Mobilize alumni philanthropy for Virginia public schools
As our nation emerges from the shadow of COVID-19, the general public is coming to grips with a stark reality looming over our public schools: billions in temporary federal relief funds are ending. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that public schools get creative about securing additional funds. From providing meals to serving as vaccination sites, our schools stepped up in unprecedented ways when their critical role in the community was underscored by the pandemic. These herculean efforts, nonetheless, came at a cost to school districts already tethered by tight budgets.
With federal funds drying up, many schools face budget shortfalls that threaten to undermine the quality of public education and the ability to retain and recruit teachers. This financial strain calls for innovative solutions.
The Endowment Project Foundation offers a road map for making this vision a reality through alumni-based philanthropy at no additional charge to the schools. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation provides an easy and proven way for alumni, individuals or corporations to make tax-deductible donations to their favorite schools. This promising initiative supports, rather than supplants, the wonderful work of any existing public school foundations, which rarely, if ever, have the resources to engage meaningfully with vast alumni populations.