Cooper Center for Environmental Learning
“A University of Arizona and Tucson Unified School District Partnership”
/ UA College of EducationDepartment of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies /
Re: Fundraising Checklist
Dear Educators,
We greatly appreciate your interest and support of the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning. The fees associated with each field trip as listed below.
Half day groups (10am – 1pm): $2.00/student
Full day groups (10am – 4pm): $3.00/student
Overnight groups (10am – 10am the next day): $5.00/student
Sunship III (3 days, 2 nights): $50.00/student* (includes all meals)
Earthkeepers (3 days, 2 nights): TUSD $20.00/student
Non-TUSD $30.00/student
Just as a classroom needs supplies and good leadership to offer quality, hands-on, meaningful educational experiences, so too does the Cooper Center. Recent reductions in the budgets have made it important that all partners (University of Arizona, TUSD, and the field trip groups) help to support Cooper’s educational offerings and leadership.
We understand that this may pose as a challenge for you but we do not want money to be the reason that you and your students cannot attend a program here. We want to offer as much advice and assistance as possible. On the next pages we have several options in a step by step format (organized by ease of completion) to help you raise your necessary funds, supplies, and transportation costs. Remember, parents, your principal and the Cooper staff are there for you to lean on if you need assistance.
Fundraising Checklist
Step 1: You can see if your school has allocated funds for field trips.
Talk to your principal and see if there are any funds available from your school for your field trip. There may be grants the school received or tax credit donations.
Step 2: You can use the Arizona School Tax Credit.
The Arizona School Tax Credit allows individuals to donate to a school to pay for fees, support extracurricular activities, or educational field trips. Each individual can only make this claim once a year for public schools and once a year for private schools. The maximum amount individuals can donate is $200 for singles and $400 for married couples.
People who you can ask to use this Tax Credit:
Yourself
Parents
Other adults (i.e. other school staff, friends, etc.)
Website www.azdor.gov/TaxCredits/SchoolTaxCreditsforIndividuals.aspx#public
Phone (800) 352-4090
Step 3: You can ask local businesses for donations.
These donations may not be actual money but supplies that you may need for your field trip. It is beneficial for local businesses to support communities and schools, as it makes the community want to support them back. Thank you letters from the students go a long way for businesses. It allows them to show that they impact the community in a positive way.
Possible businesses to talk to:
Trader Joe’s and other supermarkets – Food supplies
Parent’s or friends of parents’ businesses
Step 4: You can write a grant.
There are some grant opportunities that you may be able to utilize. Some are more specific while others are broader in coverage. Below are a few grants that are commonly used by Tucson teachers. There are many more grants out there. Ask fellow teachers and your principal for more suggestions.
Wells Fargo Arizona Teacher’s Partner Program:
General Idea Provides financial assistance to teachers (K-12) for educational experiences, such as educational field trips ($500 limit).
Website http://www.azodyssey.org/pdf/wfminigrant.pdf
Phone (800) 711-9590
Target Field Trip Grant:
General Idea Provides financial assistance to teachers (K-12) to bring students out of the classroom for educational field trips ($700 limit).
Website https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/grants/field-trip-grants
Educational Enrichment Foundation (EEF):
General Idea Provides financial assistance for TUSD teachers. Non-TUSD groups are not eligible. These grants are selected in January and awarded in August so it would be for the following year.
Website http://eeftucson.org
Phone (520) 325-8688
Step 5: You can start a fundraising program with a fundraiser.
There are many different fundraising companies out there. This takes a little more organization and a lot more participation from the parents and students but it can be very successful. On the following pages are examples of possible fundraisers to help you get started with some ideas.
Earth Candles:
General Idea Sell eco-friendly soy candles to parents, family members and other supporters.
Website http://www.ezfund.com/program/BrochureCatalog.asp?PgmCde=HC-EARTH
Phone (800) 991-8779
Snail’s Pace:
General Idea Sell 100% recycled, made in USA and guilt-free paper products made by monks including cards, gifting supplies, notebooks and journals, calendars, scrapbook pages and more.
Website www.snailspacepaper.com
Phone (800) 334-1696
Dutch Mill Bulbs:
General Idea Sell guaranteed-to-bloom flower bulbs and rooted plants to parents, family members and school supporters.
Website www.dutchmillbulbs.com
Phone (800) 533-8824
Smencils:
General Idea Sell gourmet scented pens and pencils made from 100% recycled newspapers and recycled plastics to parents, family members and school supporters.
Website www.smencils.com/fundraising.html#
Phone (866) 763-6245
Step 6: If you have exhausted all the above avenues and are still in need of financial assistance please call Mo McMahon at the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning at (520) 743-7422 or email at .
We greatly appreciate your work and time that you put in to allow your students the wondrous experience that they receive out here at the Cooper Center. Thank you for understanding this new change and continuing to support us. We look forward to exploring and sharing the wonders of the Sonoran Desert with you and your students.
Mo “Cactus Wren” McMahon
Instructional Coordinator
Cooper Center for Environmental Learning
University of Arizona – College of Education - P.O. Box 210069 - Tucson, AZ 85721
Phone: 520-743-7422 Email: