The Etiwanda Excellence in Education Foundation (E3) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in 2005 in response to substantially reduced federal and state funding for California public schools.  Dedicated educators, parents, and business professionals clearly recognized a need to support an academically strong education for Etiwanda students.  The foundation was formed to help expand opportunites for students and teachers by providing additional funding for projects which augment Etiwanda School District's strategic plan, and enrich the education of students.  The E3 Foundation is administered by a Board of Directors comprised of parents, district personnel, and business leaders who represent the interests of the district's seventeen schools.  

 

HOW WILL THE FOUNDATION RAISE MONEY? 

Funds are raised in a variety of ways.  The Foundation seeks financial commitments from businesses, community members, employees, and parents through donation campaigns.  Many direct donations are used to build an endowment fund, which would generate yearly revenue for the organization.  E3 holds events throughout the year such as a run/walk, golf tournament, and celebration dinner. E3 also manages after-school enrichment classes at selected schools in which the money raised is donated diretly back to the schools.  Schools use these funds to support specific programs at their site.  In addition, the Foundation seeks partnerships with corportations and organizations that can benefit the educational objectives of the district and students of Etiwanda.  

 

WHO SUPPORTS E3?

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HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?  

Any donation is appreciated regardless of the size.  We hope that you will want to support Etiwanda students and teacher innovation by investing in the E3 Foundation.  The answer to the question is to please give as much as you can.  A gift of $50 per child per year, $5 a month, or less than 28 cents a day for a child's education is recommended. Your donation can be a one-time gift, a recurring yearly donation, or set-up on a monthly payment plan. Etiwanda students are relying on all of us to fill the gaps in educational funding.  We need everyone to make a generous direct donation to meet this commitment. 

 

WHY WOULD PARENTS CONTRIBUTE TO E3 FOUNDATION AS OPPOSED TO A SCHOOL DIRECTLY? 

The Etiwanda Excellence in Education Foundation encourages parents to donate to their children's PTA for site-specific needs.  The Foundation also believes parents' donations to E3 are essential, as the Foundation funds programs that will benefit their children as they progress through ESD.  The Foundation also supports programs that may otherwise become unavailable throughout the district because of lack of funding.  Donations to the Foundation by parents demonstrate the commuity's priority of quality education in Etiwanda schools and the broad support base necessary to attract larger contributors. 

 

HOW WILL THE FOUNDATION SPEND THE MONEY IT RAISES?

The Foundation directors take careful consideration in how money is spent, and responds to the needs of the district, which are articulated by the Board of Trustees, the Etiwanda School District, and school site leaders.  The Foundation grants money equally to the sixteen schools in the district.  This money is used by the site to support best practices in the classrooms, purchase needed instructional materials, or provide enrichment opportunities to students. E3 also awards classroom mini-grants to fund innovative enrichment projects where regular funding is unavailable. Finally, the after-school enrichment program provides additional learning opportunties which extend past the school day. 

 

WILL FOUNDATION MONIES GO TOWARD STAFF SALARIES?

No. The Foundation is committed to supporting programs and initiatives that will have long-term impact on the education of all students in Etiwanda. Because of the uncertainty in year-to-year fundraising, it would be imprudent to promise funds for projects specifically tied to ongoing salaries. The Foundation's focus is on projects that benefit the largest number of students throughout the district and do not include staff salaries. 

 

WILL FOUNDATION-RAISED MONIES REPLACE THE NEED FOR PTA/PTOs?

The Foundation recognizes the significant contibutions parent groups make to their campuses.  The Foundation concentrates on establishing partnerships with corportations and organizations to provide funds and in-kind donations of district-wide benefit to all students. 

 

ARE DONATIONS TO THE FOUNDATION TAX-DEDUCTIBLE? 

Yes. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.  Monies donated to the Foundation are deductible to the full extent of the law.  (Tax I.D.# 20-2662628)

 

HOW EFFICIENTLY DOES THE FOUNDATION OPERATE? 

Etiwanda Excellence in Education Foundation spends less than 5 percent of its budget on operating costs such as copying, advertising, fundraising expenses, insurance and fees.  In addition, the E3 Foundation's Board of Directors are volunteers. 

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WHAT PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THE FOUNDATION'S FUNDS ARE PROPERLY MANAGED? 

The Foundation's funds are held with CFCU, a reputable banking entity with 50 years service in our community.  Our bylaws require that every check issued by the Foundation has two authorized signatures. Our treasurer is a licensed CPA who provides regular financial reports to the Board of Directors. 

 

WHO SERVES THE ETIWANDA EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION FOUNDATION? 

The Foundation is a collaboration of parents, business leaders, administrators, and concerned community members.  The Foundation may have no less than five and no more than seventeen elected or appointed directors.  Currently, E3 consists of sixteen members.  Officers including a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer are elected from the Board of Directors.  The Foundation also has two honorary members who are the Superintendent of the Etiwanda School District and one member of the Etiwanda School District Board of Trustees. Other interested volunteers who are educators, parents, or community members assist the Board of Directors.  These volunteers act in a variety of positions, which may include event coordinators. 

 

DOES THE FOUNDATION PARTICIPATE IN DISTRICT DECISIONS? 

No. The ESD Board of Trustees and their administrative appointees are the sole decision-makers on matters of programs, curriculum, facilities, instruction and personnel.  

 

CAN'T I DO MORE BY DIRECTING MY DONATION TO AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL OR PROGRAM? 

By pooling resources, the Foundation can finance high-impact programs available to every student that smaller gifts might not be able to provide.  A constant high level of proven funding allows programs to be planned and built over a series of years.  In this way, every child benefits, and the integrity of the overall educational program and the district is maintained.