The Claremont Educational Foundation has its eye on increasing CEF’s fundraising capacity by finding large donors and applying for grants for CEF, its recently-hired Development Director Greg Glass told the COURIER.

CEF plans to establish specific fundraising initiatives for particular projects—rather than distributing all donations among Claremont schools—with the hope of attracting and recruiting wealthy large-scale donors. Mr. Glass will be focusing on outreach to such donors.

“We’ve got to move beyond the general fund donations that the foundation has been doing with the unified school district for a while,” Mr. Glass said. “I’ve got to be able to pitch specific initiatives. I’ve got to be able to come to people, especially people with significant resources, and say here are all the details.”

Mr. Glass anticipates CEF will be able to find these large donors.

“I think there’s a ton of people that have been sitting on the sideline waiting for an opportunity to maybe invest in Claremont schools at a higher level, at a more initiative-based level,” he said.

CEF will also work to match their initiatives with grants from charitable foundations.

CEF’s fundraising has been limited by the large number of charitable groups and organizations in Claremont raising money from Claremont residents, Mr. Glass that.

“We’ve got a lot of fundraising going on in this town and a lot of foundations working on a lot of good works,” Mr. Glass said. “People are spread out. There’s only so much money to go around.”

Currently, CEF is still developing its larger initiatives that fill important needs in the district in cooperation with district officials, according to CEF president-elect Karen McMillen.

CEF will also continue its usual community events and fundraising, Mr. Glass explalined.

“It’s about maintaining the existing base of good donations and goodwill and good relationships and then moving on to this bigger level of foundation relations,” he said. “It’s a two-pronged attack.”

Mr. Glass, a former entertainment executive, began work with CEF on May 1. He grew up in Claremont, attending Claremont schools, and recently moved back to Claremont.

“He brings this amazing expertise and development in the entertainment industry that we think is going to bring some really fresh thinking to how we work as a nonprofit,” Ms. McMillen said. “He has such great ideas, he has really deep connections inside the Claremont community, he’s really thinking outside the box about what we do and how we fund it.”

Ms. McMillen told the COURIER that CEF has been impressed by Mr. Glass’ “infectious enthusiasm” for Claremont schools.

“I can’t wait to contribute to the schools that took care of me for 18 years,” Mr. Glass said.

He praised the district, which he called the city’s “crown jewel.”

“I’m just here to carry a sword and a shield and run around and do battle on behalf of the Claremont schools,” he said.

—Marc Rod