Gail Rothman—strategist, consultant, and co-author of Roadmap for Education Foundations—has spent her career bringing people together in support of public education. After years of working alongside school districts, nonprofit leaders, and community partners, Gail saw a recurring challenge: many education foundations launch with enthusiasm but struggle to build the structure and sustainability needed to truly move the needle for students.
Rothman Solutions was created to change that.
Drawing on deep expertise in foundation development, governance, operations, fundraising, and community engagement, Rothman Solutions guides school districts and communities through the process of launching and sustaining high-impact education foundations. The firm brings clarity to complex work—and helps communities and districts build the infrastructure required for long-term success.
Rothman Solutions doesn’t just help foundations get started. They provide the back-end support, strategic tools, and ongoing coaching that enable education foundations to grow sustainably—so board members can focus on what matters most: creating opportunities for students and supporting educators.
Rooted in partnership and powered by experience, Rothman Solutions is a catalyst for community-driven investment in public education. With thoughtful guidance and proven strategies, Gail and her team empower foundations to move from intention to impact—strengthening schools and providing essential educational enrichment for all students.
Gail Rothman | Founder
Gail Rothman, the founder of Rothman Solutions, is a recognized expert in helping communities build and strengthen education foundations. With more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Gail has guided organizations through growth, capacity building, and strategic development.
Before launching Rothman Solutions, she spent 14 years as executive director of the Decatur Education Foundation, transforming it from a start-up into a high-impact organization with $2 million in assets. Her collaborative leadership produced programs that closed opportunity gaps, expanded behavioral health supports, and incubated innovative youth initiatives. Earlier, as CEO of a youth development organization, she shifted the model to scalable partnerships and built a strong facilitator corps.
Gail brings deep expertise in foundation development, governance, fundraising, and community engagement—work she now channels into helping districts and communities launch and grow high-performing education foundations. She co-authored Roadmap for Education Foundations and is a seasoned facilitator and coach, known for helping boards and leaders move from intention to impact.
She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and is driven by the belief that when people come together in support of public education, anything is possible.
Laura Willard | Client Services Specialist
Laura Willard brings more than 25 years of experience in data management, CRM implementation, training, and nonprofit operations to her work with Rothman Solutions. She helps education foundations build the operational infrastructure they need to run smoothly, grow sustainably, and focus on creating opportunities for students.
Before joining Rothman Solutions, Laura led administrative operations for the ML4 Foundation, a nonprofit supporting ultra-rare disease research. There, she developed processes that strengthened communication and engagement with donors, families, and board members. Earlier, she spent fifteen years supporting CRM implementations in higher education, training clients to see technology as a tool that turns ideas into action.
A long-time champion of public education, Laura’s work is driven by a belief in the power of strong systems to support schools, students, and communities. She lives in Decatur, Georgia.
Autumn Kirkendall | Client Development Specialist
Autumn Kirkendall, Client Development Specialist at Rothman Solutions, works to connect education foundations and districts with the partnership and support they need to grow. She focuses on outreach and marketing to reach prospective clients, and works directly with clients as they engage with Rothman Solutions’ consulting support.
Before joining Rothman Solutions, Autumn spent nearly a decade in community-based research, earning a PhD in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati along the way. That work sharpened an approach she now brings to client development: collaborative, grounded in what’s actionable and relevant to each community’s needs, and responsive as priorities evolve.
Autumn also co-founded Public Service Bicycle Works and runs a cycling team with her husband, work that draws on the same instincts for building community and coaching people toward shared goals. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Roadmap for Education Foundations: A Practical Guide to Building and Growing K–12 Support is a comprehensive, step-by-step resource for communities seeking to strengthen their public schools through an education foundation. Co-authored by Gail Rothman, the guide distills decades of experience into practical tools, proven strategies, and real-world guidance for launching, growing, and sustaining high-impact foundations.
Designed for school districts, board members, and community leaders, the Roadmap walks readers through essential elements of effective foundation development—from establishing clear purpose and governance structures to building fundraising capacity, engaging the community, and creating programs that deliver measurable results.
The book provides a clear framework that helps new foundations start strong and helps existing foundations refine their operations and increase their impact.
At Rothman Solutions, the principles in the Roadmap inform our approach to partnering with communities: bringing clarity to complex work, building solid organizational infrastructure, and ensuring that education foundations can move from good intentions to lasting impact for students and educators.
Here is what Newton County Schools Board Member Trey Bailey had to say about Roadmap for Education Foundations: A Practical Guide to Building and Growing K-12 Support:
I’ve never been one for subtlety, so I’ll just say it: Roadmap for Education Foundations might be one of the most practical, inspiring books I’ve read in a long time—and that’s not something I say lightly.
Gail Rothman and Robin Callahan have written the only comprehensive, accessible guide of its kind—a book designed for anyone passionate about building or growing a K-12 education foundation in their community. No drama, no fluff. Just a beautifully designed, clear-as-day blueprint for making a lasting difference in public education.
And here’s what gets me: This isn’t just a book for superintendents, school board members, or PTO presidents. This is for any community member who’s ever looked around and asked, “How can I help?”