NSPRA Foundation for the Advancement of Education

The NSPRA Foundation for the Advancement of Education is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1985 for the following purposes:

• To develop and distribute information and materials that will assist schools and school districts in building both an increased understanding of the role of education in a democratic society and an increased awareness, knowledge and understanding of sound management practices in educational development;
• To inform and educate the public on facts and viewpoints that will lead to a better understanding, appreciation and support of education;
• To promote the use of sound communication procedures by all those who work in education; and
• To conduct research studies and distribute the results that deal with the advancement of education.

The Foundation is administered by a board of directors comprised of current NSPRA Executive Board members and is housed at NSPRA headquarters in Rockville, Md.

Guided by its major purposes, the Foundation funds several scholarships to the NSPRA National Seminar each year and offers an annual research grant opportunity for chapters or individual members.

Contributions to the Foundation

Tax-deductible contributions by individuals, corporations or other foundations who wish to support programs and activities that advance education should be made payable to:

NSPRA Foundation for the Advancement of Education 15948 Derwood Road Rockville, MD 20855

Foundation Scholarships to the National NSPRA Seminar

The NSPRA Foundation for the Advancement of Education funds and administers several scholarships each year for individuals to attend the NSPRA National Seminar.

♦ The NSPRA Foundation Scholarships ♦

Each year, the Foundation offers two scholarships to individuals who are new to school public relations with the intention of expanding their knowledge of the profession and introducing them to the benefits of NSPRA membership. Each scholarship covers a Seminar registration and also provides an additional $250 stipend toward related expenses. One of these scholarships is designated for a school public relations practitioner who is an ethnic minority.

To be eligible for nomination candidates must:

• Have worked in school public relations less than three years;
• Have never attended an NSPRA National Seminar;
• Be employed in a full-time professional school public relations position;
• Be a member in good standing of an NSPRA state chapter (unless there is no chapter in the member’s state); and
• Have not yet registered for the current year’s National Seminar (current registrations cannot be replaced by scholarships).

NSPRA membership is not required to qualify for eligibility.

Deadline for nominations: February 1. Scholarship recipients will be approved at the March meeting of the NSPRA Executive Board and recipients will be notified at that time.

Download the 2010 NSPRA Scholarship Application.

♦ The Dawn K. McDowell Memorial Scholarship ♦

The Dawn K. McDowell Memorial Scholarship is administered by the Foundation and was made possible by the generous donations of family, NSPRA colleagues and the Minnesota School Public Relations Association (MinnSPRA) in her memory. The scholarship covers the cost of a registration to the NSPRA National Seminar. 

To be eligible for nomination candidates must:

• Have never attended an NSPRA National Seminar;
• Be employed in a full-time professional school public relations position;
• Be a member in good standing of an NSPRA state chapter (unless there is no chapter in the member’s state); and
• Have not yet registered for the current year’s National Seminar (current registrations cannot be replaced by scholarships).

NSPRA membership is not required to qualify for eligibility.

Deadline for nominations: February 1. The scholarship recipient will be approved at the March meeting of the NSPRA Executive Board and the recipient will be notified at that time.

Download the 2010 Dawn K. McDowell Memorial Scholarship Application.

♦ The Don Bagin Memorial Scholarship ♦

The Don Bagin Memorial Scholarship is administered by the Foundation and was made possible by the generous donations of NSPRA colleagues and members in his memory. The scholarship covers the cost of a registration to the NSPRA National Seminar. To be eligible for nomination candidates must:

• Have never attended an NSPRA National Seminar;
• Be employed in a full-time professional school public relations position or have significant responsibility for managing communications for a school system or education agency/association;
• Have not yet registered for the current year’s National Seminar (current registrations cannot be replaced by scholarships).

NSPRA membership is not required to qualify for eligibility.

Deadline for nominations: February 1. The scholarship recipient will be approved at the March meeting of the NSPRA Executive Board and the recipient will be notified at that time.

Download the 2010 Don Bagin Memorial Scholarship Application.

♦ The Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Scholarship ♦

The Foundation also administers the Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Scholarship to the NSPRA National Seminar each year. There is no application process for this scholarship as the recipient is designated by the recipient of the previous year’s Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award. The award is funded by the Foundation through memorial donations from NSPRA colleagues and chapters. Go to the Recognition Awards page for more information and the award nomination form.

♦ The Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award ♦

The funding for this annual NSPRA award is provided by the Foundation through memorial donations from NSPRA colleagues and chapters. The award recognizes a practicing superintendent or CEO of an education agency or association for outstanding leadership in school public relations and communications. The recipient receives a registration to the NSPRA National Seminar and two nights lodging. Go to the Recognition Awards page for more information.

Deadline for application: April 1. The recipient will be determined by a selection committee and named by May 10.

Download the Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communication Award Application here.

♦ Foundation Research Grants ♦

Each year, the Foundation offers a research grant of $300 to support a project that will add to the body of knowledge of school communications and public relations. NSPRA members and NSPRA state chapters are eligible to apply for the grant.

Proposals must contain:

• Rationale for why the study/project is needed;
• Objectives of the study/project;
• Description of the process;
• Timeline for completion;
• Anticipated budget;
• Name(s) of researcher(s)/project manager(s); and
• Description of any additional funding obtained to support the study/project.

A report on the results of the research study or project will be carried in NSPRA’s membership newsletter, Network, and the grant recipient will be expected to present on the study/project results at the following year’s NSPRA National Seminar.

Deadline for submitting proposals: October 15. Proposals are limited to five pages (single-sided). The grant recipient will be approved by the NSPRA Executive Board at the November meeting and the recipient will be notified at that time.