Education Foundation of Lake County

What Education Foundation of Lake County does

The Education Foundation of Lake County, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Leesburg, Florida, that serves as the designated direct-support organization for Lake County Schools. It functions as an intermediary channeling community resources into public education across Lake and Sumter Counties through three programmatic pillars: (1) Student Support — chiefly the Take Stock in Children (TSIC) college scholarship and mentoring program (established 1995), multiple endowed scholarships, the Zeller scholarship, and a Student Resources portal with college-readiness tools and a TSIC mobile app for iOS and Android; (2) Teacher Support — the Apple-Mart free teacher resource store program (launched 2005) operating three physical locations in Leesburg, Mascotte, and Eustis, the Teacher Impact Grants program, and the Celebration InspirED by Excellence recognition event; and (3) Community Engagement — fundraising events (Stepping Out for Education gala, Scott A. Strong Golf Tournament, Ladies Fore Education, Clay Shoot, Scholars & Supporters Breakfast), the Core Tools for Schools supply drive across 40+ partner sites, the Tax Collector Round Up program, License to Learn specialty plates, planned giving, and LCS employee payroll giving.

The foundation's revenue mechanics span unrestricted individual and corporate donations, restricted and matching grants (including State of Florida School District Education Foundation matching grants through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations and a $50,000 Universal Orlando Foundation grant awarded December 2025), event-based fundraising, and passive transactional channels. In 2025-26 the foundation recorded 925 Apple-Mart teacher visits distributing $143,375 in supplies and, at the April 2026 Scholars & Supporters Breakfast, distributed more than 80 scholarships totaling over $250,000 to 82+ recipients; TSIC scholars post a 97% high school graduation rate and 92% college enrollment rate (70% degree completion). The foundation's flagship Renaissance Faire was cancelled for 2026 after loss of site access in Tavares, and the organization will mark its 40th anniversary in 2027.

Name

Education Foundation of Lake County

Legal name

Education Foundation of Lake County, Inc.

Website

https://edfoundationlake.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Education Foundation of Lake County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Leesburg, FL, that serves as the designated direct-support organization for Lake County Schools, channeling community donations, grants, and event revenue into teacher resources (Apple-Mart), college scholarships and mentoring (Take Stock in Children), and teacher grants across Lake and Sumter Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Education nonprofit services
• Teacher classroom support
• Student scholarship programs
• Mentoring college readiness
• Community education fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Leesburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants: The foundation receives grants from organizations like Universal Orlando Foundation ($50,000 for Apple-Mart modernization) and participates in the State of Florida's School District Education Foundation Matching Grant program through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, which provides dollar-for-dollar matching of private contributions.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The foundation receives direct donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. Donors can give one-time or monthly contributions, donate school supplies, or leave legacy gifts through estate planning.
3. Event Fundraising: The foundation hosts signature events including Stepping Out for Education (gala), Ladies Fore Education golf tournament, Scott A. Strong Golf Tournament, Clay Shoot, and previously the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire. These events generate significant revenue while engaging the community.
4. Tax Collector Round Up Program: Partnership with Lake County Tax Collector's Office allows residents to round up transaction totals, with proceeds supporting the foundation. The program raised over $20,000 in its previous cycle.
5. License to Learn Specialty Plates: $20 from each Support Education specialty license plate sold in Lake County goes directly to the Education Foundation, funding essential programs and classroom resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Education Foundation of Lake County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the designated direct-support organization for Lake County Schools that raises private funds from individuals, businesses, and foundations to deliver free educational programs. Core offerings include free teacher classroom supplies through three Apple-Mart stores, college scholarships and mentoring through Take Stock in Children, Teacher Impact Grants for innovative classroom projects, student college-readiness resources, and signature fundraising events. All programs and resources are delivered free of charge to Lake and Sumter County teachers and students.

Product overview

The Education Foundation of Lake County is a nonprofit organization established in 1987 that serves as the designated direct-support organization for Lake County Schools. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected educational support programs centered around three core pillars: (1) Student Support - including the Take Stock in Children scholarship and mentoring program, various scholarships, Student Resources with college readiness tools, and the TSIC App for mobile access; (2) Teacher Support - featuring Apple-Mart free teacher supply stores, Teacher Impact Grants, and educator recognition through Celebration InspirED by Excellence; and (3) Community Engagement - encompassing fundraising events like Stepping Out for Education, Scott A. Strong Golf Tournament, Ladies Fore Education, and the annual Scholars & Supporters Breakfast. Additional programs include planned giving options, employee payroll giving, the Tax Collector's Round Up program, and community initiatives like Core Tools for Schools supply drives. The Foundation connects the community to public education by evaluating needs and securing resources to enhance educational quality for local students and teachers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Apple-Mart Free teacher resource store program that allows Lake County public school educators to shop free of charge for essential classroom supplies through three physical store locations in Leesburg, Mascotte, and Eustis open every Wednesday, with up to three visits per semester.
• Take Stock in Children College scholarship and mentoring program that provides college tuition scholarships, volunteer mentors, and support services through high school graduation and into post-secondary enrollment for low-income, academically qualified students in Lake and Sumter Counties.
• Teacher Impact Grants Annual grant program that awards funding to Lake County School District educators for innovative projects supporting students, teachers, and classrooms, with focus areas including career and technical education, graduation and literacy improvement, financial education, STEM programs, and support for struggling students.
• Student Resources Collection of resources for students including college readiness checklists for grades 9-12, essay contests, the IncubatorEDU entrepreneurship program, the Xello career exploration portal, Florida Shines student hub, telephone etiquette guides, interview tips, and student resume templates.
• TSIC Mobile App Mobile application for Take Stock in Children students and mentors on Android and iOS enabling virtual mentoring sessions, parent conferences, and college readiness consultations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Teachers save $155 per Apple-Mart visit with 925 visits totaling $143,375 in free supplies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Insight Financial Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 April 2026Served as presenting sponsor of the 2026 Scholars & Supporters Breakfast, bringing together scholarship recipients, donors, educators, families, and community leaders from across Lake and Sumter Counties.
• Lake County Tax Collector's OfficecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 February 2026The foundation was selected as the newest beneficiary of the Tax Collector's 'Round Up Your Transaction' initiative. Customers can round up transaction totals to donate to the Education Foundation. Previous cycle raised over $20,000 for Lake County Sheriff's Charities, demonstrating significant fundraising potential for education programs.
• Consortium of Florida Education FoundationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide membership organization connecting individuals, organizations, and financial resources to build capacity of local education foundations. Facilitates the State of Florida's School District Education Foundation Matching Grant program, which has provided over $173 million in combined private and state dollars for local projects since inception. The foundation leverages this 1:1 matching grant to amplify local fundraising efforts.
• Lake County School BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner as the designated direct-support organization for Lake County Schools. Collaboration includes placement of student interns, teacher recognition programs, and district-wide initiatives like the Teacher Impact Grant program.
• Lake-Sumter State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Bachelor of Elementary Education program internship initiative. The Education Foundation supported 23 graduates of the inaugural class, many of whom now teach in Lake County Schools. College Readiness Coaches work with Take Stock in Children students through these institutional relationships.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Consortium of Florida Education Foundations: Statewide umbrella organization for 501(c)(3) school district education foundations in Florida. The Consortium facilitates the State School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program that EFLC accesses, and serves as the closest strategic counterpart and statewide scaling pathway for EFLC's model.

Direct peers

• Pinellas Education Foundation: Designated direct-support organization for Pinellas County Schools running teacher grants, scholarships, and educator recognition programs. Operates an analogous model to EFLC within a larger Florida district, making it a directly comparable peer in scope and function.
• Orange County Public Schools Foundation (OCPS Foundation): Education foundation supporting Orange County Public Schools with teacher grants, scholarships, and Take Stock in Children programming. Shares program architecture with EFLC and benefits from the same Consortium matching-grant mechanism.
• Education Foundation of Osceola County: Designated direct-support 501(c)(3) for the School District of Osceola County providing teacher resources, student scholarships, and community-funded classroom grants. Directly comparable in size, mission, and Central Florida market.
• Education Foundation of Sarasota County: Florida school-district education foundation funding scholarships, classroom grants, and teacher initiatives through community donations. Comparable model with similar student scholarship and teacher grant programs.
• Hillsborough Education Foundation: Education foundation for Hillsborough County Public Schools operating teacher classroom grants, student scholarships, and family-engagement programs. Directly comparable mission and structure as a Florida district-level education foundation.
• Broward Education Foundation: 501(c)(3) supporting Broward County Public Schools through scholarships, teacher mini-grants, and student enrichment programs. A larger but structurally similar district education foundation operating the same Florida matching-grant framework.
• Education Foundation of Alachua County: Local education foundation supporting Alachua County Public Schools with classroom grants, scholarships, and community-funded programs. Comparable in scope and program mix to EFLC.

Others

• Take Stock in Children (state program): Statewide Florida scholarship and mentoring nonprofit that EFLC operates as a local site partner for. Functions as the parent program of EFLC's TSIC offering, with comparable student outcome metrics across all participating Florida counties.

Emerging players

• DonorsChoose: National nonprofit crowdfunding platform connecting teachers with donors for classroom supply and project funding. Comparable to EFLC's Apple-Mart teacher resource mission but operating as a national digital marketplace rather than a district-specific foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/edfoundationlc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edfoundationlc
• Instagraminstagram.com/edfoundationlc
• Xx.com/edfoundationLC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Education Foundation of Lake County