Frequently Asked Questions
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Our mission is to raise private funds for resources and programs that are not available to our students through the district's budget.
The Foundation works as a catalyst for emerging needs that are innovative and pioneering. The Fayetteville School District serves every child that walks through the door, regardless of race, disability, or income. Through state-of-the-art grants submitted by Fayetteville teachers, students experience extraordinary educational opportunities- many for the first time.
Our ethos is to support promising new programs that spark our students education, while preserving public dollars for the work of schools.
The Foundation’s endowment is made up of a merged pool of Funds that provides scholarships to students and grants to teachers and staff. Funds are distributed in response to grant and scholarship applications.
The Foundation’s endowment principal is never spent and remains intact, enabling the endowment to grow, maintain its "spending power" and provide a permanent stream of income over time. Only the net income from the Foundation's endowment is available for projects, preserving the principal to provide a perpetual source of funding. This investment in education guarantees many vital programs and opportunities will remain in place for future generations of Fayetteville's students.
Any person or entity proposing a project supportive of the Fayetteville Public Schools, and deemed meritorious by the Foundation's Board of Director can receive a grant from the Foundation. Potential grantseekers would include teachers, students, parents, businesses and other organizations that have an interest in and a capability to improve public education.
The Foundation is recognized under state and federal law as a 501(c)3 charitable, tax-exempt organization. As such, its financial records are open to public review. The Board of Directors carefully oversee all investments, expenses and the use of grant funds. Additionally, the financials are annually audited.
The Foundation is building on an already significant endowment with strong fiscal management. Investments are managed to produce a stable return. As a small organization, low overhead costs allows for sustainability which in turn means that funds from the endowment go directly to projects and activities that go beyond the normal classroom experience.
Annual operating costs are secured through unrestricted gifts from friends, parents and alumni, Annual Fund membership and fundraising events.
The Foundation does not receive any federal, state or local tax support to fund our programs.
No. The Foundation is an independent 501c3 with a independent Board of Directors.
The board is selected by an executive committee from a long list of community partners interested in public education. The board members represent many broad and diverse groups throughout the Fayetteville community. Members serve staggered three year terms and their replacements are elected by board vote. Additionally, two members serve as ex-officio members: the president of the Fayetteville Board of Education and the superintendent of the Fayetteville Public Schools.