Local education foundations (LEFs) must become a more important component in the school district’s quest for alternative funding opportunities. The session will outline the very specific reasons why LEFs underachieve and provide the three proven solutions and requirements that make them successful. The most successful education foundation in the state of New Jersey, the Montclair Foundation for Education Excellence and Executive Director Lois Whipple will provide the details of the foundation’s success.Stephen Gilfus, Founder and inventor of Blackboard will present new “cutting edge” solutions using “private-public” partnerships for providing alternative funding opportunities and outline how “shared services” can reduce costs among multiple participating school districts. Bob New, President of MACEF, will present how one PA 501 (C) (3) foundation supports many small school districts in a region/county generating new funding opportunities.