South St. Paul Educational Foundation

What South St. Paul Educational Foundation does

The South St. Paul Educational Foundation (SSPEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1984 and headquartered at 521 Marie Avenue, South St. Paul, Minnesota. The foundation bridges donors and students to enrich learning and impact lives within South St. Paul Public Schools, operating two core programs: a Scholarships Program that has provided financial assistance to high school seniors pursuing four-year colleges, technical colleges, vocational schools, and trade schools since 1985, and Program Grants for Classrooms that fund creative curriculum enhancements, pilot projects, field trips, technology support, and student wellness initiatives that fall outside district budget constraints. The foundation maintains 30+ designated program funds spanning art, debate, literacy, mental health, athletics, special education, and at-risk student support, enabling donors to direct contributions toward specific educational priorities.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations and fundraising channels, including an annual Walkathon (38th annual held September 24, 2025 at Lincoln Center track, with 50% of student-raised funds going directly to classrooms), the Friends of the Foundation Gala, a four-tier corporate sponsorship program (Title, Champion, Scholar, Student), the Winner's Circle alumni donor campaign, planned giving vehicles including stocks and bequests, and employer matching gift programs. Distribution occurs through the foundation's own website with NeonCRM-hosted online donation forms, PayPal processing, direct mail, and in-school distribution through the South St. Paul Public Schools district. The organization employs three staff members (Executive Director Beth Skwira, Office Manager Martha Davis, Office Support Teri Collins) and is governed by a 13-person Board of Directors including President Brenda Applequist, Vice President Alison Nelson, Treasurer Glen Birnstengel, and Secretary Janelle Rose, plus Ex-Officio seats held by the District Superintendent and a School Board Liaison.

The foundation does not develop proprietary technology and operates entirely on third-party commodity tools: PayPal for payment processing, NeonCRM for donor management, Google Forms for program funding requests and scholarship applications, and Xello (a third-party vendor) for student career planning. In 2024, the foundation completed a mission re-identification process establishing new Cornerstones (Visibility, Innovation, Stewardship, Passion) with consultants funded by a Minnesota and Saint Paul Foundation grant, and received an ECMC Foundation grant in July 2024 marking the first documented institutional funding from outside the local community. The foundation celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024 with a multi-video YouTube campaign and continues active operations through the 2025-26 school year.

Name

South St. Paul Educational Foundation

Legal name

South St. Paul Educational Foundation

Website

https://sspef.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The South St. Paul Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1984 that funds scholarships and classroom enrichment grants for South St. Paul Public Schools students through donations, annual events, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit / Educational Foundation Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Educational scholarships
• Classroom program grants
• Student enrichment funding
• Public school fundraising
• Alumni donor engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

South Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, community members, businesses, and civic organizations. Fundraising channels include the annual Walkathon (with 50% of funds raised going directly to students' classrooms), the Friends of the Foundation Gala, corporate sponsorship packages, and the Winner's Circle alumni donor campaign.
2. Program Fund Donations: Donors contribute to designated program fund options (30+ fund categories including art, debate, literacy, at-risk students, winter clothing, activity fees, band, and special education) for classroom grants and pilot projects.
3. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: The foundation accepts planned gifts including stocks, bequests, memorials, and other planned giving vehicles, with a formal planned giving intention form available for download.
4. Employer Matching Gifts: Donors can amplify their contributions through employer matching gift programs, with the foundation encouraging donors to check with employers for matching eligibility.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The South St. Paul Educational Foundation bridges donors and students by collecting charitable contributions from individuals, businesses, and civic organizations and distributing them as scholarships to graduating high school seniors and as program grants for K-12 classroom enrichment across South St. Paul Public Schools. It operates 30+ designated program funds that allow donors to direct contributions toward specific educational priorities such as art, debate, literacy, mental health, and special education.

Product overview

The South St. Paul Educational Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization established in 1984 that bridges donors and students to enrich learning and impact lives. The Foundation's core offerings include a Scholarships Program providing financial assistance to high school seniors for post-secondary education at colleges and technical schools, and Program Grants for Classrooms that fund creative educational initiatives for South St. Paul Public Schools teachers. These program grants support a portfolio of specific initiatives including middle school student planners, Xello career planning software, nature center field trips, Youth Frontiers courage retreats, recess fitness programs, mental health training via Durable Minds, art projects, and experiential learning opportunities. The Foundation also organizes an annual Walkathon fundraiser and provides alumni services including reunion coordination and a Winner's Circle donation campaign for former scholarship recipients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarships Program Provides scholarship opportunities for South St. Paul High School graduating seniors pursuing post-secondary education at four-year colleges, technical colleges, vocational schools, and trade schools. Scholarships are awarded based on criteria set by donors including academic achievement, financial need, and specific eligibility requirements.
• Program Grants for Classrooms Grants awarded to South St. Paul Public Schools teachers and staff for creative programs, pilot projects, field trips, curriculum enhancements, and technology support that would otherwise lack district funding.
• Annual Walkathon Annual community walk/run/roll fundraiser and celebration held at Lincoln Center track, with 50% of student-raised funds going directly to the student's classroom.
• Alumni Services Services for former South St. Paul students including class reunion coordination, alumni information updates, and the Winner's Circle campaign for former scholarship recipients to pay it forward.
• Friends of the Foundation Gala Annual fundraising gala bringing together students, donors, and the community in November to celebrate public education and recognize scholarship recipients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of continuous operation providing scholarships and program grants to South St. Paul public school students and staff.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• XellocoreTechnology or IntegrationXello is an interactive post-secondary planning software purchased by the South St. Paul Educational Foundation for middle school students. It creates personalized portfolios that showcase student interests, skills, and abilities to help them plan their futures, connecting academic learning to career aspirations.
• Youth FrontierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Frontiers provides a high-energy Courage Retreat program for South St. Paul middle school students. The program engages students in community-building activities designed to break down social barriers and foster positive peer relationships, serving approximately 180 seventh graders plus 25-40 high school student volunteers.
• Dodge Nature CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDodge Nature Center partners with the foundation to provide field trip experiences for kindergarten students from Lincoln and Kaposia schools, where students learn about farm animals through hands-on educational programming.
• Original WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt organization that transfers student artwork created at Kaposia Education Center onto 4"x4" ceramic tiles for a permanent mosaic display commemorating the school's 30th Anniversary.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• ECMC Foundation: National education-focused philanthropic foundation that has provided grant funding to SSPEF (2024 strategic planning grant). Comparable as a funder of educational initiatives but operates nationally and at significantly greater scale than SSPEF.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Twin Cities United Way: Major regional nonprofit that funds education, youth development, and other human services across the Twin Cities. Comparable as a community-fundraising and education-grantmaking organization but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Community Foundation of the Twin Cities: A much larger, multi-purpose community foundation serving the broader Twin Cities region with education as one of many funding priorities. Comparable as a grantmaking entity but operates at significantly greater scale and scope than a single-district foundation.

Direct peers

• Bloomington Public Schools Foundation: Twin Cities suburban district educational foundation operating scholarships and program grants for Bloomington Public Schools with similar community fundraising events.
• Edina Education Fund: Minnesota K-12 district educational foundation with the same model of channeling donor contributions to scholarships, classroom grants, and enrichment programs for a single public school district.
• Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation: Minnesota K-12 district foundation supporting scholarships, classroom innovation, and student programs for Minnetonka Public Schools — same single-district, multi-program-fund model.
• Eden Prairie Schools Foundation: Twin Cities-area district educational foundation providing scholarships and program grants to Eden Prairie Public Schools students and staff — directly comparable operating model.
• St. Paul Public Schools Foundation: Closest geographic peer — another Minnesota K-12 public school district educational foundation supporting students and teachers through scholarships, program grants, and alumni engagement, with a similar community-led fundraising model serving a single district.
• Wayzata Public Schools Education Foundation: Minnesota suburban K-12 district foundation funding scholarships, classroom innovation grants, and student enrichment with multi-tiered corporate sponsorships — virtually identical structure to SSPEF.
• Mounds View Public Schools Foundation: Minnesota K-12 district educational foundation offering scholarships, classroom grants, and alumni giving programs for a single suburban public school district.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=nf8j-ahAX5s
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/South-St-Paul-Educational-Foundation/103318653112333

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about South St. Paul Educational Foundation