September 2008
I think that all of our North American member schools are now in session—an assumption now that this year’s Labor Day in the United States has come and gone.
ACSI to Offer Ten Repayable Grants:
I am pleased to announce that the ACSI Education Foundation has provided funding to offer repayable grants to ten ACSI member schools for obtaining training in the Benevon Model for Sustainable Funding in 2008–09. The mission of the newly formed ACSI Education Foundation is to "secure, manage, and distribute private support to promote the strategic growth, influence, and effectiveness of Christian schooling." The foundation has acknowledged that Christian schools face 
a great need to build their capacity for effectiveness, sustainability, and growth through mission-driven fund development.
This Benevon Model for Sustainable Funding has been introduced to and piloted by ACSI member schools across North America for two years—with
To date, 19 ACSI member schools have completed the Benevon 101 training and their first Ask Event. The results have been outstanding—over $5.4 million raised in five-year pledges—almost tripling the results achieved by other nonprofits.
demonstrated success. Through our ACSI Education Foundation, we desire to assist schools experiencing challenging cash flow issues to access this training so that they may quickly begin the discipline of cultivating donor support for operations. All schools that are selected to receive this repayable grant must implement the model within one year, thus achieving the capability to repay the grant.* No interest will be charged, and the funds will then be available for other schools to access.
To apply for an ACSI Repayable Grant, please download an application and e-mail it to ACSI’s director of development. A private ACSI Benevon training will be held in Seattle, Washington, November 5–6. Grants can be used to attend other
Benevon 101 Workshopsaround the country as well. For more information, please call toll-free: 866.401.4801.
Council for American Private Education (CAPE)
As most of you are aware, ACSI is a member of CAPE, an umbrella organization that includes just fewer than 20 organizations/associations representing about 80 percent of the private school sector in the United States. As a part of CAPE, we have the opportunity to collaborate with the broader private school community to monitor and address critical issues that protect the interests of private education.
Currently, I serve as the president of CAPE’s board. I consider this both a privilege and a significant responsibility as I represent the concerns of our Christian school constituency and as I have the opportunity to be at the table regarding major issues related to education, in particular to those who are independent of government schools.
This past spring the CAPE board moved to provide Outlook as a free electronic publication to the entire CAPE member constituency. It had previously been a subscription publication.
Produced monthly, Outlook provides significant information for private schools. You can download your free copy by visiting ACSI's Reference Library.
In this month’s Outlook, you can read about the following:
- Public alert radios distributed to religious and independent schools
- High school students grading their schools
- A new report from the government on family involvement in education
- SAT scores of private school students
- And more …
How’s Your Reading?
Do you need a little justification for a little more reading? You might want to look at ACSI’s new statement on recommended reading, Leaders Should Be Readers. This piece articulates a perspective on the literature that ACSI recommends to our constituency. It has received broad, thoughtful, and prayerful input.
While you contemplate adding to your reading, I would like to recommend a relatively new book by Dinesh D’Souza, What’s So Great About Christianity (2007), published by Regnery Publishing, Washington, DC. The author will take you on a fascinating journey regarding the critical strengths of Christianity and its powerful contribution to Western culture. You will be startled at the aggressive stance of well-known atheists and their ratcheted-up attacks on Christianity. Read about how Christianity created the framework for modern science.
I believe this book will give you a powerful rationale for the Christian faith. It addresses important attacks and criticism of Christianity.
You should be advised that D’Souza is a believer with an "old earth" perspective regarding origins. He is clearly a creationist. He articulately renounces Darwinian evolution but espouses theistic evolution.
In Conclusion:
It is my prayer that as you begin this new school year you will be blessed with God’s hand upon your leadership. May you be richly endowed with His wisdom and guidance, and may every decision be the result of a moment-by-moment walk with Him.
Blessings,
Ken Smitherman
President (retired 2009)
From My Heart to Yours, September 2008