The nation’s only annual study and ranking of K-12 education foundations, “Stepping Up: The Top K-12 Education Foundations” has ranked Champions For Learning, The Education Foundation of Collier County, among the top 25 in the country.
“We are extremely proud to be considered as one of the top 25 education foundations in the country,” says William R. Barker, Board Chair of Champions For Learning. “This recognition motivates us to advance our work and make it possible for the community to change lives every day.”
For more than 26 years, Champions For Learning has been supporting its mission through its student and educator programs and healthy volunteer base.
“Thanks to the community, we have been able to accomplish such great results, which are recognized through this study,” says Susan McManus, President of Champions For Learning. “Thanks to our supporters, board leadership, and staff team we are able to make significant strides in student learning.”
Stepping Up: The Top K-12 Education Foundations in the Nation study includes education foundations in the top 200 largest school districts in the nation (by student population), as well as other top-performing foundations in smaller school districts. Stepping Up looks at eight key performance categories to determine the ranking: annual revenues, revenues per student, total assets, assets per student, investment income, total program expenses, expenses per student, and human capital (volunteers).
The study focuses on K-12 education foundations in the 200 largest school districts (by student population). Additionally, top-performing education foundations that serve smaller school districts were included. In totality, there were 188 K-12 education foundations from 220 school districts included in the study. These foundations collectively generated the following in 2014 (most recent year data available):
- Held $506 million in assets
- Raised $359 million
- Invested $161 million into grants and programs
“Most parents and taxpayers are not aware of how K-12 education foundations are enhancing and innovating public education,” said Dewey Caruthers, study author and president of Caruthers Institute that conducts the study, noting “education foundations are providing vital programs for students and valuable grants for teachers that otherwise would not exist.”
To view the study, click here