Foundation To Aid School Improvements

• By Scott Aronowitz
• 07/20/09

Turning Technologies, a Youngstown, OH-based technology company specializing in assessment tools and software, has established the Turning Foundation, a separate 501(c)3 charitable organization aimed at helping districts and schools secure the resources to advance their facilities improvement goals.

The foundation's offerings will include fundraising and grant efforts focused on targeted giving programs, as well as several outreach and support services aimed at connecting schools in need with sources that have funding available. Explained foundation director John Wilson, "In these difficult times when there are more priorities than resources to go around, the Turning Foundation is here to help connect educators to potential funding sources and help secure those resources for positive impacts on student learning."

To this end, the foundation's support services will include:

• Facilitating the development of school improvement plans;
• Identifying potential resources to support such plans;
• Assisting organizations with the funding application process, including research, language, and application review; and
• Facilitating conversations among funders in an effort to "bundle" multiple resources to support the cost of the overall plan.

The company has committed more than $100,000 per year toward the foundation and has announced it will engage in fundraising and seek additional financial support from other sources to support targeted school and community based programs. The Turning Foundation is currently active, and interested schools and community organizations can visit the website for further information and to learn how to access the foundation's resources.