Delmarva Education Foundation - What's New

Executive Director Search Information

Katherine Harting — 2012-04-18T15:50:00.0000000-05:00

Delmarva Education Foundation

Position Description

Executive Director

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DELMARVA EDUCATION FOUNDATION. HELP GROW TOMORROW’S LEADERS. SALISBURY MD-BASED NON-PROFIT SEEKS STRONG DIRECTOR TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT ITS MISSION. SALARY NEGOTIABLE. SEE POSITION DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AT WWW.DELMARVAED.ORG.

Job Summary

The Executive Director provides overall leadership for all areas of operation of the Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF), in accordance with the direction, policies, procedures, and objectives set by the Board of Directors, positioning the organization for continued substantial growth and impact. The Executive Director supports and promotes DEF’s mission in the community. The position is full time with occasional evening and weekend work obligations.

Background

The Delmarva Education Foundation is a private, independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1999. Its current annual budget of roughly $120,000 is derived from donations, grants, fees for service, and income from an endowment at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) and an investment account. Staff consists of the executive director, an office manager/college access advisor, and a part-time college access advisor; their work is supplemented with assistance from volunteers and short-term contracts for project management, graphic design, grant writing, IT services, etc. The foundation is housed within the Non-Profit Office Center operated by CFES.

DEF’s mission is to improve college access and success for residents of the lower Delmarva Peninsula. DEF helps people find money to continue their education. It maintains two free, online, searchable databases of information about post-secondary education: the Financial Aid Clearinghouse and the Shirley B. Harting Regional Education Information Center. Through its College Access Program, DEF provides one-on-one and group advising at its offices, through its website, over the phone, in schools, and in the community. Through special events, it convenes stakeholders to provide opportunities to explore best practices, make connections, develop new ideas, and find solutions that support the organization’s mission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the organization's consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives.

Program development and administration. The Executive Director will:

1. Assure that the organization has a long-range strategy to achieve its mission and makes consistent and timely progress towards it.

2. Provide leadership in developing programmatic, organizational, and financial plans with the Board of Directors and staff, and carry out plans and policies authorized by the board.

3. Promote active and broad participation by volunteers in all areas of the organization's work.

4. Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations.

5. Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field.

Communications. The Executive Director will:

1. See that the board is kept fully informed on the condition of the organization and all important factors influencing it.

2. Publicize the activities of the organization, its programs and goals.

3. Establish sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with community groups and organizations.

4. Proactively represent the programs and point of view of the organization to agencies, organizations, and the general public.

Relations with staff. The Executive Director will:

1. Be responsible for the recruitment, employment, and release of all personnel, both paid staff and volunteers.

2. Ensure that job descriptions are developed, that regular performance evaluations are held, and that sound human resource practices are in place.

3. See that an effective team, with appropriate provision for advancement and succession, is in place.

4. Encourage staff and volunteer development and education, and assist program staff in relating their specialized work to the total program of the organization.

5. Maintain a climate which attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff of top quality people.

Budget and finance. The Executive Director will:

1. Be responsible for developing and maintaining sound financial practices.

2. Work with the staff and the board in preparing a budget; see that the organization operates within budget guidelines.

3. Jointly, with the president and secretary of the board of directors, conduct official correspondence of the organization, and jointly, with designated officers, execute legal documents.

Necessary qualifications:

1. Strong interpersonal and communication skills

2. At least two years’ organizational leadership experience

3. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

4. At least two years’ experience, either volunteer or professional, with nonprofit fundraising

5. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software

6. Own transportation and a valid driver’s license

7. Able to pass a background check

8. Able to lift/move 25 pounds, stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, and see.

Desired qualifications:

1. Fundraising experience including annual giving, foundation support, corporate and legacy giving, grant writing, and technology-based donation programs

2. Familiarity with the management of a college access program

3. A high level of initiative and creativity and an ability to produce results

4. Experience with creating and implementing a strategic plan

5. A history of recognizing and adapting to new trends to reach and serve the organization’s intended audience

6. Management oversight of a roughly comparable-sized budget and staff

7. Experience working with a board of directors

Benefits

· Salary negotiable

· Four weeks paid vacation plus time off for sickness and holidays

· Reasonably flexible work schedule

· Professional development and travel reimbursement

· Smoke-free workplace

Application instructions

Send cover letter, resume and four references. To mesh best with our operation, submit digitally in .doc or .pdf format to

DEFexec@gmail.com

DEF Search Committee

1320 Belmont Ave, Suite 403-B

Salisbury, MD 21804

Applications received before May 21, 2012 will receive first consideration. No phone calls, please.

DEF launches "Honor An Educator" program at the Salisbury Festival, April 28!

Linda Jagusiak — 2012-04-11T16:52:00.0000000-05:00

DEF launches “Honor an Educator” program at Salisbury Festival

The public is invited to stop by the Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF) table at the Salisbury Festival on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Salisbury to recognize someone special in their life by participating in DEF’s new “Honor an Educator” program.

The DEF “Honor an Educator” program is new at the Festival this year! Participants can pay tribute to a person who taught them well by hanging an “apple” with the honoree’s name on it, on the DEF "Honor an Educator Tree.” The person recognized could be a teacher, mentor, relative, friend, coach, advisor, scoutmaster, counselor, or other individual who was especially inspirational, motivating, or supportive. The charge is only $1 per “apple” and DEF will publicize the honorees throughout 2012.

If you can't make it to the Salisbury Festival, click here for a form to complete and send to DEF to purchase an "apple" for us to hang on the DEF "Honor an Educator Tree" for you.

“I’m going to hang up an apple honoring my 11^th grade English teacher,” said DEF Executive Director Kat Harting, “She made me feel respected, which gave me energy to work hard in her class, which led to many other blessings. That was almost 50 years ago and I’m still grateful!” Harting adds, “We hope this program will grow each year because there are so many deserving educators.”

DEF personnel and volunteers will staff an information table at the Salisbury Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 on East Main Street in downtown Salisbury, MD. In addition to launching the "Honor an Educator" program, free handouts on financial aid and scholarships will also be available.

Proceeds from the “Honor an Educator” program will further DEF's mission to improve college access and success for residents on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. DEF helps people find money to continue their education. For more information about DEF’s “Honor an Educator” program, call the Salisbury office at 410-219-3336.

DEF Scholarship Fair participants [AND DONORS] thanked!

Katherine Harting — 2012-03-09T16:06:00.0000000-06:00

From the "Daily Times" of Salisbury
Article Title:
Your View: Scholarship fair participants [AND DONORS] thanked!

To view the contents on www.delmarvanow.com, go to:
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201202220432/OPINION01/202220403

This is prime college scholarship search season, and I'd be remiss not to mention that March 1 is the deadline for completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be eligible to receive financial aid from the state of Maryland. Many other scholarship sponsors ask to see
it, too. If someone needs help with the FAFSA, see a high school counselor, a college financial aid counselor or ask us at the Delmarva Education Foundation. DEF helps people find money to continue their education.

My other reason for writing is to thank all the people who helped make the DEF Scholarship Fair at The Centre at Salisbury mall in January such a success. What a great demonstration of community commitment to helping students. Special thanks go to the scholarship sponsors,
event sponsors, volunteers, counselors and those who visited the informational tables. We printed 500 programs and ran out well before the event was over. Scholarship sponsors and table hosts used words such as "best thing we've ever done," "never stopped talking," "will bring more materials next time" and "students from all over the peninsula." Credit is due the high schools and the local media for their indispensable promotional help and to The Centre for
providing such a great place to meet. We are already planning the second annual DEF Scholarship Fair, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 12, 2013.

DEF is a privately funded nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve college access and success for residents of the lower Delmarva Peninsula. I hope you will join me in thanking DEF's donors, whose support made the DEF Scholarship Fair possible. These individuals and
organizations are leaders in recognizing the positive impact increased educational
attainment can have on individuals, their families and our community. DEF's donors are both generous and far-sighted. How fortunate for us all.

To learn more, to help or to get help, contact DEF at www.delmarvaed.org or call
410-219-3336.

Kat Harting

Executive Director, Delmarva Education Foundation

DEF Scholarship Fair!

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-12-08T10:56:00.0000000-06:00

1st ever in the region! Come to the Centre at Salisbury mall 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2012 to learn about the many scholarships available for local students in addition to information on the FAFSA, financial aid, and other education resources.

DEF’s “Scholarship Sponsors Forum”

Katherine Harting — 2011-09-29T09:56:00.0000000-05:00

DEF’s “Scholarship Sponsors Forum” Explores Ways to Help Students on Delmarva

Scholarship representatives from 23 local organizations and businesses attended a “Scholarship Sponsors Forum” hosted by the Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF) to find ways to award more scholarship money to more people on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. Additional support for the August 24 event was provided by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) and Choptank Electric Trust, Inc.

The Forum’s goal was to provide an opportunity for representatives of established local scholarship programs to meet and share best practices about how to run their programs efficiently and effectively and to learn about DEF and Community Foundation resources available to help them. During the roundtable discussion of ways to increase the number of scholarship applicants, Anne Whaples from Choptank Electric Trust (which awards several scholarships annually) proposed DEF host a “scholarship fair,” similar to job fairs and college fairs. Prompted by the enthusiasm of many of the participants, DEF’s executive director Kat Harting agreed to explore the feasibility of such a scholarship fair. Follow-up evaluations of the forum were uniformly positive, with many participants noting they hoped for a second such meeting to allow more time for discussion.

In addition to the roundtable discussion, moderated by Norman Tilghman, retired director of the Upward Bound Program at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, participants were given a demonstration of DEF’s financial aid database, which is a free, online, searchable database of locally-targeted scholarships. It helps publicize the scholarships represented at the forum as well as many others and lists over a million dollars in local scholarship funding available to local students every year. Dr. Spicer Bell and B.J. Summers of the Community Foundation spoke about the value of endowed scholarship funds as a source of stable and predictable funding for area students that involves minimal administrative work by the fund donor. The number of endowed scholarships administered by CFES has been growing steadily.

Norman Tilghman (center) moderated the forum for scholarship sponsors hosted by the Delmarva Education Foundation.

DEF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps people find money to continue their education. DEF’s mission is to improve college access and success for residents on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. Assistance on a wide range of topics relating to post-secondary education is available for individuals, families, and groups from DEF’s trained college access advisors. DEF’s website is at www.delmarvaed.org. To contact the Delmarva Education Foundation, call 410-219-3336 or email def@delmarvaed.org.

DEF opens new branch office in Pocomoke City, MD.

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-06-03T12:56:00.0000000-05:00

Grand Opening Celebration!

Join us to celebrate the opening of DEF’s new branch office in Pocomoke City, MD on Thursday, June 30th, 1:00-3:00 p.m., 1731 Broad Street, in the industrial park, within M.I.S.T. (Mid-Atlantic Institute for Space & Technology), Pocomoke City, MD.

Ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

DEF co-sponsors Robotics Technology Exposition and Challenge: Robo-Tec '11

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-04-26T11:11:00.0000000-05:00

Robo-Tec '11, the first annual Robotics Technology Exposition and Challenge will be held in Pocomoke City on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Midway GM/Toyota, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. This event, sponsored by Midway, Eastern Shore Robotics (ESR), the Mid-Atlantic Institute for Space & Technology (MIST), and the Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF) promises to be the premiere youth technology event in the Delmarva region.

Robo-Tec '11 will feature the robots built and used in this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition with our three teams from the Eastern Shore represented.The Worcester/Accomack, Northampton and Salisbury teams will demonstrate their robots, and team members will be available to discuss the build process for their robots along with highlights from their competition experience.

Please join us in supporting and honoring the Eastern Shore Robotics teams. Information will be available at the event on how students and/or schools can become involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) based programs that DEF, ESR, and MIST support.

More information, including dates for program and booth space, is on the attached flyer. (Click here for the Robo-Tec'11 flyer) Please circulate the flyer widely and consider joining us; DEF will be looking for volunteers to help us that day.

I'm excited about this event, which promises to be creative, helpful, and fun. See you there, I hope!

Katherine A. Harting
Executive Director
Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF)

Apply for Scholarships!

Kat Harting — 2011-03-25T12:33:00.0000000-05:00

Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships

Mar 23, 2011|

With well over $1 million in local, private funds available every year to help students on lower Delmarva pay for college, what's the No. 1 reason all those monies don't get awarded?

Students aren't applying.

There are several reasons students don't apply, in spite of the generosity of our
community and the eagerness of students to find financial aid:

Students don't apply because they don't know about the scholarships.

They don't like to write essays.

They don't fit the qualifications, which are sometimes so narrow, only a very few people
will qualify.

The dollar value gained does not seem enough to justify the time and effort of
submitting an application, if being selected is not a certainty.

The Delmarva Education Foundation helps people find money to continue
their education. DEF maintains a free, searchable database of local
scholarships at our website, www.delmarvaed.org. DEF staff works with
scholarship providers to help them publicize their scholarships and
increase their applicant pools. DEF advisers work with students to help
them find scholarships for which they fit the qualifications.Deadlines for
financial aid for fall admission are rapidly approaching; many have already passed.

Some local providers report their frustration: They have few
applicants -- or none.If you are a student, check out DEF's website to
find local dollars you qualify for. They can add up to real money, especially
where you fit a narrow qualification -- Are you left handed? The child of a
firefighter? Our database and advisers will help you find those good bets.
The time to apply is now.

Katherine Harting, Princess Anne

Harting is executive director of Delmarva Education Foundation. -- Editor

Paying for College: What's Available?

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-02-25T15:00:00.0000000-06:00

Click the link below to see the Lisa Bryant interviews at DEF that aired on WBOC-TV news February 8, 2011.

Paying for College: What's Available for Local Students

(Note: this links to the video on www.wboc.com and a quick ad plays before the actual DEF piece starts...sorry about that!)

Like us on Facebook!

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-02-04T18:14:00.0000000-06:00

Check out DEF's Facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Delmarva-Education-Foundation/157593560938401

Click the "thumbs up" icon on our FB page to like us and be a fan!

Daily Times editorial

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-02-04T18:13:00.0000000-06:00

This very nice editorial by Susan Parker of the editorial staff appeared on Saturday 1/22/2011 in the Daily Times.

'Doctor Don' made a difference in our lives
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201101220432/OPINION01/101220355

Kat Harting talks about DEF on Skipjack.net (watch the video!)

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-01-19T18:27:00.0000000-06:00

DEF's Executive Director, Kat Harting, was interviewed for a 13-minute video

about DEF that appears on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Rural Development Center website. She discusses DEF's past and present, the value of education and delayed gratification, and some options for DEF's future.

Click on the following link to read the article and see the video interview:

http://skipjacknews.net/index.php/site/news_article/the_delmarva_education_foundation/

WMDT- 47 TV and DEF Publicize Local Scholarships

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-01-10T14:50:00.0000000-06:00

Attention Editors: For Immediate Release

January 6, 2011

DEF and WMDT- 47 TV Publicize Local Scholarships

The Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF) and WMDT-47 television will again partner to showcase scholarships available specifically for local residents. “Meet the Money Givers” is a series of short video segments that will air on WMDT’s news programs from January through April and then be available on DEF’s website. Each segment will describe a different scholarship, including the history, purpose, and requirements of that award. “The series helps people find money to continue their education,” said Katherine Harting, DEF’s executive director, adding, “It’s timely because January through April is prime scholarship search time for September enrollment, and the early bird catches the worm in college financial aid awards.”

Each segment will air on all three of WMDT-47’s local newscasts two days a week (one segment on Wednesday, another on Saturday). WMDT will also air the segments in a similar pattern on channel CW3. WMDT news anchor Terrence Lee hosts the series, which is designed to recognize the people who support with their time and money the educational aspirations of local students.

“This is a remarkably generous community, and this series helps make the connection between those who need scholarship money and those who have money to give,” said WMDT’s general manager, Kathleen McLain. She noted, “Running a scholarship program is work, and promoting it is even more work. That’s where WMDT and DEF can help.” (In “a previous life,” Ms. McLain was a teacher and guidance counselor.)

The “Meet the Money Givers” partnership between DEF and WMDT, which began early in 2010 with a 28-part series, grew from a shared recognition that scholarship sponsors are too often frustrated by a lack of applicants, even while a lack of funds frustrates potential students. Applicants may want to note that last year’s series remains accessible from DEF’s website at www.delmarvaed.org.

DEF is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Salisbury whose mission is to improve college access and success for residents on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. Its free, searchable, online database contains information on more than 500 local-priority scholarships totaling well over a million dollars. Assistance on a wide range of topics relating to post-secondary education is available for individuals, families, and groups from DEF’s trained college access advisors. For more about DEF, see www.delmarvaed.org.

WMDT 47, headquartered in Salisbury, premiered its first television broadcast in 1980. It is one of the few privately owned stations in the country. The station has a long and impressive record of service to the community, sponsoring and supporting a large number of locally important events as well as offering internships to local students. In 2004, the station received the coveted “Service to America” award for its service to children by the National Association of Broadcasters. Always an annual winner of news and production awards, in 2006 the Station was recognized, among other awards, as having the “Best Newscast on Delmarva” by the Chesapeake Association of Broadcasters.

A Lifetime of Public Service - Donald Harting, M.D., M.P.H. (obituary and memorial service)

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-01-10T14:29:00.0000000-06:00

The Board of Directors and the Staff of the Delmarva Education Foundation would like to express our deep sympathy for the death of our founder, Dr. Don Harting. Our Lower Shore Community will miss his thoughtfulness and leadership. Without his guidance and strong support DEF would never have come into existence. And all of the students who have benefited from DEF services would not have had access to the important resources and valuable assistance DEF provides.

Click here for the obituary.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 115 St. Peter’s St., Salisbury. The Rev. Todd W. Kissam will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Dr. David C. Tontonoz. By special request, there will be no eulogy, but remembrances will be welcome at a reception afterwards. Interment of ashes after the service will be at Parsons Cemetery in Salisbury. In lieu of flowers, donations to DEF are suggested. Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21 at Holloway Funeral Home, 501 Snow Hill Road in Salisbury. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.hollowayfh.com.

DEF Mourns Passing of Its Founder - January 5, 2011

Linda Jagusiak — 2011-01-10T14:13:00.0000000-06:00

Attention Editors: For Immediate Release

January 5, 2010

Delmarva Education Foundation Mourns Passing of Its Founder

The Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF) will be closed Friday January 7, 2010, to honor its founder, the late Donald Harting, M.D., M.P.H., who died Sunday, January 2. He was 88. As a pediatrician and administrator sensitive to the connection between child development and education, Dr. Harting, or “Dr. Don” as he was affectionately called, teamed up with other like-minded local citizens to create a nonprofit organization to improve educational opportunities for students of all ages on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. His vision was to serve the entire seven-county, three-state area as one region and find common ground between all sectors of the education and business communities. DEF has been providing educational resources to area students for over ten years. For details of Dr. Harting’s life and memorial service plans, see the obituary listed seperately.

DEF is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve college access and success for residents on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. For more about DEF, see www.delmarvaed.org.

"MONEY FOR COLLEGE" workshop at Wicomico Public Library CENTRE BRANCH - February 2, 2011

Linda Jagusiak — 2010-12-22T15:36:00.0000000-06:00

"MONEY FOR COLLEGE" workshop at Wicomico Public Library CENTRE BRANCH - February 2, 2011, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

DEF staff presents a free workshop on how to apply for financial aid and find scholarships to pay for college. This event takes place at the Centre Branch of the Wicomico Public Library at the Centre at Salisbury mall in Salisbury, MD.

Financial Aid/Scholarships Night at Cape Henlopen High School - December 8, 2010.

Linda Jagusiak, Office Manager — 2010-11-21T15:38:00.0000000-06:00

DEF staff will present information on financial aid and scholarships at Cape Henlopen High School's Financial Aid/Scholarships Night on December 8th, 7pm - 8:30pm, in Lewes, Delaware.

FinAid/Scholarships presentation at Holly Grove Christian School, December 7, 2010.

Linda Jagusiak, Office Manager — 2010-11-21T15:37:00.0000000-06:00

Financial Aid/Scholarships presentation at Holly Grove Christian School - Tuesday, December 07, 2010: 9am - 10am

DEF staff presents information on financial aid and scholarships to 9th grade students at Holly Grove Christian School in Westover, MD.

Crisfield High School College & Career Fair, December 14, 2010.

Linda Jagusiak, Office Manager — 2010-11-21T15:34:00.0000000-06:00

Crisfield High School College & Career Fair - Tuesday, December 14, 2010: 9am - 12 noon

DEF staff will have information of financial aid and college at Crisfield High School's College & Career Fair in Crisfield, Maryland.

PRESS RELEASE: High School Counselors Share Strategies for Student Success

Kat Harting, Executive Director — 2010-11-21T15:12:00.0000000-06:00

HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS SHARE STRATEGIES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Salisbury, MD – “How do you encourage students to meet application
deadlines?” “How do you use technology to deliver services to students
and parents?” Public and private high school counselors from
throughout the lower Delmarva Peninsula gathered ... (click here for the complete press release).