Frequently Asked Question
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Q. What is the relationship between Panhandle Alliance for Education and the Lake Pend Oreille School District?
"); document.write("A. The Panhandle Alliance for Education is a private, independent, community-based organization. While we share LPOSD goals of improving student achievement, Panhandle Alliance will build community support through raising private money to help achieve that goal. We are a tax-exempt charitable 501(c)(3) organization. The 21-member board of the Panhandle Alliance for Education includes a school superintendent, a teacher and two members of the LPOSD Board of Trustees along with business people, civic leaders and interested citizens.
"); document.write("Q. What happens to the money the Alliance raises?
"); document.write("A. The Alliance has three funds, an Endowment Fund, an Annual Fund, and an Operating Fund. The Endowment is managed by the Idaho Community Foundation and now contains more than $1,400,000. In only its first six years, the Alliance made grants from the Annual Fund in excess of $606,000. In addition, the Alliance has committed almost $518,000 in total strategic programs and the Big Idea Grants. The Operating Fund is used to pay the Alliance’s operating expenses including fundraising.
"); document.write("Q. Why is local money placed with the Idaho Community Foundation?
"); document.write("A. The Idaho Community Foundation has the experience and expertise to manage invested funds for the purpose of building an Endowment.
"); document.write("In the Panhandle, we often feel far removed from the rest of Idaho. Working with ICF is one small way to connect our local efforts with similar efforts around the state.
"); document.write("Q. Why would anyone give money to the Endowment Fund?
"); document.write("A. People give money or other accumulated wealth (appreciated stocks, real estate, etc.) for a variety of reasons, including tax benefits. For example, long-time Sandpoint resident Betty Ann Diehl recently established a $50,000 endowment that benefits the Alliance and requires that the Alliance use the funds for the purpose of promoting arts and music education. A gift to the Panhandle Alliance Endowment Fund is tax exempt and it also helps to assure future funding on behalf of children in the schools of the Lake Pend Oreille School District.
"); document.write("People interested in making such a gift should consult with their financial planner.
"); document.write("Q. What if I want to give money for teachers to use now, not for building the Endowment Fund?
"); document.write("A. When you make a donation to the Panhandle Alliance for Education you can designate whether you want your gift used for the Endowment Fund, the Annual Fund, the Operating Fund, the Reading Program or any combination of the above. The Annual Fund is used to make yearly grants consistent with our mission, and is based on a competitive application process. The Operating Fund supports the work of the Panhandle Alliance for Education, including fundraising and administration. The Reading Program is a four-year comprehensive staff development project designed to improve reading instruction and student achievement in reading.
"); document.write("Q. What if I want to give to a specific project at my child's school? Can I do that through the Panhandle Alliance or should I just write a check for the school?
"); document.write("A. The Panhandle Alliance for Education encourages support for public schools in as many ways as possible. If your school or parent-teacher organization is raising money for a specific project that you believe is worthy, by all means write a check for that project.
"); document.write("We hope that you will also find the work of the Panhandle Alliance worthy of your support with a donation to the Annual Fund for school grants and/or the Endowment Fund.
"); document.write("Q. Panhandle Alliance says it wants to build community support for schools. How can it do that without violating restrictions on advocacy by charitable organizations?
"); document.write("A. Organizations such as the Alliance are not restricted from participating in the free flow of information about schools, about curriculum, about reform efforts, about test scores, and about local ballot measures. In fact, one of our goals is to be a trusted source of information about education issues. However, the Panhandle Alliance does not takes sides in local controversies, nor will it support or oppose candidates for election or any ballot measure, including school levies and bond issues.
"); document.write("Alliance staff and board members are free to express their personal views on matters of local interest, including education issues.
"); document.write("Q. A few years ago there was a local organization called Citizens for Quality Education, or CQE. What happened to CQE? Is Panhandle Alliance a new version of that?
"); document.write("A. We are two separate organizations. Citizens for Quality Education (CQE) was organized a number of years ago to assist the district in development of a strategic plan and to raise money for teachers to use in classrooms. It is now inactive and several CQE organizers and supporters are on the Panhandle Alliance board of directors.
"); document.write("Unlike CQE, the Panhandle Alliance for Education is a tax-exempt charitable 501(c)(3) organization. Our focus is on creating a public school Endowment Fund and raising money for local grants to teachers and schools.
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