Partnership Fund

Introduction
Funds
Governance
Accountability
Board of Directors
Board Committees
About Our Staff

Introduction

The Thomas Jefferson Partnership Fund exists for one reason: Private financial support is essential for TJ to continue to offer meaningful college-level educational opportunities to its students and to maintain its reputation for educational excellence.

The TJ Partnership F communications und (PF) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization that raises funds to meet TJ’s unique needs as a premier public science and technology high school. For years, PF funds (see "Funds" below) have been used to purchase equipment for TJ's labs; to fulfill technology or other classroom needs; to make possible special events such as the tjSTAR research symposium; to enhance faculty support and professional development opportunities; and to fund initiatives such as the Principal’s “One Question” grants. Those needs continue, and the PF’s Annual Fund Appeals, from August’s Back-to-School Appeal to May’s In Honor of Faculty Appeal, will continue to raise funds to support current needs.

The PF recently launched TJ 2.0, its Capital Campaign to support TJ’s long-awaited renovation, slated to commence in early 2013. Capital Campaign funds are essential so that the new building provides not just the larger, more useful and attractive space that FCPS funds will support but also the state-of-the-art research equipment and sophisticated technology that meets TJ’s unique needs and goals.

The PF has three constituent boards: The Parent Board reaches out to current and alumni parents, grandparents, and friends; the Alumni Board is the conduit for TJ alumni to support their school with pride; and the Corporate Board seeks to cultivate relationships with corporations and foundations. A new committee supports the TJ 2.0 Capital Campaign, and the Communications Committee gets the word out about what we do.

The PF recognizes several Annual Fund giving levels in a Donor List published each August in the Back-to-School edition of Newsworthy, the PF newsletter. Our “Wall of Honor” recognizes cumulative Annual Fund contributions that have reached significant levels. Capital Campaign gifts are also recognized in our newsletter. Larger gifts will be memorialized on a Capital Campaign “Wall of Honor”, and, as an additional incentive, naming opportunities are available in the new building. Every contribution makes a difference, is appreciated and is recognized. All contributions are tax-deductible.

The PF consists of a volunteer-led group of current and alumni parents, alumni and corporate representatives. As an organization that is almost completely dependent on volunteers, we constantly need and welcome new volunteers in all capacities (please see our Volunteer Form for more information). The PF works in close collaboration with the administration, lab directors and faculty to maximize our support of TJ. We employ a Development Manager, Ellen Smith, who acts as a liaison between the PF and the School and assists us in reaching all of our constituents. Through our work, we aim to build a better school and a stronger community. Please join us.

Funds

Priority Fund — The Priority Fund is the Partnership Fund's unrestricted fund, and is used to fund the School's highest priority needs as determined by the PF Board of Directors in consultation with TJ's Principal. As such, the PF encourages donors to direct their gifts to the Priority Fund, and the Priority Fund receives the bulk of TJ giving. The PF relies on unrestricted gifts to fund large grants to the School, which can be put toward major purchases, to fund frequent smaller grants for the School's tjStar research symposium, One Question initiative, teacher training, and other needs and initiatives, as well as for general operating funds.

Science & Technology Fund — Donations to the Science & Technology Fund are used to purchase equipment for one or more of TJ's thirteen research labs. These funds are often combined with Priority Funds and with individual lab funds in order to make larger purchases or purchases that benefit more than one lab.

Individual Lab Funds — Each of the thirteen research labs has a Lab Fund, which can be used only to purchase equipment for that particular lab. During the Junior Lab Appeal, junior parents designate the individual fund of their student's chosen senior research lab.

Enrichment Fund — Donations to the PF's Enrichment Fund can be used only for non-lab classroom needs.

Governance

The Partnership Fund is governed by an all volunteer board of directors. The board consists of its chairman, secretary and treasurer, four ex-officio members: principal, Immediate Past Board Chairman, TJHSST Alumni Association representative, PTSA president, and eighteen members representing alumni, current and alumni parents, and the local business community. Members of the board are elected at the Fund's annual meeting in June and serve in two staggered two-year terms. Ex-officio members' terms of service coincide with the terms of their respective offices.
The Partnership Fund welcomes all donations, both restricted and unrestricted, that will benefit TJHSST. The PF also encourages and accepts gift-in-kind donations directed to TJHSST. Gift acceptance policies have been established to manage donations of equipment, technology and other non-cash donations.
The Partnership Fund manages its assets in a conservative and accountable manner. It abides by clear, documented procedures governing its operation. The Board of Directors conducts an annual detailed review of financial records, and an external audit is prepared for compliance with general accounting procedures.
The Board is committed to effective stewardship of donors' gifts to the Partnership Fund. A formally adopted Financial Management Plan provides for the security and viability of the funds donated, and is available to all donors and prospective donors. Organizational assets are held in a combination of short-term money market accounts and long-term marketable securities, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Income earned from these investments is allocated to the appropriate funds to best fulfill donor intentions. Policies, procedures and all financial statements are available upon request.

Accountability

The TJ Partnership Fund is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization registered with the IRS and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

We participate in the United Way and are subject to that organization’s rules and regulations.

The PF is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, supported by the services of an independent accounting firm and a separate, also independent, auditing agency. Members of the Board of Directors exercise their fiduciary responsibilities to the PF is the following ways:

Occasional in-person or conference call meetings of the Executive Committee, which is comprised of the Board’s officers;
Monthly in-person or conference call meetings of the Board of Directors itself;
Monthly financial reports prepared and presented to the Board by the Treasurer;
The PF maintains a Finance Committee and an Audit Committee to oversee the PF’s financial operations;
Membership on the Board of Directors by individuals who are parents of TJ students and by individuals who have no direct connection to TJ other than a willingness to serve;
Membership on the Board by at least two representatives of TJ itself, one of whom is the principal;
Open meetings which all interested parties may attend;
Ready public access to our basic financial statements and to our annual tax return (“IRS Form 990”).

Board of Directors

Officers:
Chairman: Mark Skolnik, Parent ’11
Secretary: Ellen Ranard, Parent ’07, ’10
Treasurer: Kyounghee Malawi, Parent ’14

Advisory Board Chairs:
Alumni Advisory Board Chair: Erik Petersen, TJ ’89
Corporate Advisory Board Chairs: Suprotik Ghose, Parent ’13, Julie Reiss, Parent ’14, and Tom Valery, Parent ’14
Parent Advisory Board Chair: Hilde Kahn, Parent ’12, ’14

Committee Chairs:
Capital Campaign Chair: Doug Lobel, Parent ’11
Communications Chair: Ricki Guyant, Parent ’14
Events Chair: Pam Cooper, Parent ’13
Finance & Audit Committee Chair: Dave Cooper, Parent ’13

Representatives:
Principal: Evan Glazer, ex officio
Faculty Representative: Lee Ann Hennig, Astronomy Lab Director
PTSA President: Denise Bunting, Parent ’11, ’12, ’14, ex officio
Alumni Assn. President: Armand Alacbay, TJ ’97, ex officio

Board Committees

Executive Committee — responsible for the day-to-day operational decisions of the Partnership Fund; may exercise all powers of the Board of Directors in the management and affairs of the Partnership Fund so long as its actions are within the fiscal year budget adopted by the Board of Directors. Members of the Executive Committee are the current officers (the Chairman of the Board, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, the Treasurer, and the Secretary), and the Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee.

Communications Committee — guides the development of effective Media Relations, Print/Video/Web Site production, ongoing donor education, campus tours, and donor recognition and provides special event support.

Finance and Audit Committee — responsible for the development of the organization's annual budget, financial plan, and external audit process; including: implementation, ongoing review and annual fund allocations, and general oversight of corporate governance and compliance issues.

Capital Campaign Committee — designs and implements effective fundraising strategies for "TJ 2.0," the PF's ambitious Capital Campaign to raise private support for TJ's upcoming renovation.

Events Committee — plans significant Partnership Fund events, such as the tjSTAR awards dinner, holiday dinner, and other special events, and assists with smaller school events where the PF has a presence.

Staff

The Partnership Fund employs one staff member, Ellen Smith, Development Manager. In addition to running the office, Ellen interfaces with all constituencies and the school administration, oversees database management, and coordinates PF information and activities. If you have questions about the Partnership Fund, please contact Ellen Smith at 703-750-8317 or JeffersonPartnershipFund@tjhsst.edu.