the history of the dr. philip benjamin matching grant...
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Resource Development Paper
(RP1-2011)
The History of the
Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program
Prepared by the Florida Council for
Resource Development (FCRD) Board of Directors
2011
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Florida Council for Resource Development
Board of Directors
2011
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT: Phyl Renninger, Director, Resource Development, Florida
State College at Jacksonville
1ST
VICE PRESIDENT: Chuck Clemons, Vice President for Development, Santa Fe
College
2ND
VICE PRESIDENT: Debbie Douma, Dean, Institutional Effectiveness and Grants,
Pensacola State College
SECRETARY: Patti Bartels, Director, Resource Development, Miami Dade
College
TREASURER: Judy Green, President, The Florida College System Foundation
PAST PRESIDENT: Tracy Porter, Vice President of Institutional Advancement,
Polk State College
DIRECTORS:
Roseanne Brandenburg, Executive Director, Foundation, Lake Sumter Community College
Ellyn Drotzer, Director, Associate Vice President, Resource Development & Strategic
Planning, Broward College
Adrienne Garcia, Executive Director, Foundation, Hillsborough Community College
Robin Johnston, Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Tallahassee Community College
Maggi LeClair, Associate Director, Resource Development, Gulf Coast Community College
Mike Lee, Executive Director, Foundation, Florida Gateway College
Patrice Whitten, Executive Director, Foundation, Pensacola State College
Wendy Warner, Chief Fiscal Officer, College of Central Florida Foundation
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Board Members Serving on the
Resource Development Paper
Committee
Phyl Renninger, Director of Resource Development, Florida State College at Jacksonville
Wendy Warner
Chief Fiscal Officer, College of Central Florida Foundation
Ellyn Drotzer Associate Vice President of Resource Development & Strategic Planning, Broward
College
Judy Green President, The Florida College System Foundation
Tracy Porter
Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Polk State College
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September 2011
Dear Reader,
The Florida Council for Resource Development (FCRD), composed of grant and foundation
officers at each of the Florida 28 colleges, strives to address and find financial resources
for programs important to the individual colleges as well as to the Florida College System
(FCS) as a whole. As a new endeavor, FCRD is launching a series of resource development
papers designed to inform members and system stakeholders on topics of interest to the
colleges and to the populations we serve.
This first paper is focusing on the Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program (PBMG)
in Florida. It provides background information for those new to their jobs or unfamiliar
with the program. This paper is also being presented at two venues: 1) The Council of
Presidents (COP) meeting September 9, 2011 in Pensacola and 2) the FCRD Conference
held September 28 – 30, 2011 in Gainesville.
This first paper establishes the background information needed for future papers that will
continue to discuss topics important to our colleges. We welcome any suggestions you may
have towards this effort.
On Behalf of the Board,
Dr. Phyl Renninger, President of FCRD and
Director of Resource Development
Florida State College at Jacksonville
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Resource Development Paper
The History of the
Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program
Florida is composed of 28 locally-governed public colleges. These colleges are
governed by local boards of trustees appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the
Senate. The colleges are coordinated under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education
(FDOE, 2011). The Chancellor serves as the chief executive officer of the Florida College
System (FCS) and reports to the Commissioner of Education. The State Board of Education
presents their annual legislative budget request to the legislature and the Governor.
Under this state structure, many programs touch the lives and operation of numerous
colleges within the system. One such subject, and the topic of this informational report, is
the Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program.
Florida Scholarship Programs
In Florida, there were three scholarship programs, created in the Legislature, that
played key roles to aid educational efforts at each of the 28 colleges:
1) The Academic Improvement Trust Fund, created by the Legislature in
1983, was renamed as the [Dr.] Philip Benjamin Academic Improvement
Trust Fund;
2) The Nursing Education Challenge Grant Fund, created by the Legislature
in 1989, renamed in 1992 to Health Care Education Quality Enhancement
Challenge Grant; and
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3) The Scholarship Matching Program, created by the Legislature in 1996.
In 2001, the Health Care Education Quality Enhancement Challenge Grant and the
Scholarship Matching Program were merged with the Dr. Philip Benjamin Academic
Improvement Trust Fund.
Intent of the Program
The Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program (PBMG) was designed to
leverage private or community support for
postsecondary educational access in the Florida
college system. The plan was to attract donors
while building public-private partnerships
(CEPRI, 2001). These public-private
partnerships were designed to supplement state
allocations and provide access through student
scholarships.
The State Board of Education and local
boards of trustees were charged with determining appropriate uses of funds. Allowable uses
included expenditures for scientific and technical equipment; scholarships, loans, or need-
based grants; and other activities that benefitted current and future students, improved the
quality of education at the institution, or enhanced economic development in the
community.
Donations and matching funds for PBMG have been used to support scholarships for
students with financial need and students who are first in their families to attend college, to
“Education is more than just book learning. Education is not only preparing you for life, but it’s an asset that you’re adding to your community and your country.”
- Dr. Philip Benjamin
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purchase needed equipment for laboratories, and to support the college and its instructional
programs in other ways determined appropriate by the college’s District Board of Trustees.
Naming the Program
The Matching Grant Program was named after Dr. Philip Benjamin, an original state
board of community college member and respected throughout the state. Dr. Benjamin was
born in New York City and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1929. In 1941 he enrolled at
St. Petersburg Junior College now known as St. Petersburg College (SPC) and became a
member of the charter class activating the Fifth Avenue North campus. After graduating
from SPC in 1942, Dr. Benjamin attended and subsequently graduated from Northern
Illinois College of Optometry in 1944. He served in the United States Army from
September 2, 1944 to June 23, 1946, married his wife, Marilyn, and had three children. Dr.
Benjamin owned and operated a local optometrist practice in St. Petersburg from 1947-
1990.
Upon returning to St. Petersburg, Dr. Benjamin became an active community
member with his biggest contribution was serving as a champion for higher education,
specifically for Florida’s community colleges. From 1970 to 1983, Dr. Benjamin served on
SPC’s Board of Trustees, acting as vice chairman and chairman the last 7 years. The
college named a Social Arts building after him (Attachment C) in 1984 to honor his service
to SPC and his commitment to Florida’s community colleges and higher education.
Dr. Benjamin served on the State Community Colleges Council in 1978 and the
State Community College Coordinating Board in 1980. In 1983, Governor Bob Graham
asked Dr. Benjamin to serve as a founding member of State Board of Community Colleges,
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which was created to coordinate the activities of the 28 community colleges in Florida. He
was elected chairman in 1983-1984. The same year, Governor Graham and the cabinet
passed a resolution (Attachment A and B) commending Dr. Benjamin for his service to
education.
In addition to serving as State Community College Council member and State
Community College Coordinating Board chairman, in 1995 Dr. Benjamin also helped
organize the Foundation of Florida’s Community Colleges to benefit students and education
statewide.
Benjamin said he is proud that ―education has been in the forefront of bringing all
classes of people together in the state of Florida.‖
Evolution of the Legislature
The Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program was created in 1983 as a single
matching gifts program. The program encouraged private support in enhancing
postsecondary education thought scholarships that were received through the college
foundations. Each of the 28 Florida colleges participated in the Dr. Philip Benjamin
Matching Program by establishing a matching grant program fund as a depository for private
contributions and matching state funds received under the program. The college foundation
departments served to maintain, invest, and administer the matching grant funds. Each FSC
institution is required, in Florida Statute, to complete a final certification form, based on
contributions that have not been previously matched with state funds; the form is to be
received by February 1 of each year. An annual expenditure report is also required in
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Florida Statute to the State Board of Education (SBOE) to track the use of the matching
funds as well as an annual financial audit to the Auditors General and SBOE.
Prior to fiscal year 2008-09, the Legislature fully matched the eligible private
donations for the matching grant programs. Fiscal year 2007-08 is the most recent year in
which the programs received the full match for eligible contributions. A backlog was
created as the state began to experience a lack of matching funds. The 2009 Legislature
amended the statutory provisions of these programs to require colleges to notify donors of a
substantial delay in the availability of state matching funds.
Current Status of the Program
In June, the 2011 Legislature amended the statutory provision to suspend the state
matching program. Donations received prior to midnight on June 29, 2011 would remain
eligible for match. As the state works to addresses the existing matching backlog in order to
restart the program, donations received June 30, 2011 or later will not currently be eligible
for state match.
Florida statutes for the Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program
Florida statutes 1011.85, Rule 6A-14.00 (see Attachment E)
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References
CEPRI. (2001). Council for Education Policy Research and Improvement. The Costs and
Benefits of State Matching Funds for Community Colleges and State University
Private Donations, December 2001 report.
FDOE. (2011). Florida Department of Education: Florida College System – Overview.
Retrieved from http://www.fldoe.org/cc/overview.asp.
Florida House of Representatives. (2011). Education Fact Sheet: Dr. Philip Benjamin
Matching Grant Program. Retrieved from
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/
Web/HouseContent/Approved/Web%20Site/education_fact_sheets/2011/documents/
2010-11%20Dr.%20Philip%20Benjamin%20Matching%20Grant%20Program.3.pdf
Governor’s Cabinet Honors Dr. Benjamin. (1983). Blue & White: Faculty and Staff
Announcements: Governors Cabinet Honors Dr. Benjamin. St. Petersburg Junior
College. (see Attachment A)
Graham, B. (1984). Personal correspondence. (see Attachment B).
Lang, J. (1997). Personal correspondence.
Maxwell, C. (1997). Personal correspondence.
McClendon, C. (1984). Optometrist Sees a Better Way for Higher Education. St. Petersburg
Times, Florida. December 10, 1984. (see Attachment C)
Section 1011.85, Florida Statutes. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.leg.state.
fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=1000-
1099/1011/Sections/1011.85.html
State Board of Education. (2011). Action Item: Approval of Budget Guidelines for
Development of 2012-2013 Legislative Budget. Retrieved from
www.fldoe.org/board/meetings/2011_06_21/budget.pdf
Witwer, S.B. (n.d.). Optometrist Given SPC Board Post. St. Petersburg Times. (see
Attachment D)
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Attachment E
Florida Statutes, Section 1011.85
Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program for 1Community Colleges.—
(1) There is created the Dr. Philip Benjamin Matching Grant Program for 1Community
Colleges as a single matching gifts program that encompasses the goals originally set out in
the Academic Improvement Program, the Scholarship Matching Program, and the Health
Care Education Quality Enhancement Challenge Grant. The program shall be administered
according to rules of the State Board of Education and used to encourage private support in
enhancing 1community colleges by providing the
1community college system with the
opportunity to receive and match challenge grants. Funds received prior to the effective date
of this act for each of the three programs shall be retained in the separate account for which
it was designated.
(2) Each 1community college board of trustees receiving state appropriations under this
program shall approve each gift to ensure alignment with the unique mission of the 1community college. The board of trustees must link all requests for a state match to the
goals and mission statement. The Florida 1Community College Foundation Board receiving
state appropriations under this program shall approve each gift to ensure alignment with its
goals and mission statement.
(3) Upon approval by the 1community college board of trustees and the State Board of
Education, the ordering of donations for priority listing of unmatched gifts should be
determined by the submitting 1community college.
(4) Each year, eligible contributions received by a 1community college’s foundation or the
State Board of Education by February 1 shall be eligible for state matching funds.
(a) Each 1community college board of trustees and, when applicable, the Florida
1Community College Foundation Board, receiving state appropriations under this program
shall also certify in an annual report to the State Board of Education the receipt of eligible
cash contributions that were previously unmatched by the state. The State Board of
Education shall adopt rules providing all 1community colleges with an opportunity to apply
for excess funds before the awarding of such funds.
(b) 1Community colleges must submit to the State Board of Education an annual
expenditure report tracking the use of all matching funds.
(c) The audit of each foundation receiving state funds from this program must include a
certification of accuracy in the amount reported for matching funds.
(5) The matching ratio for donations that are specifically designated to support scholarships,
including scholarships for first-generation-in-college students, student loans, or need-based
grants shall be $1 of state funds to $1 of local private funds.
(6) Otherwise, funds shall be proportionately allocated to the 1community colleges on the
basis of matching each $6 of local or private funds with $4 of state funds. To be eligible, a
minimum of $4,500 must be raised from private sources.
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(7) The 1community college board of trustees, in conjunction with the donor, shall make the
determination of whether scholarships established pursuant to this program are endowed.
(8)(a) Funds sufficient to provide the match shall be transferred from the state
appropriations to the local 1community college foundation or the statewide
1community
college foundation upon notification that a proportionate amount has been received and
deposited by a 1community college in its own trust fund.
(b) If state funds appropriated for the program are insufficient to match contributions, the
amount allocated shall be reduced in proportion to its share of the total eligible
contributions. However, in making proportional reductions, every 1community college shall
receive a minimum of $75,000 in state matching funds if its eligible contributions would
have generated an amount at least equal to $75,000. All unmet contributions shall be
eligible for state matching funds in subsequent fiscal years.
(9) Each 1community college entity shall establish its own matching grant program fund as a
depository for the private contributions and matching state funds provided under this
section.
(10) The State Board of Education may receive submissions of requests for matching funds
and documentation relating to those requests, may approve requests for matching funds, and
may allocate such funds to the 1community colleges.
(11) The board of trustees of the 1community college and the State Board of Education are
responsible for determining the uses for the proceeds of their respective trust funds. Such
use of the proceeds shall include, but not be limited to, expenditure of the funds for:
(a) Scientific and technical equipment.
(b) Scholarships, loans, or need-based grants.
(c) Other activities that will benefit future students as well as students currently enrolled at
the 1community college, will improve the quality of education at the
1community college, or
will enhance economic development in the community.
(12) Each 1community college shall notify all donors of private funds of a substantial delay
in the availability of state matching funds for this program.
History.—s. 680, ch. 2002-387; s. 4, ch. 2006-73; s. 32, ch. 2009-60.
1Note.—Section 21, ch. 2010-70, directs the Division of Statutory Revision to prepare a
reviser’s bill to substitute the term ―Florida College System institution‖ for the terms
―Florida college,‖ ―community college,‖ and ―junior college‖ where those terms appear in
the Florida K-20 Education Code. 1Community college foundations are responsible for the
maintenance, investment, and administration of their matching grant program funds.