Session Details:
LearningTimes, and the LearningTimes Library Online Conference, conducted a free one hour interactive webcast on the topic of “Alternative Funding Sources for Public Schools and Libraries.” The webcast took place on October 2, 2003 at 3pm EDT / 7pm GMT and explored innovative funding models that public schools and libraries use to augment shrinking state and local fiscal budgets.

The webcast was an open forum, allowing all participants to collaborate with industry experts whose topics include: How can one person make a difference? Is commercialization the only option? Do successful funding programs send the wrong message to state and local government?

Featured guests included:

Steve Coffman
Vice President of Business Development for LSSI, Inc. and Vice President of Strategic Development for Tutor.com's Virtual Reference Toolkit. Prior to LSSI, Inc. and Tutor.com, Coffman spent 15 years with the Los Angeles County Library System and was the director of FYI, LA Country's Business Research Service.

Elyssa Rosenberg Toomey
Director of Development, DonorsChoose.org – a New York City non-profit organization that matches teacher written proposals and grants with donors all over the world. According to their website, “DonorsChoose presents a new business model for accomplishing good works”.

Helen Kennedy and Jim Lewis, CFRE
Partners of Lewis * Kennedy Associates -- With nearly half a century of experience, LKA helps non-profit organizations thrive in today's competitive world by providing fund raising, research and planning services.