2013-02-15T09:16:59-06:00 2012-06-30 BERMAN GOLDMAN & RIBAKOW LLP 6811 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DR STE 250 COLUMBIA MD 210463188 990 2011-07-01 204840080 HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCAT FOUNDATION INC D/B/A BRIGHT MINDS HOWA 4103136655 10910 RT 108 ELLICOTT CITY MD 21042 BRIAN HUBBARD 4103136655 2013-02-14 true MICHELLE ALLEN OUTERBRIDGE CPA 4104184400 2013-02-15 2011 2016-03-07 17:11:31Z DBA BRIGHT MINDS 155835 false X BRIGHTMINDSFOUNDATION.ORG X 2006 MD THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE IS TO ASSIST IN THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS IN THE HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. 23 23 0 0 57406 155634 0 192 201 0 57598 155835 12375 13966 0 58708 64777 0 21439 24572 19452 95655 98195 -38057 57640 69210 40595 94503 8248 -25293 32347 X THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE IS TO ASSIST IN THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS IN THE HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. false false 55805 13966 67717 THE BRIGHT MINDS FOUNDATION IS THE HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATION FOUNDATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EQUITY AND EQUALITY, EDUCATION INNOVATION AND SKILLS FOR A LIFETIME FOR HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. CURRENTLY, THE FOUNDATION ACHIEVES ITS MISSION VIA TWO MAJOR PROGRAMS, AND OCCASIONAL OTHER PARTNERING EVENTS. STAFF AND TEACHER'S GRANT PROGRAM ON A YEARLY BASIS, BRIGHT MINDS FOUNDATION INVITES HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STAFF TO APPLY FOR 21ST CENTURY COMPETENCY GRANTS IN AMOUNTS RANGING FROM 500 TO 2000 FOR PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE FOLLOWING CALENDAR YEAR. APPLICATIONS FOR PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS MUST SUPPORT ONE OR MORE OF THE FOUNDATION'S GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND EQUALITY, EDUCATION INNOVATION, AND SKILLS FOR A LIFETIME IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: 1. FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC, BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LITERACY 2. GLOBAL AND CIVIC AWARENESS 3. HEALTH AND WELLNESS AWARENESS 4. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 5. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, WE'VE AWARDED OVER 32,000 TO ABOUT 23 AWARD WINNERS, AND WE WILL BE AWARDING APPROXIMATELY 11,000 IN JANUARY 2013 FOR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED IN OCTOBER 2012. BECAUSE AWARDS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO TEACHERS ACROSS THE COUNTY FOR PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE REPLICATED AND PRESENTED TO CLASSES IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS, WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TOUCHED APPROXIMATELY 2000 STUDENTS IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE CAMPAIGN IN RECOGNITION OF THE NEED FOR ALL HOWARD COUNTY STUDENTS TO COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, THE BRIGHT MINDS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HCPSS SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO IDENTIFY DESERVING STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AT HOME, SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH THIS TOOL TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY. CURRENTLY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 2000 FAMILIES WHO MEET THIS DESCRIPTION. BRIGHT MINDS HAS FORMED SEVERAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, RETAIL MARKETS AND FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE FUNDS TO FOR THIS PROGRAM. WE HAVE PURCHASED REFURBISHED LAPTOPS, UPGRADED THEM WITH NEW HARD DRIVES EQUIPPED WITH A CURRENT OPERATING SYSTEM, ALONG WITH MICROSOFT OFFICE. WE ALSO PROVIDE BRAND NEW PRINTERS AND A FLASH DRIVE, LAPTOP BAG, AND OTHER PERIPHERALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LAPTOPS ARE IMAGED WITH CURRENTLY USED SCHOOL SYSTEM PORTALS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS, ALONG WITH ONLINE OFFERINGS FROM THE HOWARD COUNTY LIBRARY. STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND A 2 HOUR WORKSHOP WITH AT LEAST ONE PARENT OR GUARDIAN, AT WHICH THEY WILL RECEIVE TECHNICAL TRAINING TO USE THE EQUIPMENT WELL, AND THEIR PARENTS WILL RECEIVE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT CYBER SECURITY. ADDITIONALLY, OUR FINANCIAL PARTNER PROVIDES FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING AND COUNSELING TO THE FAMILIES. TO DATE WE HAVE PROVIDED COMPUTERS TO 420 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATING THAT EACH HOUSEHOLD IS MADE UP OF FOUR MEMBERS, WOULD LEAD TO OVER 1600 PERSONS CROSSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE DUE TO OUR EFFORTS SINCE 2008. PARTNERING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN MARCH OF 2012, BRIGHT MINDS PARTNERED WITH THE ANNE ARUNDEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO HOST A CAREER FAIR, WHICH FEATURED SEVERAL LOCAL EMPLOYERS IN ATTENDANCE TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN WHAT PREPARATION WOULD BE NEEDED TO PREPARE FOR CAREERS OF INTEREST TO THEM. SINCE OUR TWO COUNTIES ARE CONTIGUOUS, AND BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES MAY BE LOCATED IN EITHER, IT MADE SENSE TO COMBINE FORCES FOR ONE EVENT. STUDENTS FROM BOTH COUNTIES WERE INVITED TO ATTEND TO MEET PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS FROM AROUND THE REGION. WE HAD A FAIRLY LOW ATTENDANCE FROM HOWARD COUNTY AS THE EVENT WAS HELD AT A SCHOOL IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. WE ESTIMATE A TOTAL OF 50 STUDENTS ATTENDED FROM HOWARD COUNTY. WE ARE CONSIDERING OTHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EVENTS IN THE FUTURE. 55805 true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 0 0 true 1 false false false false false false false X 23 23 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true false false true false false MD X PAT SASSE 4107400707 10910 RT 108 ELLICOTT CITY MD 21042 X DOUG HOSTETLER 2.50 X 0 0 0 VICTOR BROCCOLINO 0.25 X 0 0 0 PAUL BROWN 2.50 X X 0 0 0 DR SYDNEY COUSIN 2.50 X 0 0 0 LINDELL EAGAN 0.25 X 0 0 0 PETER F HIBBARD 0.25 X 0 0 0 BRIAN HUBBARD 2.50 X X 0 0 0 STACIE HUNT 1.00 X 0 0 0 JEFFREY LEVITT 2.50 X X 0 0 0 MAURICE OFFIT 0.25 X 0 0 0 PAUL BECKHAM 0.25 X 0 0 0 ERIC NASS 0.25 X 0 0 0 MARIAN BERMAN 0.25 X 0 0 0 CASSANDRA COMPTON 0.25 X 0 0 0 MELISSA FELD HELICKE 0.25 X 0 0 0 TAMI E JOHNSON 0.25 X 0 0 0 MIA MILLETTE 0.25 X 0 0 0 LISA OLIVIERI 0.25 X 0 0 0 STEVEN PORTER 0.25 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM GRAY 2.50 X X 0 0 0 false false false 86417 69217 1500 155634 201 201 155835 201 13966 13966 60000 27000 15000 18000 4777 2150 1194 1433 1130 1130 1255 1255 2006 2006 2177 2177 360 180 180 1270 1270 EQUIPMENT FOR STUDENTS 9804 9804 WEBSITE 1250 1250 MEMBERSHIP 200 200 98195 55805 20951 21439 48531 19817 20679 20778 69210 40595 8086 8248 86417 94503 8248 X -27293 32347 2000 -25293 32347 69210 40595 57640 X false false false X 63143 84128 90848 57405 69217 364741 63143 84128 90848 57405 69217 364741 364741 459 187 192 201 1039 365780 201 0.99720 0.99700 X false HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM 10910 ROUTE 108 ELLICOTT CITY MD 21042 13966 FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT DESCRIPTION FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A OF EQUITY AND EQUALITY, EDUCATION INNOVATION, AND SKILLS FOR A LIFETIME IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: 1. FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC, BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LITERACY 2. GLOBAL AND CIVIC AWARENESS 3. HEALTH AND WELLNESS AWARENESS 4. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 5. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, WE'VE AWARDED OVER 32,000 TO ABOUT 23 AWARD WINNERS, AND WE WILL BE AWARDING APPROXIMATELY 11,000 IN JANUARY 2013 FOR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED IN OCTOBER 2012. BECAUSE AWARDS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO TEACHERS ACROSS THE COUNTY FOR PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE REPLICATED AND PRESENTED TO CLASSES IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS, WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TOUCHED APPROXIMATELY 2000 STUDENTS IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE CAMPAIGN IN RECOGNITION OF THE NEED FOR ALL HOWARD COUNTY STUDENTS TO COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, THE BRIGHT MINDS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HCPSS SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO IDENTIFY DESERVING STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AT HOME, SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH THIS TOOL TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY. CURRENTLY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 2000 FAMILIES WHO MEET THIS DESCRIPTION. BRIGHT MINDS HAS FORMED SEVERAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, RETAIL MARKETS AND FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE FUNDS TO FOR THIS PROGRAM. WE HAVE PURCHASED REFURBISHED LAPTOPS, UPGRADED THEM WITH NEW HARD DRIVES EQUIPPED WITH A CURRENT OPERATING SYSTEM, ALONG WITH MICROSOFT OFFICE. WE ALSO PROVIDE BRAND NEW PRINTERS AND A FLASH DRIVE, LAPTOP BAG, AND OTHER PERIPHERALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LAPTOPS ARE IMAGED WITH CURRENTLY USED SCHOOL SYSTEM PORTALS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS, ALONG WITH ONLINE OFFERINGS FROM THE HOWARD COUNTY LIBRARY. STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND A 2 HOUR WORKSHOP WITH AT LEAST ONE PARENT OR GUARDIAN, AT WHICH THEY WILL RECEIVE TECHNICAL TRAINING TO USE THE EQUIPMENT WELL, AND THEIR PARENTS WILL RECEIVE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT CYBER SECURITY. ADDITIONALLY, OUR FINANCIAL PARTNER PROVIDES FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING AND COUNSELING TO THE FAMILIES. TO DATE WE HAVE PROVIDED COMPUTERS TO 420 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATING THAT EACH HOUSEHOLD IS MADE UP OF FOUR MEMBERS, WOULD LEAD TO OVER 1600 PERSONS CROSSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE DUE TO OUR EFFORTS SINCE 2008. PARTNERING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN MARCH OF 2012, BRIGHT MINDS PARTNERED WITH THE ANNE ARUNDEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO HOST A CAREER FAIR, WHICH FEATURED SEVERAL LOCAL EMPLOYERS IN ATTENDANCE TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN WHAT PREPARATION WOULD BE NEEDED TO PREPARE FOR CAREERS OF INTEREST TO THEM. SINCE OUR TWO COUNTIES ARE CONTIGUOUS, AND BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES MAY BE LOCATED IN EITHER, IT MADE SENSE TO COMBINE FORCES FOR ONE EVENT. STUDENTS FROM BOTH COUNTIES WERE INVITED TO ATTEND TO MEET PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS FROM AROUND THE REGION. WE HAD A FAIRLY LOW ATTENDANCE FROM HOWARD COUNTY AS THE EVENT WAS HELD AT A SCHOOL IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. WE ESTIMATE A TOTAL OF 50 STUDENTS ATTENDED FROM HOWARD COUNTY. WE ARE CONSIDERING OTHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EVENTS IN THE FUTURE. ORGANIZATION'S PROCESS USED TO REVIEW FORM 990 FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE 990 IS PRESENTED TO THE OFFICERS FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNED BY THE BOARD CHAIR. ENFORCEMENT OF CONFLICTS POLICY FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION EDUCATES THE BOARD ON THE DEFINITION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. ALL BOARD MEMBERS SIGN AN AFFADAVIT THAT THEY WILL DISCLOSE ALL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. COMPENSATION PROCESS FOR TOP OFFICIAL FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION IS REVIEWED BY THE BOARD ANNUALLY BEFORE RENEWAL OF THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. GOVERNING DOCUMENTS DISCLOSURE EXPLANATION FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 THE 990 IS AVAILABLE ON GUIDESTAR AND IS PROVIDED UPON REQUEST.