contribution opportunities

support

Your support is critical to continuing creative and innovative programs in Fairfax County Public Schools. All donations go directly to the foundation. The foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization and your contributions are tax deductible. You may:

• Direct your donation to a specific school
• Invest your donation in the FCPS general fund
• Create or expand a system program
• Contribute to the endowment

The Virginia General Assembly has enacted legislation to allow taxpayers to apply their refund to the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools.

education foundation support fees

The Education Foundation charges a Foundation Support Fee on each contribution (with the exception of the General Fund) to the foundation. Support Fees are a critical source of revenue for the operations of the Education Foundation. The support fees enable us to operate the Foundation and to service its donors. The schedule is subject to change from time to time by the Board of Directors.

support fees

5% on all contributions

This is a one-time support fee deducted at the time the contribution is made. We recognize on occasion, a donor may request 100% of their contribution go to a specific school, or a specific program. When instructed by the donor, the Foundation will apply the 100% as directed. In such cases, we ask the donor to consider contributing 5% of the contribution to the General Fund through a separate contribution.

annual opportunities

General Fund

Purpose: Support foundation administrative costs.

AP/IB Exams

$2,000,000
Purpose: Reduce/eliminate recently adopted fees charged to students taking Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams for college credit.
Target: High school students

Athletic Fees

$1,800,000
Purpose: Reduce/eliminate recently adopted fees charged to students competing on high school athletic teams.
Target: High school students

Kids in Need

$40,000
Purpose: Assist students with their basic needs—clothing, school supplies, glasses, and other essentials their family is unable to provide.
Target: Students facing great financial difficulty

Finance Park

$250,000
Purpose: Provide field trip fees for 13,000 FCPS students to learn practical financial skills, such as budgeting, balancing a checkbook, and getting a car loan, at Junior Achievement’s Finance Park. Real-life financial literacy is taught in a miniature, city-like setting. Students take on an identity and balance their personal budgets.
Target: 8th grade students

Young Scholars

$250,000
Purpose: Recruit underrepresented elementary-age students into college track preparation by providing added rich "scholar" experiences in the summer.
Target: Elementary school students

College Access

$50,000
Purpose: Give students and families the knowledge and skills to navigate the financial aid application processes for post-secondary education.
Target: High school students and families

Early Identification Program

$70,000
Purpose: Identify underrepresented and potential first-generation college attendees in the 7th grade and give them a set of college preparatory experiences in partnership with George Mason University.
Target: Underrepresented, college-potential middle school students in Northern Virginia

World Languages

$20,000
Purpose: Support early language learning opportunities for all students. Knowledge of more than one language equips students with the critical skills needed in today's global society.
Target:FCPS elementary & middle school students

Pathways to the Baccalaureate

$220,000
Purpose: Provide staff to follow students and guide them on college preparation in high school, through the application process into Northern Virginia Community College, then onto a successful transition to a four-year college in Virginia.
Target: Potential underrepresented, lower-income, first-generation college attendees who are in the 10th or 11th grade

Employee Awards

$10,000
Purpose: Provide the cash awards given to six outstanding FCPS employees— two principals, two teachers, and two support employees; and to pay for the receptions to honor them.
Target: FCPS award winners

Annual Leadership Convocation

$20,000
Purpose: Sponsor the annual FCPS school year kickoff event for system leaders including a nationally renowned keynote speaker and address by the superintendent and school board.
Target: All FCPS leaders—support and instructional

Great Beginnings

$350,000
Purpose: Support proven new teacher orientation program conducted one week ahead of returning staff.
Target: New FCPS teachers

Teacher Grants

$50,000
Purpose: Support classroom innovations and enrichments.
Target: Teachers who need support for specific class projects

Education Summit

$15,000
Purpose: Engage and inspire the community about innovative trends and current practices in FCPS and beyond.
Target: Parents, community, and employees

Annual State of the Schools Report

$120,000
Purpose: Present annual state of education in FCPS including achievement, budget, and capital improvement program.
Target: All households in Fairfax County

Immersion/Foreign Language in Elementary Schools (FLES)

$20,000/school
Purpose: Support early language learning opportunities for all students. Knowledge of more than one language equips students with the critical skills needed in today's global society.
Target: FCPS elementary students

our partnerships

Finance Park

The Finance Park program is a partnership between Junior Achievement of Greater Washington and Fairfax County Public Schools. It is designed to foster the expansion of financial literacy in a creative, authentic manner. Participating students learn to develop money management skills, acquire personal finance knowledge, and begin to prepare for financial decisions later in life. Read more here.

Expanding Visions

Expanding Visions (EV) is a program developed by ExxonMobil to encourage FCPS seventh graders’ interest in the fields of math, science and technology. At this pivotal time in the students’ educational lives, EV efficiently and strategically places business volunteers in classrooms to illustrate how the lessons learned in school are applied in the real world. Read more here.

Great Beginnings

Great Beginnings: The Next Generation is a comprehensive induction program for new teachers. The key components of the program are high-quality mentoring, professional standards, teacher learning, and ongoing support. Read more here.