Atlanta Grade School Friends
Long Range Plan
Updated: May 2025
Atlanta Grade School Friends has outlined the following phases of development.
Phase I: Restore (2002 through 2022 and complete)
• Nonprofit articles of incorporation filed with the Texas Secretary of State (2002)
• IRS nonprofit status filed and approved (2003)
• Acquisition of Atlanta-Miller Grade School and the property on which it sits
• Clean-up (complete)
• Stabilization including a new roof, floor repair, property improvements (complete)
• Requesting and obtaining a Texas Historical Commission marker (2006)
• Ongoing fundraising to help fund the above (complete).
Phase II: Renovate (2023 through 2025)
• Restoration design and budgeting with the help of Architexas (in progress)
• Research to identify financial support partners is ongoing and fundraising will continue through 2024 or 2025. A generous initial grant of $1,000,000 has been received and will create an exciting matching opportunity for future contributors (in the works)
• Architexas to apply for National Register status for Atlanta-Miller Grade School, and for tax credits (in progress)
• Acquisition of adjacent property, sale and removal of the house on it, and clearing. An additional buffer tract has also been purchased. This area will ultimately be designated for off-street parking (complete).
• Installation of fire prevention sprinkler system prior to restoration, with financial help from The Summerlee Foundation and Walmart (almost complete)
• Organizational infrastructure
• New website, replacing 20-year-old version (done)
• MailChimp email system for regular monthly communication (done)
• Installation of online donation platform and constituent management system (complete and updated routinely)
• Creation of “hard copy” Excel mailing list for regular USPS mailings (done)
• GuideStar gold seal for transparency (complete and updated annually)
• GreatNonprofits profile for public reviews (complete)
• Creation of YouTube channel and videos (complete and ongoing)
• Federal and State of Texas records updated with new physical and mailing addresses, including location of Texas Historical Commission marker (done)
• Google Maps coordination on physical address and new street view (complete)
• New bylaws replace the twenty-year-old version, approved by the Board (complete)
• Development of closer relationships with the Texas Historical Commission, Preservation Texas, and Cass County Historical Commission (dialogues are in progress)
• Community survey via SurveyMonkey about future uses of the restored school (complete 2023), and ongoing dialogues with potential local partners (continuing)
• Installation of digital reader on ISSUU for ease of access online by donors and partners (complete)
• Honor Award received from Preservation Texas in 2023, and removal from the “most endangered” historic sites list after 20 years (done)
• Creation of case for support document in anticipation of launching a major gift campaign (done)
• Plans to be considered for filming key figures involved in the school’s restoration, those who attended the school, and showing this film inside the school and online
• Planning for a public phase of the campaign when majority of the funding has been received (forthcoming)
• Planned giving campaign to create a long-term endowment fund for future sustainability (forthcoming, with planned giving information provided occasionally in newsletters already)
• Construction expected to begin in 2025, aiming for the conclusion of restoration in 2026
• Ongoing discussions about the future of Atlanta Grade School Friends, how it will support the community center, and its future annual operational needs (endowment fund, an annual operational fund drive, for-profit funding options like fees for use, swag sales, and more - in progress).
Phase III: Revitalize (2026 through 2036)
• First employee hired by Atlanta Grade School Friends and onsite office established
• Planning for celebration of the conclusion of the major gift campaign (2026), and grand opening in the fall
• First project partnership with the City of Atlanta: Smithsonian exhibition “Museum on Main Street”: January-February 2027
• First “classes” and events occur in the renovated Atlanta-Miller Grade School by fall 2026
• Ongoing fundraising to sustain the school and Atlanta Grade School Friends well into the future.