1. Yes, You Can Start an
Independent, Nonprofit
Immersion School!
Margaret (Peggy) Sharkey
www.globaissance.org
NCLC 2013, Boston, MA
.org

2. Disclaimer
The content in this presentation is not meant to replace the advice of such
professionals as lawyers and accountants. Instead, it is meant to be a
starting point for colleagues interested in starting an independent, nonprofit
immersion school.

3. The Good News, Bad News
Mandarin Immersion Parents Council
http://miparentscouncil.org/2013/04/05/mandarin-
immersion-schools-where-we-stand-in-2013/
Center for Applied Linguistics
http://www.cal.org/resources/immersion/Doc/Language
%20Immersion%20Schools%20by%20State.pdf
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION and Equity of Access
“The two powerhouse states when it comes to Mandarin immersion are California and Utah,
with 34 and 25 programs respectively. Minnesota with seven and Oregon with six are the next
closest.”

4. What Can You Do in
Your Location?
? ?
?
?

5. Independent, Nonprofit
1. Meeting Incorporation and Charter Requirements
2. Managing a Nonprofit Board
3. Applying for 501(c)(3) Status
4. Developing a Business Plan
5. Running a Capital Campaign
6. Accessing Grants
7. Establishing Partnerships

6. 1. a. Meeting Incorporation
Requirements
Nonprofit Governance—State
Articles of Incorporation (Filing Receipt)
Bylaws
Policies, including Conflict of Interest Policy
Form for Registering as a Charitable Organization
Other Filings: tax and corporate fee exemptions, trademarks
Insurance
Board Manual and Policies
Business and Strategic Plans
Annual Financial Budgets, Reports, Audits
Nonprofit Governance—Federal
IRS Nonprofit Application (Form 1023)
IRS Determination
IRS Filings (990)

7. Certificate of Incorporation
Preliminary Steps
Develop Founding Board
Contact Professionals
Sample Document Contents
Name of Corporation
Type of Corporation
Purposes of Incorporation
“To plan for the feasibility for, and to fund, a school…”
Purposes that are NOT allowed
Dissolution Plans

8. BylawsSample Document Contents
Offices
Members
Vote, Consent, Meetings
Board of Directors
General Powers; Qualifications, Number, Term; Quorum and Manner of Voting; Places
of Meetings; Annual Meetings; Notice of Meetings; Organization; Resignation and Removal;
Vacancies; Actions Taken by Written Consent; Participation in Conference Call
Committees
Appointment; Procedures, Quorum, Manner of Acting; Action by Written Consent; Term and
Termination; Committees
Officers
Election and Qualifications; Terms of Office and Removal; Resignation; President; Vice
Presidents; Secretary; Treasurer; Assistant Officers
Staff
Executive Director (CAE); Additional Personnel
Books and Records
Ratification
Corporate Seal
Fiscal Year
Waiver of Notice
Indemnification
Bank Accounts, Drafts, Contracts, Etc.
Amendments

9. 1.b. Meeting Charter
Requirements
State Charter Requirements for Schools
http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/index.html

10. 2. Managing a Nonprofit Board

11. Duty of Care
Focus on good business judgment at all times
Use due diligence in decision-making
Duty of Loyalty
Act in the best interest of the organization
Avoid conflicts of interest
Duty of Obedience
Be faithful to the mission and goals
Follow the governing documents
Legal Considerations

12. Organizational Considerations
Purpose
(Established in legal documents mentioned earlier)
Tools of Governance, Policies, and Procedures
(Presented in Board Manual, which is a living document)
Mission, Vision & Values
(Guide your decisions)
Strategic Planning, including Board Development
(Make your dream a reality)

13. Mission, Vision, Values
Sample Mission (www.globaissance.org)
"If your plan is for one year, plant rice.
If your plan is for ten years, plant trees.
If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children."
Confucius
The mission of the Globaissance Learning Community is to provide world-class
educational opportunities that promote global perspectives and renaissance
thinking in a multilingual environment. We define renaissance thinking as an
integrated appreciation of the Arts and Sciences applied for transformative
purposes. At the heart of the Globaissance Learning Community is a Chinese
immersion elementary school (grades K-6) designed to meet the needs of a
diverse group of intellectually curious learners ready for an in-depth, accelerated
curriculum. Supporting the elementary school is a vibrant community of lifelong
learners. Our international campus serves as an asset to our local community and
model for other communities.

14. Mission, Vision, Values
Sample Vision (www.globaissance.org)
"A human being is a part of the whole called by us ‘universe’.…Our task must be
to free ourselves …by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living
creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
Albert Einstein
The Globaissance Learning Community envisions a world in which education
provides a compass for lifelong learning that guides students to think creatively,
critically, and cross-culturally in order to nurture individual growth, promote social
justice, and protect the planet. A Globaissance education empowers students to
become active global citizens, enabled by knowledge and driven by innovation.

15. Mission, Vision, Values
Sample Educational Values (www.globaissance.org)
"Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses--especially
learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else."
Leonardo da Vinci
We prioritize elementary education. Elementary education plays a fundamental role in shaping the lives of individuals and the nature of
society, laying the foundation for future attainment.
We are advocates for academically talented students. We implement Individualized Learning Plans, coordinating a complete slate of
appropriately-paced, in-depth learning opportunities to meet the needs of students who desire cognitive challenges and peers with whom
to share these challenges.
We champion the outstanding educator, whose success stems from combining artful instruction with extensive knowledge. We uphold the
highest standards of teacher selection and continuous professional development while creating a supportive, collaborative school culture.
We believe that high quality educational experiences are transformative. They are crafted for the individual with the hope of guiding the
student through the process of self-actualization and crafted for society with the hope of making it a better place.
We value renaissance thinking. On the individual level, it feeds a student’s curiosity and imagination. On the societal level, it addresses the
critical issues of the day, such as sustainability, universal human rights, and environmental stewardship.
We strive to teach by example. Community-based initiatives include a Green Campus and Service Learning.
We are passionate about providing students the gift of multiple languages. Research shows that this gift strengthens not only global
communication skills, but also cognitive development.

16. Strategic Planning

17. 3. Applying for 501 (c)(3) Status
IRS Nonprofit Application (Form 1023) and Determination
IRS Filings (990)
Identification
Structure
Required Provisions in Organizing Document
Narrative Description of Your Activities
Compensation and Other Financial Arrangements
Your Members and Other Individuals and Organizations
Your History
Your Specific Activities
Financial Data
Public Charity Status

18. 4. Developing a Business Plan
National Resources
Small Business Association, Massive Online Open Courses
Regional Resources
Economic Development Councils, Chamber of Commerce
Local Resources
Colleges and Universities, Community Loan Funds

19. The Business Model Canvas
http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas
Free Online Course:
https://www.udacity.com/course/ep245

20. The Business Model Canvas
http://welearnsomething.blogspot.com/2011/02/learn
ing-with-business-model.html
http://business.usi.edu/dean/2011spr-cob.aspx

21. 5. Running a Capital Campaign
Try the free iPad app.

22. Big Ideas
Uncovering Your Personal Asking Style
http://www.askingmatters.com/take-a-tour/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVEAErABSBg

23. Details, Details
http://www.majorgivingnow.org/

24. 6. Accessing Grants

25. Grant Research
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Because the best possible decisions are made when
donors, funders, researchers, educators, professional
service providers, governing agencies, and the media use
the quality information that we provide. Those decisions
affect our world today and will continue to affect it for
generations to come.”
Established in 1956 and today supported by close to 550
foundations, the Foundation Center is the leading source
of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through
data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want
to change the world to the resources they need to
succeed.

26. 7. Establishing Partnerships