other areas, like the computer replacements, or technology or field trips,” he said.
“It could be building up relationships with various organizations that want to donate and building a relationship with those people who may continue to donate year after year,” Krowchuk added.
NPA board chairperson Christopher Richardson and NPA trustee Penny Noble both hail from fundraising backgrounds. Noble said in the lead-up to the November election the board needs to seek other sources of funding in addition to money from the provincial government.
Krowchuk said the donations report wasn’t spurred by these trustees or controversy during the election about whether the board should have accepted money from Chevron.
Richardson said the Surrey school district includes a business development office, and perhaps the VSB should have a revenue development office to ramp up rentals. He’s heard the Ottawa school district operates a development program that focuses on individuals, bequests, bursaries and scholarships.
A foundation previously raised money for the VSB but was disbanded, according to previous Vision Vancouver board chairperson Patti Bacchus, because its operation was too costly. Krowchuk said the board wouldn’t necessarily need a foundation to attract donations.
The VSB received $2.4 million in donations over three years for multi-school initiatives that include breakfast, artist in residence and Project Chef programs. Individual schools received a total of $1.6 million over three years, according to the donations report.
David Thompson secondary received the greatest amount of donations of any school in the district — $170,000 in 2013-2014, with major gifts given from two alumni.
Hamber secondary in the Oakridge area reported receiving the lowest amount of all the high schools — $3,400 for 2013-2014, with no donations reported in the preceding two years.
The amounts included in the report are only those for which the VSB issued tax receipts. Funds raised through bake sales are not included, and the report states the majority of donations to schools comprise a large number of smaller amounts.
Grandview elementary received the greatest amount of money per student last year at $502 per student; Queen Alexandra elementary received the second highest amount at $233 per student. Large donations typically fund breakfast programs and playgrounds.
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