Lincoln, Neb. Major General Jonathan R. Burton, Chairman of The Dressage Foundation Board of Directors, proudly announces the opening of The Dressage Foundation’s Equestrian Fundraising School, offering lessons in fundraising and giving. “The School has been in the planning and development stage for the past two years, and its inaugural class of students began on January 3, 2012.”
“The Dressage Foundation has a growing family of funds that awards grants and scholarships to help equestrians pursue their dreams in horsemanship and horsemastership. Now, there is help in learning how to fund those dreams through our Equestrian Fundraising School,” said Michael Poulin, Olympian and Vice-Chairman, The Dressage Foundation Board of Directors. “We invite you to take a look at this new opportunity today.”
The Equestrian Fundraising School will run two sessions, January through June and July through December each year. Applications are available at www.dressagefoundation.org, and can be submitted at any time. Applications are being accepted for the current session as well as the second session beginning July 2, 2012.
“I am pleased to join General Burton and Michael Poulin in their introductory announcement of the opening of the Equestrian Fundraising School,” said Hilary Moore, Senior Editor, Dressage Today and The Dressage Foundation Board Member. “I participated in focus-group-testing of the program, because I believe that equestrians need resources to help with fundraising. I see a well-rounded curriculum of ideas and techniques supported by distinguished, experienced faculty giving real-world advice,” continued Moore. “It is invaluable to be able to sit down in front of a computer and learn about real-life examples of successful fundraising, have access to professional legal and financial advisors and interact with ‘been-there, done-that’ faculty.”
The Equestrian Fundraising School tuition fee is $500, comparable to college and professional fundraising courses. Based on feedback received by the Foundation, participants will raise an additional $1,000 for a charity (or charities) of their choice as a requirement of graduation, using the skills and techniques taught throughout the course. This requirement will give the students first-hand experience in fundraising and giving that will add to their fundraising resume.
In a statement from the founders of the Equestrian Fundraising School, Karin Reid Offield said, “This is a program teaching individuals ways to fund their riding career throughout their lifetime and give back to their community and equestrian clubs with fundraising skills. The students best served by the School include: young, aspiring riders who realize hard work and expenses lay ahead; equestrian students of all ages and disciplines; adults and family members of riders; equestrian professionals; and professional riders. My co-founder, John Boomer and I hope the School will also serve equestrian sports patrons who continue to volunteer to help instruct and guide our student body by sharing experiences of their own in fundraising and giving. We, as the founders of the School, take pride in announcing it, and invite you to take advantage of it.”