Lake Oswego Schools Foundation

What Lake Oswego Schools Foundation does

Lake Oswego Schools Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1985 in Lake Oswego, Oregon, that raises private donations to fund additional teaching positions and educational programs for the Lake Oswego School District (LOSD). The Foundation serves approximately 6,900 students across the district's eleven schools — six elementary, two middle, two high, and one transition program — alongside roughly 900 educators and staff. Donations to the Foundation currently fund about 1% of LOSD's annual operating budget, supplementing state funding and a local option levy that funds over 105 educator positions (15% of the district budget). The Foundation has platinum-level Candid Transparency (2026), a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, and supports the district that Oregon's Department of Education reports has the state's highest graduation rate at 96%.

Revenue is generated entirely through voluntary contributions and event-based fundraising. The annual campaign targets approximately $1.5 million for teaching positions, with the three-day Phone-athon (which raised over $745,000 in 2025) serving as the largest single fundraiser. Additional streams include an Annual Gala (held at venues such as Ironlight), the inaugural Day of Giving campaign (April 29, 2025), a Business Sponsor Program, a general endowment, Performing Arts Endowments at four schools, a Sustainability Professional Development Fund, and indirect giving programs such as Cans for Kids (New Seasons), Fred Meyer Rewards, employer matching, and restaurant dining-out nights. Donation processing runs on NeonCRM, with losfoundation.org as the public entry point. There is no proprietary technology product.

Go-to-market is community-led, relying on six active volunteer committees (Events, Board Development, Finance and Governance, Marketing, Fundraising Annual Campaign, Fundraising Endowment Campaign), an email newsletter, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), the 'Learning in Lake Oswego' podcast, local media (Lake Oswego Review), and signature in-person events. The Foundation is governed by an independent volunteer Board of Directors (current Board President Laura Coyle, 2024-25; past president Maxine Walkenhorst, 2023-24), operates as a single-office organization in Lake Oswego, and is subject to IRS nonprofit oversight (EIN 94-3028590). Geographic expansion is restricted to the Lake Oswego community; growth levers are participation rate, gift size, and endowment contributions.

Name

Lake Oswego Schools Foundation

Legal name

Lake Oswego Schools Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://losfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lake Oswego Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises approximately $1.5 million annually to fund additional teaching positions and enrichment programs for the Lake Oswego School District's 6,900 students across 11 schools, relying on community donations, signature events, and endowments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Education foundation fundraising
• Nonprofit education funding
• School district philanthropy
• Community giving programs
• Teacher position funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Oswego

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from community members, parents, and families supporting Lake Oswego School District students. The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 94-3028590).
2. Business Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship program where local businesses contribute to the Foundation in exchange for recognition and community engagement.
3. Phone-athon Fundraising: Annual three-day phone-based fundraising campaign; 2025 Phone-athon raised over $745,000 to support students and teachers.
4. Special Events (Gala): Annual gala events generate revenue through ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorships. Events held at venues like Ironlight.
5. Day of Giving: Annual day of giving campaign focused on participation rates across schools. 2025-26 campaign saw 29% increase in overall participation.
6. Endowment Funds: Perpetual endowment funds including Performing Arts Endowment (Lakeridge HS, LO High School, Lakeridge Middle, LO Middle) and general endowment.
7. Indirect Programs: Programs generating donations at no extra cost: Cans for Kids (New Seasons), Fred Meyer Rewards, company volunteer programs, and restaurant dining programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lake Oswego Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 94-3028590) that raises charitable donations from individuals, families, businesses, and community members to fund additional teachers, smaller class sizes, and expanded educational programs across the eleven schools of the Lake Oswego School District (serving ~6,900 students). The Foundation channels funds through its Annual Fund/Campaign, signature fundraising events (Phone-athon, Gala, Day of Giving), endowment vehicles (general, performing arts, sustainability), and indirect giving programs (Cans for Kids, Fred Meyer Rewards, dining nights).

Product overview

The Lake Oswego Schools Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that functions as a unified fundraising and community engagement platform rather than a technology product. The Foundation's core offerings center on its Annual Campaign, which serves as the primary mechanism for funding educator positions across all eleven schools in the Lake Oswego School District. This annual campaign is augmented by signature fundraising events including the Phone-athon (the organization's largest fundraiser), the Annual Gala at Ironlight, and the Day of Giving campaign. The Foundation also maintains multiple endowment funds supporting general operations and specialized areas such as performing arts at individual schools and sustainability professional development. Additional giving programs include Cans for Kids recycling at New Seasons and Fred Meyer Rewards, while the Business Sponsor Program enables corporate partnerships. The organization also provides volunteer coordination through various committees and publishes a regular newsletter alongside donor story testimonials to maintain community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Fund (Annual Campaign) The Foundation's primary annual fundraising vehicle that raises money from individuals, families, and businesses to fund additional educator positions across all eleven schools in the Lake Oswego School District. Designed for community donors who want to support public education beyond what state and local taxes provide.
• Phone-athon The Foundation's largest annual fundraiser, a three-day phone-based fundraising event where volunteers call donors to raise funds for teaching positions. Open to all community members who wish to donate in response to volunteer outreach.
• Annual Gala A major annual black-tie fundraising event held at Ironlight venue, featuring ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorships to support Foundation-funded teaching positions and programs. Targeted at major donors, sponsors, and community supporters.
• Day of Giving A single-day community fundraising campaign focused on maximizing participation rates across all eleven Lake Oswego School District schools. Designed to engage the broadest possible base of community donors around a shared giving moment.
• Endowment Funds Long-term perpetual investment funds including the general endowment, Performing Arts Endowments for Lakeridge HS, LO High School, Lakeridge Middle, and LO Middle, and the Sustainability PD Fund. Provides enduring financial support for specific educational programs.
• Business Sponsor Program A corporate sponsorship program allowing local businesses to support the Foundation through tiered sponsorship levels in exchange for community visibility, event recognition, and alignment with the top-ranked Lake Oswego School District.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% graduation rate - highest in Oregon
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• New Seasons MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCans for Kids recycling program partnership. Community members drop cans and bottles at Mountain Park and McVey New Seasons locations in designated blue bags, with proceeds supporting the Foundation quarterly.
• Oregon Beverage RecyclingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with New Seasons and Oregon Beverage Recycling for the Cans for Kids program, converting beverage container donations into funds for the Foundation.
• Oregon Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation partners with Oregon Community Foundation to assist donors and their advisors in identifying tax-wise ways to donate.
• Fred Meyer / KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Rewards program allows donors to link their Fred Meyer rewards card to the Foundation, with donations received quarterly at no cost to the donor.
• Subway (Local Franchise)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Subway owner is an LOSD parent; hosts dining-out fundraisers where percentage of sales supports the Foundation.
• Papa Murphy'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred restaurant partner for hosting dining-out nights to benefit the Foundation.
• PizzicatominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred restaurant partner for hosting dining-out nights to benefit the Foundation.
• California Pizza KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred restaurant partner for hosting dining-out nights to benefit the Foundation.
• Lake Oswego ReviewminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper partner providing editorial coverage of Foundation events, fundraising campaigns, and school district achievements.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Beaverton Education Foundation: Oregon-based K-12 education foundation supporting Beaverton School District through classroom grants and teacher funding; operates the same district-affiliated 501(c)(3) fundraising model targeting parents, businesses, and community donors.
• West Linn-Wilsonville Schools Foundation: Adjacent Oregon suburban school district foundation with the same mission of bridging state funding gaps for teachers and enrichment programs; most demographically and operationally comparable peer to LOSF.
• Tigard-Tualatin Schools Foundation: Oregon K-12 district foundation funding classroom innovations and teacher positions across Tigard-Tualatin schools; mirrors LOSF's fundraising, volunteer, and grant-disbursement structure.
• Hillsboro Schools Foundation: Oregon K-12 education foundation supporting Hillsboro School District through teacher grants, equity programs, and community fundraising; directly analogous operating model to LOSF at slightly larger scale.
• Portland Public Schools Foundation: Education foundation supporting Portland Public Schools through teacher funding, student programs, and equity initiatives; a larger-district version of LOSF's model in the same Oregon market.
• Salem-Keizer Education Foundation: Oregon-based K-12 education foundation funding classroom grants and teacher positions for Salem-Keizer schools; another regional peer with nearly identical fundraising mechanics.
• Eugene Education Foundation: Oregon K-12 district foundation supporting Eugene public schools through classroom grants and community fundraising; another closely comparable district-level peer in the same state ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Community Foundation: Statewide philanthropic foundation and a documented partner of LOSF for donor-advised giving; operates at significantly larger scale across all charitable causes, not K-12-specific, but competes for the same donor-advised fund dollars.

Others

• National PTA: National parent-teacher advocacy and fundraising organization with overlapping parent-donor audience at every public school; while not a direct fundraiser for a single district, it competes for parent attention and volunteer time.

Emerging players

• DonorsChoose: National crowdfunding platform that channels individual donor dollars directly to public school classroom projects; serves a similar function to LOSF's teacher grants but via a digital marketplace that could capture donor share.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQCfT3K_ppBic9F5qJYrtjg
• Facebookfacebook.com/losfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lake-oswego-school-district-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/losfoundation
• Xx.com/LOSFoundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lake Oswego Schools Foundation