The strength of community By 2010, most school districts in Marin County had foundations working on their behalf. The money they raised stayed in their school districts, and while that worked well in affluent school districts, other districts such as San Rafael, Novato and West Marin didn’t have the same advantage. “They have a harder time raising funds because of demographics,” Garlock reports. That year, the Marin Independent Journal , as part of the newspaper’s 150th anniversary, was looking for ways to support public education. Representatives of the paper met with then-Marin County schools superintendent Mary Jane Burke and offered free advertising space to let readers know that the schools needed money. Not all districts had the resources to provide camera-ready ad copy, however, and the solution was to get all the foundations to collaborate. The result was SchoolsRule-Marin. “I’d been around the longest,” says Garlock about how she became the executive director. The Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) was the fiscal sponsor, so it provided office space and handled donations. MCOE is a tax-exempt nonprofit, but while the foundations are 501(c)(3)s, as a government- funded educational organization, MCOE is tax-exempt under the terms of IRS Code 170(c)1. The money was divided equally on a per-student basis so that every child in every public school benefited, and those with foundations knew how to use the funds most effectively. “It might hire a music teacher or a place for a drama program,” Garlock explains. But whatever its use, 100% goes directly into school programs to benefit the kids. At the outset, Redwood Credit Union, a 501(c)(1) nonprofit, stepped up to become a major donor, and then in November 2023, SchoolRules-Sonoma County launched, and RCU hosted the kick-off party and made a three-year commitment to donate $50,000 annually to help the new nonprofit start out on firm financial footing. RCU President and CEO Brett Martinez spoke about the credit union’s long-standing support of SchoolsRule-Marin and his belief in a countywide approach, which began when Burke first approached him to solicit RCU’s support. “Providing well-rounded education opportunities for all students is vital to the future of our communities,” he says. “When I learned what SchoolsRule-Marin was doing, I saw it for the amazing idea that it was, and so we made the commitment right then. It’s a gift for us to be able to replicate Marin’s success in Sonoma County.” He added that beginning in January, RCU will make a donation to SchoolsRule-Sonoma County every time a Sonoma County resident makes a purchase using their RCU credit card, beginning in January, in a program similar to one in Marin County. Local support is essential for nonprofits to be successful. “It’s an investment in our communities,” says Jacobs. She points out, however, that the greatest measure of success is eliminating the need a nonprofit seeks to address. “The ultimate goal is to solve a huge problem and go out of business. That means you’ve been successful,” she explains. Meanwhile, the needs are great, and the work goes on thanks to caring individuals dedicated to helping others. “People who work in nonprofits all have such big hearts,” she says. “That has never changed. That is something that will be around forever.” Check out a Board Governance Boot Camp video at cvnl.org/ board-governance-boot-camp . g
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator is an independent 501(c) (3) organization that objectively rates nonprofits using information from the IRS, partners and the charities themselves and gives advice on making charitable donations easily and wisely. Its evaluations focus on cost-effectiveness and the way a nonprofit uses the funds it receives, as well as the overall health of its programs. Charity Navigator’s highest rating is 100% and four stars, and in 20 years of operation, it has rated more than 200,000 nonprofits. Redwood Empire Food Bank has earned the top rating for 15 consecutive years. “At the Redwood Empire Food Bank, we’re dedicated to effective nonprofit practices,” says Hunger Relief Worker and CEO David Goodman. “We prioritize transparency, fiscal responsibility and impact, ensuring that every effort contributes to our mission of ending hunger in our community. Our commitment to rigorous financial stewardship and accountability is not just about earning trust with our donors, it’s the cornerstone of our work. We take pride in our dedication to excellence and hope it serves as an inspiration for other nonprofits striving to make a meaningful difference.” To learn more, go to charitynavigator.org.
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January 2024
NorthBaybiz 27
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