Sandy Springs Going After $25M in Grants As the Solution?

[Anonymous]

I agree that:

1. Per the PP, the over promising shows a lack of learning.

2. Based on their previous gross absurd miscalculations, it further makes the press release look absurd.

3. Finally, associating with an amateur hour company (that does everything for everyone but hasn’t actually done anything for anyone in its brief history) shows that they simply don’t get it.

Even if they did a deal like that, on what planet do you do a press release? It’s good (I guess) for the start-up company that’s “helping” but it certainly doesn’t benefit the school. Why would they agree to that? Do they really think that ambivalent parents are going to say “well, they’re clearly raising the money, let’s do it!”

Not a great look, not a confidence booster.

Pro Tip: Keep your head down, underpromise and over-deliver. There is no other option.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine any foundations outside of ones run by legacies would be interested. We have a DAF and there's no way we would donate to a cause that doesn't have a public 990.

[Anonymous]

The guy behind the "consulting" firm comes from a security background, one of those dime-a-dozen folks who claim to provide security consulting to the government or private companies.

However, he doesn't have any of the qualifications I'd normally look for in a security contractor, as someone who has to hire those kinds of folks for overseas assignments. No military background, no law enforcement background.

I know from experience that "security consulting" can be kind of a scam, and you need to screen vendors carefully, and I have real questions about someone who claims expertise in that world but also claims to be able to secure highly specialized philanthropic funding.

[Anonymous]

Dude went to Liberty and does physically exude the “former military” type. I don’t think he’s going to be white knight to save the school.

Judging, not judging.

[Anonymous]

*does not

[Anonymous]

I'm sympathetic. The school has been in crisis, and lots of poor decisions happen out of desperation. It was the job of the HoS, CFO, and Advancement director to gate keep this bad idea from ever seeing the light of day.

I did not want to post anything I've written on this thread. Because, even though I've never set foot on the campus and don't know any of the administration, I love what I've heard about Sandy Spring. I'm sure that the classroom instruction is wonderful and the community is caring.

For the sake of the students and faculty, the administration needs to get their act together. Seriously, now. Don't you belong to CASE, NAIS, and AISGW? You're already paying for access to good advice on how to run a school.

My advice is to nullify that agreement forthwith, redirect the money to staff up in advancement (not just one veteran but a team), and ask every family to make a multi-year annual fund commitment to provide some stability during the rebuilding of a major gift program. They should want to do this if they're currently enrolled -- because broad participation in that kind of campaign reassures them that the school will exist long enough for their children to graduate.

[Anonymous]

Worth noting that “K&G Consulting’s” founder, who worked for a security firm, actually worked for what appears to be his dad at the security firm. In other words, it’s a family business.

He was “Chief Operating Officer” for all of three months, until February of 2025, when he started the “consulting” business.

He’s been in the “grant writing” business for a cool six months, after parting ways with his family business.

Really SSFS? This is the rescue plan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is up with all of you so desperately hoping that a nice school like Sandy Spring fails? I don’t get it.

I was the PP and as I said, I hope I'm wrong. I really want Sandy Spring to succeed. That means doing this the hard, proven way. Get a great fundraiser as a head and invest in a solid advancement and communications team stocked with veterans. Get the best CFO to structure your debt, manage your endowment investments, and find new sources of auxiliary income. Build out your alumni program so that graduates will feel pride and be inspired to give back. Any money they gave this consultant would have been better spent on these investments.

A message for Sandy Spring donors: Do you love your school? There are no secret, magical institutional grantmakers out there who will give so that you don't have to. They are busy saving PUBLIC schools. Your school has to depend on your consistent, generous, and growing support. So make a multi-year pledge. Don't wait until the school is desperate again.

Yeah right. You are a nice person and you really want the school to succeed, which is why you posted this on this message board, so that you could still seem important and knowledgeable and trash the school for news that they recently shared which is positive. You are awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sympathetic. The school has been in crisis, and lots of poor decisions happen out of desperation. It was the job of the HoS, CFO, and Advancement director to gate keep this bad idea from ever seeing the light of day.

I did not want to post anything I've written on this thread. Because, even though I've never set foot on the campus and don't know any of the administration, I love what I've heard about Sandy Spring. I'm sure that the classroom instruction is wonderful and the community is caring.

For the sake of the students and faculty, the administration needs to get their act together. Seriously, now. Don't you belong to CASE, NAIS, and AISGW? You're already paying for access to good advice on how to run a school.

My advice is to nullify that agreement forthwith, redirect the money to staff up in advancement (not just one veteran but a team), and ask every family to make a multi-year annual fund commitment to provide some stability during the rebuilding of a major gift program. They should want to do this if they're currently enrolled -- because broad participation in that kind of campaign reassures them that the school will exist long enough for their children to graduate.

And there you have it folks.

[Anonymous]

I hope Jeff shuts this down because this is just another attempt to defame this school for doing something totally normal, which is fundraising. These are not even people associated with the school.

[Anonymous]

I’m concerned that this move means they are not seeing a viable path to self sustainability. In other words the situation that led to closure is no better and their survival depends on money coming in from outside.

[Anonymous]

I’m missing something. This “consultant” has had a business since Feb. how can he have any kind of track record that makes this a strategic partnership? Strategic for who? A security guard turned financial whiz? This is some next level desperation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope Jeff shuts this down because this is just another attempt to defame this school for doing something totally normal, which is fundraising. These are not even people associated with the school.

This is normal in what world? And you need to shut down anything you don’t like? For your information my child goes there. But this has wondering about the following year. This hardly seems like a fiscal responsibility move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope Jeff shuts this down because this is just another attempt to defame this school for doing something totally normal, which is fundraising. These are not even people associated with the school.

Oh please. If you can’t take conversation don’t read. Let the rest of us confused by this move try to reason out what’s going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope Jeff shuts this down because this is just another attempt to defame this school for doing something totally normal, which is fundraising. These are not even people associated with the school.

I’m sorry, but NP in independent school governance and someone needs to bring in someone from one of SSFS accrediting bodies and clean this mess up and unhire these “fundraising” people. This is the opposite of best practices and pretty alarming. It is not totally normal.