Frequently Asked Questions
General Foundation Questions
What is the West Linn-Wilsonville Education Foundation?
The Foundation is a fundraising organization committed to preserving teaching positions and supporting academic success in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.
Why do we need an Education Foundation?
When school funding was centralized in Salem in 1990, the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, like all other Oregon school districts, lost its ability to set its own budget and became limited to the funds that the state allocates to it each year on a per student basis. To supplement the state's allocation, the voters of West Linn and Wilsonville have consistently passed local tax options to support their schools. Unfortunately, due to the declines in the current real estate market, the revenues generated from these local tax options have decreased dramatically. Therefore, in order to sustain the premium quality of education in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, the need for private funding sources has become a reality.
How does the Foundation differ from what the WLWV School District does and from what the schools’ PTAs, PTSOs, Booster Clubs, etc. do?
The WLWV School District operates thirteen (13) schools within the communities of West Linn and Wilsonville. In turn, those schools have in place supportive organizations (PTAs, PTSOs, Booster Clubs, etc.) which exist primarily to raise funds for their school’s unique needs and programs, such as assemblies, technology projects or playground equipment. PTAs, PTSOs and Booster Clubs, however, are limited in what services they may fund for their schools. They are generally not permitted by their bylaws to hire teachers for their schools.
The Foundation differs from these school-specific organizations in that funds it raises can be used to pay for teaching positions. The Foundation is currently the only nonprofit fundraising entity with the ability to fund additional teaching positions for the WLWV School District. In addition, the Foundation includes representatives from each of the thirteen (13) school within the district.
Does the WLWV School District run the Foundation?
No, the Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization composed of parents, teachers and administrators from the school district and the broader community.
Is the Foundation a registered nonprofit (501c3)?
Yes, the Foundation originally filed for nonprofit status in 1992 and has maintained its nonprofit status since then. The Foundation's tax ID number is 93-1113774.
Is this a short-term fix, a long-term solution or both?
The Foundation hopes to provide both additional funding for the 2012-2013 school year, as well as to position itself to meet future financial challenges to school funding.
I’ve not heard of the Foundation, is it new?
The Foundation has been in existence since the 1992-93 school year, but it has since changed its name twice to reflect its evolving mission. Throughout its tenure, the Foundation has supported the West Linn-Wilsonville School District by raising funds to redress its most pressing issues as viewed by the community which has consistently been to preserve teaching positions and thereby maintain small class sizes.
In its founding phase, the Foundation was named the West Linn Wilsonville Education Foundation and its mission was to support the educational programs of the West Linn-Wilsonville School District. As its initial fundraising event, the Foundation held an auction which was able to raise funds sufficient to hire one teacher for one year. The Foundation’s annual auction strategy, however, was found to conflict with the various schools’ PTA auctions, so the Foundation discontinued the event. The Foundation explored alternative fundraising methods, but none proved sustainable at the time.
During the 2002-03 school year, to reflect a change in the school district’s needs and to reassess its goals, the Foundation reformed under the name Teach the Children Foundation. The Foundation then focused on sharpening its purpose and strategies and updating its bylaws. The Foundation engaged in a “Making Friends and Funds” campaign which included sending letters to all school district families, contacting significant donors and foundations, and a phone-a-thon. The Teach the Children Foundation also held several fundraising events, including a Kick-Off at the Oregon Golf Club in West Linn and a First Column Club at the Mercedes Dealership in Wilsonville. Through its efforts, the Teach the Children Foundation was able to fund one to three (1-3) teachers for several years. Because the school district was not facing severe budget impacts during this period, the Foundation transitioned into a stewardship role for the funds and did not involve itself in any direct fundraising appeals.
Because the school district now faces unprecedented budget cuts, the Foundation was reinvigorated in 2010 to face and meet these financial challenges. The name has been changed back to the West Linn-Wilsonville Education Foundation to reflect the organization’s main purpose of raising funds to support the West Linn-Wilsonville School District in these challenging financial times.
What are the benefits of supporting this Foundation? Can’t I just donate to my school or PTA?
The Foundation is dedicating its efforts to funding additional teachers for the school district. Individual schools’ PTAs and other such organizations are not empowered to do so.
Won’t the Foundation be competing for funds with the school PTAs?
The Foundation is aware and supportive of PTA, PTSO and Booster Club programs. Contributions made to these individual school organizations are highly valued, essential elements of each school. The Foundation, however, is seeking funds to offset the school budget shortfalls which are negatively impacting the teaching positions throughout the school district. Of note, several PTA officers from various schools serve on the Foundation’s board. They see a need for both organizations in this challenging time for school funding.
In what ways will you engage with the community to raise awareness and funds?
Given the financial challenges facing the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, the Foundation held its H.O.T. Honor Our Teachers Holiday Gift fundraising campaign in December 2011. This campaign invited parents and community members to honor their children's teachers by making a donation in their teacher's name to the WLWV Education Foundation. The H.O.T. Honor Our Teachers campaign met with great success; it raised more than $25,000 and resulted in over 400 honorary letters being sent to teachers across all thirteen schools in the district. All funds raised through the H.O.T. Honor Our Teachers campaign, along with all other funds raised during the school year, will be given to the WLWV School District in June 2012, specifically designated for preserving teaching positions for the 2012-13 school year.
The Foundation is also asking for help in its fundraising efforts through outreach to the businesses and community groups in West Linn and Wilsonville. Through its new independent fundraising and matching programs, the Foundation has been receiving funds from businesses and community groups and will use these to augment its June 2012 donation to the school district for preserving teaching positions for the 2012-13 school year. Detailed information regarding these programs can be found in the "About" section on this website.
From mid-April through through the end of May 2012, the Foundation will hold its spring fundraising campaign and phone-a-thon. The Foundation will ask parents to make tax-deductible donations to help offset the severe cuts in the state's education funding and their corresponding negative impacts on the WLWV School District. All funds raised from this campaign will be combined with other funds raised throughout the year and donated to the School District in June 2012.
The Foundation will hold similar fundraising campaigns during the 2012-13 school year to raise funds for use during the following academic year.
Board and Committee Questions
Who is on the Foundation board?
Amy Corcoran; Stacy Erickson; Brian Gilday; Jeff Hallin; Annie Herbert (Vice President); Kate Hoots; Vicki Krause; Peter McDougal; Patrick Minor (Secretary); Kathe Monroe; Jay Puppo; Amy Robertson; Amy Schauer; Scott Schiele (Treasurer); Jane Stickney; Julie Tolboe; Kathryn Whittaker (President).
What is the make up of the Foundation board?
The Foundation’s board membership includes at least one representative from each of the district’s thirteen schools. It currently has seventeen (17) members of which approximately one third (1/3) are teachers or administrators in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.
How can I get involved?
The Foundation’s meetings are open to the public and are held the third Wednesday of every month from 7:30-9:30pm at the West Linn-Wilsonville School District Office (22210 SW Stafford Rd., Tualatin, OR 97062). Community members from West Linn and Wilsonville are encouraged to attend Foundation meetings, to volunteer for fundraising campaigns and/or to donate generously.
Financial
How much money does the Foundation currently have?
Presently, the Foundation has approximately $80,000 in its general fund to use to raise funds for teaching positions in the School District and to provide seed money for subsequent years. In June 2011, with the funds raised through the 2010 H.O.T. Holiday Gift campaign, the 2011 spring fundraising campaign, and the funds the Foundation had collected in previous years, the Foundation was able to give the School District $150,000 to preserve teaching positions for the 2011-12 school year.
The Foundation also oversees a restricted fund, known as the Sanister Scholarship Fund, which was entrusted to the Foundation by a donor for the specific purpose of providing an annual scholarship for a graduate from West Linn High School.
Has the Foundation filed taxes in the past?
Yes, since 1993 the Foundation has filed taxes annually; they are a matter of public record.
How much money do you want to raise and why this amount?
In 2010-11, the Foundation was able to raise $100,000 and combine it with an additional $50,000 raised in past years, to give the West Linn-Wilsonville School District $150,000 to restore teaching positions for the 2011-12 school year. This year, it is the Foundation’s financial goal to raise at least $200,000 to retain teachers for the 2012-13 school year and to provide seed money for subsequent years.
How can I donate money?
This website provides a safe and secure way to make tax-deductible donations to the Foundation. Tax-deductible donations may also be sent to the West Linn-Wilsonville Education Foundation, 1980 Willamette Falls Dr. #120-117, West Linn, OR 97068. For questions concerning donations, please email info@WLWVfoundation.org.
I know that state funds keep getting cut; why is this and what can we expect in 2012-13?
The Foundation is dedicated to raising funds to channel to the West Linn-Wilsonville School District to redress the budget shortfalls. For current and specific information about the budget cuts facing the school district, visit www.wlwv.k12.or.us.
Who determines which schools will benefit from the funds that are raised through the Foundation?
Funds raised by the Foundation will be given to the WLWV School District to allocate in a manner that maximizes the number of teaching positions district wide. Although the Foundation cannot guarantee that any one teacher at any one school will be funded, the Foundation’s funds will be used to reinstate teaching positions which have been eliminated due to budget cuts.
How do I know that the funds will be used for teaching positions and not for other demands facing the school district?
All funds raised by the Foundation are given to the WLWV School District with a Letter of Understanding that the funds are to be used to preserve teaching positions and thereby lower class sizes within the district's thirteen schools. The School Board has acknowledged the Foundation's intent to raise money for this express purpose. The Foundation will monitor the School District's budgetary process to ensure that these funds are used in the manner intended.
