Overview

Since its inception in 1980, the Corte Madera Larkspur Schools Foundation (SPARK) has played an important role in financially supporting programs that are at risk of being cut or scaled back in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District. In an ongoing effort to share as much information as possible, we have provided you with the most recent financial data available from the 2021-2022 school year (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022):Revenue Sources 2021-2022

Last year, the Foundation raised just over its fundraising goal of $1.5M with a total gross revenue of $1.59M. Our commitment to the District was $1.25M. Due to the generosity of our families, Biz partners, and other community members, we were able to meet our commitment.
SPARK’s largest source of revenue was generated from the Annual Giving Campaign, which brought in  $1.19M with direct financial contributions plus corporate matching gifts and marked a new fundraising record for the Foundation. Thanks to generous local and family business supporters, SPARK Biz brought in $79k of gross revenue, an increase from the previous fiscal year. In 2021-2022, SPARK’s three fundraising events — Drive-In Movie Night $13k; Online Auction $115k and our return to an in-person Spring event, Boots & Bling $164k; — combined raised $292k of the gross revenue.

Note: For the purposes of this outline, numbers were rounded to the nearest thousand and percentage.

District Support 2021-2022

Revenue from the Foundation makes up nearly 6% of the overall District operating budget. In 2021-2022, with its $1.2M gift to the District, SPARK helped fund salaries and benefits for 13 teachers to support MAST programs:

  • 4 Music specialists
  • 3 Art specialists 
  • 2 Technology specialists
  • 3 Counselors
  • 1 Reading specialist (funded by SchoolsRule grant)

SPARK also funded materials and supplies for MAST+Wellness programs at all three schools. The breakdown was: $393K for Music;  $231K for Art; $70k for Science; $108K for Technology; $338k for Counselors; $10K for Reading Specialist; $15K for Next Generation Science Standards/Project Lead the Way (Cove/Neil Cummins); $17K for materials and supplies for MAST programs at Hall funded by SchoolsRule grant; $20k for Discretionary Budgets for Principals use towards MAST+Wellness programs.

Operating Expenses

As a non-profit foundation, SPARK strives to keep its fundraising and operation costs to a minimum. Overhead expenses totaled $250K, which includes advertising/promotional costs, legal and professional fees (ie., accountant/external auditor), insurance, software, bank fees, dues and subscriptions, bookkeeping expenses plus staffing costs for one full-time and three part-time employees (Executive Director, Operations Director, Marketing Director and Bookkeeper). This accounts for 16% of net revenues.

Fundraising expenses totaled $84K, which included all costs associated with event production (catering, venue rental, decor, entertainment, and marketing assets).

Last year, SPARK voted to support the Measure B Parcel Tax campaign with a $15k donation. As a 501(c)(3) organization, SPARK is permitted to make a contribution to a ballot measure. This contribution was made utilizing event revenue and was part of a coordinated effort, along with The Cove PTO, Neil Cummins PTO, and Hall PTA,  to support this measure which directly benefitted the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District. 

Of the $1.5M, raised in 2021-2022, just over $1.2M went directly to the District to pay for programs, teacher salaries and benefits, and materials at the three schools.