Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools

What Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools does

The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN# 36-3490560) established in 1994 that operates as the primary philanthropic vehicle for Lincoln Public Schools, Nebraska's second-largest public school district serving 60 schools, 41,940 students, and 6,824 educators. Its mission is to support students, empower educators, and strengthen schools through philanthropy in areas where public tax dollars do not reach — including student emergency assistance, scholarships, classroom resources, educator recognition, and enrichment programming.

The Foundation's product portfolio centers on the Inspiring Dreams Fund as the primary unrestricted giving vehicle, supplemented by specialized funds (Student Emergency Fund, School Lunch Support Fund, Stu Elliott Student Assistance Fund) and the Fund a Need classroom crowdfunding platform that connects donors directly to teacher-posted needs. Additional programs include Spark Summer Learning (a STEAM summer camp with online enrollment via Enrollsy), the Scholarships & Awards program (distributing $158,000+ to 80+ LPS seniors annually), the Inspire Awards recognizing 68 school communities each year, and 15+ named Educator Awards. The technology stack is light: online donation processing, the Fund a Need storefront, and the Enrollsy registration system for Spark.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model — individual donations (including $5/month recurring giving), multi-tier corporate partnerships (Investors, Builders, Partners), planned giving vehicles (bequests, IRA gifts, charitable trusts), in-kind contributions, and Spark program fees ($300/week full, $220/week short, with full scholarships for families under 250% of federal poverty level). Distribution flows back through LPS administrators, counselors, and school staff into classrooms and student support services. FY 2025 disclosed funds received of $2.17M and funds distributed of $3.94M.

Name

Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools

Legal name

Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools

Website

https://foundationforlps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1994 that raises and distributes philanthropic funds to support 41,940 students, 6,824 educators, and 60 schools within the Lincoln Public Schools district in Nebraska.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Education philanthropy
• K-12 nonprofit foundation
• Classroom crowdfunding
• STEAM summer camp
• Educator grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting LPS students, educators, and schools. Monthly giving option available starting at $5.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships and partnerships at various levels (Investors, Builders, Partners) providing financial support and recognition benefits.
3. Planned Giving: Bequests, IRA charitable distributions, life insurance gifts, charitable trusts, and gift annuities allowing donors to create lasting legacies for LPS students.
4. In-Kind Donations: Non-cash contributions of products, services, or goods that enhance learning for LPS students.
5. Spark Summer Learning Fees: Program fees for STEAM summer camp: $300/week for full weeks, $220 for shortened weeks. Need-based scholarships available covering 100% of tuition for families under 250% federal poverty level.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and distributes philanthropic funds to support students, educators, and schools in the Lincoln Public Schools district. Its core offerings include the Inspiring Dreams Fund (unrestricted giving), Student Emergency Fund, Fund a Need classroom crowdfunding platform, scholarships, educator recognition awards, planned giving services, and the Spark Summer Learning STEAM camp program.

Product overview

Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a unified philanthropy platform supporting Nebraska's second-largest public school district (60 schools, 41,940 students). The organization centers on the Inspiring Dreams Fund as its primary unrestricted giving vehicle, supplemented by specialized funds including Student Emergency Fund, School Lunch Support Fund, and Stu Elliott Student Assistance Fund. Core programs include Spark Summer Learning (STEAM summer camp for K-8 students), Fund a Need (classroom crowdfunding platform), Scholarships & Awards (distributing $158,000+ annually to 80+ seniors), and district-wide recognition programs including Inspire Awards and Educator Awards (15+ named educator honors). Additional services encompass planned giving, corporate partnerships, and resource coordination for students, families, educators, and alumni.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spark Summer Learning: STEAM-focused summer camp program for elementary and middle school students operated by the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools, held at Holmes Elementary School in Lincoln, NE.

Products and services

• Inspiring Dreams Fund The primary unrestricted fund supporting all Lincoln Public Schools with emergency assistance, scholarships, classroom field trips, and teacher support. Every dollar leverages into over $15 for student and teacher assistance programs.
• Spark Summer Learning A hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) summer camp program for elementary and middle school students featuring weekly themes, field trips, and scholarship opportunities. Operated at Holmes Elementary School in Lincoln, NE.
• Fund a Need

Quantifiable outcome

• Every $1 donated leverages into $15+ for student and teacher assistance through Inspiring Dreams Fund
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Allo CommunicationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate investor partner supporting LPS schools through Foundation partnership. Sponsors All In for LPS events and initiatives.
• AmeritascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate investor partner providing financial support for Foundation programs and LPS student initiatives.
• Chesterman Co.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of All In for LPS events, has raised $8,000+ for LPS booster clubs through fundraising initiatives.
• Lincoln Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic community partner supporting education initiatives and Foundation programs through collaborative funding.
• Lincoln Journal StarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing visibility for Foundation activities, student stories, and community engagement.
• NAI FMA RealtycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and sponsor of All In for LPS giving initiative supporting LPS schools.
• NelnetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of All In for LPS events and supporter of Foundation initiatives.
• OlssoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that contributed to LPS soccer facility development and ongoing Foundation support.
• Union Bank & TrustcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor corporate sponsor that donated $1.5 million towards new LPS stadium. Named sponsor of Financial Literacy Education Award.
• Pinnacle BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate investor partner and sponsor of All In for LPS giving day.
• Lancaster County Health and Human ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner collaborating on community health and human services initiatives supporting LPS students and families.
• HyVeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuilder-level corporate partner supporting Foundation programs through community investment.
• Tab PerformanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of All In for LPS kickoff event supporting community engagement.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Lincoln Community Foundation: Lincoln Community Foundation is the regional community foundation serving the Lincoln, Nebraska area with broad grantmaking; it partners with the Foundation for LPS and competes for overlapping donor pools across education, arts, and human services.
• Omaha Community Foundation: Omaha Community Foundation is a similarly structured Nebraska-based community foundation with comparable grantmaking and education-fund portfolios, serving as a relevant regional benchmark for foundation operations and scale.

Direct peers

• AdoptAClassroom: AdoptAClassroom is a national nonprofit that enables direct teacher funding and classroom resource support, closely paralleling the Foundation's educator grantmaking and Fund a Need offerings.
• Education Foundation of Sarasota County: Education Foundation of Sarasota County is a district-affiliated K-12 education foundation providing scholarships, teacher grants, and enrichment programs, structurally analogous to the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools in scope and program mix.
• Foundation for Omaha Public Schools: Foundation for Omaha Public Schools is a Nebraska- based district-affiliated education foundation serving a single public school district, closely mirroring the Foundation for LPS's structure, mission, and program mix in a comparable market.
• Kids In Need Foundation: Kids In Need Foundation is a national nonprofit that supplies resources to under-resourced schools and teachers, with comparable mission around classroom materials, teacher support, and student equity.
• DonorsChoose: DonorsChoose is a national crowdfunding platform connecting individual donors directly to public school classroom needs, directly comparable to the Foundation's Fund a Need platform in functionality and donor experience.
• NEA Foundation: NEA Foundation funds public education innovation and recognizes educator excellence through grants and awards, directly mirroring the Foundation for LPS Educator Awards and Inspire Awards programs.

Others

• Nelnet Foundation: Nelnet Foundation is the corporate-giving arm of Nelnet, a Lincoln-based partner of the Foundation for LPS; relevant for understanding Lincoln corporate philanthropy ecosystem and partnership dynamics rather than direct competition.

Emerging players

• National Education Foundation: National Education Foundation delivers STEM-focused after-school and summer learning programs targeting underserved K-12 students, closely paralleling the Foundation's Spark Summer Learning STEAM camp model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FoundForLPS
• Facebookfacebook.com/FoundationForLPS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foundation-for-lincoln-public-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/foundationforlps
• Xx.com/FoundationLPS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools