Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System

What Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System does

The Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System is a 501(c)(3) public charity incorporated in Louisiana in 2012 and granted IRS tax-exempt status in 2013. It was organized in 2011 by community members in coordination with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the National School Foundation. The organization operates as the district's designated nonprofit fundraising arm, raising money from individuals, corporations, and other foundations to fund programs that state and local tax dollars cannot reach — bridging a funding gap in which Louisiana's per-pupil funding trails the national average by more than $1,000.

The Foundation's product surface is composed of grant programs (Star STEM Teacher Grants up to $2,500 each for grades 4–12 educators; Foundation Grants covering STEAM, teacher development, and community involvement; and Academic Distinction Fund co-funded teacher grants), donor membership programs (Superintendent's Society with $1,000–$15,000+ tiers), and fundraising campaigns (Early Steps for School Success with state dollar-for-dollar matching; Band Together EBR for 11 high school marching band uniforms). It also operates the BR STEM Network volunteer program and supports Early Learning Microcenters and CTEC workforce development. It does not develop proprietary technology.

Revenue comes entirely from philanthropic sources: individual donations (one-time and recurring monthly), corporate partnerships (most notably ExxonMobil's $200,000 STEM commitment), foundation grants (FUEL Scale Fund $100,000; James M. Cox Foundation), community events, planned/deferred giving, and securities and in-kind gifts. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with the Superintendent serving ex officio, and operates with a small staff of two (Executive Director Jennifer Lightfoot and Grants/Accounting Deborah White) under a P.O. Box mailing address in Baton Rouge, LA. The Foundation has earned the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency (2023) and maintains annual clean audits.

Name

Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System

Legal name

Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System

Website

https://foundationebr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising arm of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, channeling individual, corporate, and foundation donations into grant programs, early childhood microcenters, and STEM and workforce development initiatives for public school students and teachers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN)

Keywords

• Educational foundation services
• Public school fundraising
• Teacher grant programs
• Early childhood education funding
• Community education partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The Foundation receives donations from individuals, including alumni, parents, community members, and local business owners. Donations can be designated to specific programs/schools or unrestricted. One-time and recurring (monthly) gift options are available via the website.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Major corporate partners such as ExxonMobil provide significant gifts (e.g., $200,000 STEM commitment) and ongoing support. Employers also offer matching gift programs that double or triple employee contributions.
3. Foundation & Grant Awards: The Foundation applies for and receives grants from other foundations (e.g., FUEL Scale Fund $100,000, James M. Cox Foundation) and participates in state matching programs (dollar-for-dollar match for eligible early childhood gifts).
4. Event Fundraising: The Foundation hosts and benefits from community events such as Quota Baton Rouge's Stars for a Cause, and organizes its own campaigns including Giving Tuesday and Early Steps Campaign to generate donations.
5. Planned & Deferred Giving: The Foundation accepts deferred gifts through estate plans, life-income gifts, wills, trusts, and life insurance as part of planned giving programs.
6. Securities & In-Kind Gifts: The Foundation accepts charitable gifts of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds held longer than one year, providing full market-value tax deductions without capital gains tax on appreciation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation that raises and channels private funds to support East Baton Rouge Parish public schools beyond what state and local tax dollars provide. It operates competitive grant programs for teachers and schools (including Star STEM Teacher Grants, Foundation Grants, and Academic Distinction Fund Grants), fundraising campaigns (Band Together EBR, Early Steps for School Success), a donor recognition society (Superintendent's Society), and community-driven programs supporting early childhood microcenters, workforce development, and student enrichment initiatives.

Product overview

The Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation that operates as a grant-making and fundraising organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of grant programs (Star STEM Teacher Grants, Foundation Grants, and ADF Teacher and Classroom Grants), donor membership programs (Superintendent's Society), and fundraising campaigns (Band Together EBR, Early Steps for School Success). The organization also facilitates a support request database connecting school needs with donors, and provides programmatic support for workforce development and early learning microcenters. These offerings function collectively to bridge funding gaps in public education where state and local dollars fall short, with grant programs enabling teachers to fund innovative STEAM projects and campaigns supporting early childhood education and student enrichment activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Star STEM Teacher Grants: A grant program in partnership with ExxonMobil that awards $2,500 to 4th-12th grade educators for innovative, hands-on STEM classroom projects.
• Early Steps Campaign
• Superintendent's Society
• Band Together EBR

Products and services

• Star STEM Teacher Grants A competitive grant program, in partnership with ExxonMobil, awarding $2,500 to EBRPSS math and science educators in grades 4–12 to fund innovative, hands-on STEM classroom projects such as robotics, coding activities, engineering challenges, and STEM-focused field experiences.
• Foundation Grants Competitive annual grant funding for initiatives developing STEAM skills and knowledge across three impact areas: Student Achievement, Teacher and Leader Development, and Community Involvement. Applications are reviewed for alignment with learning goals, instructional innovation, student impact, and feasibility.
• Academic Distinction Fund (ADF) Teacher and Classroom Grants A collaborative grant program co-administered with the Academic Distinction Fund, seeking proposals from elementary, middle, and high school teachers to enhance the quality of learning and stimulate student academic achievement across EBR Parish public schools.
• Band Together EBR A targeted fundraising campaign to provide new marching band uniforms for 11 EBR high schools (Belaire, Broadmoor, Capitol, Glen Oaks, Istrouma, Liberty, McKinley, Northeast, Scotlandville, Tara, and Woodlawn), with uniform costs of $35,000–$45,000 per school. Donors may direct gifts to a specific school.
• Early Steps for School Success Campaign A community fundraising campaign to expand access to high-quality early childhood education for children birth to age four in East Baton Rouge Parish, with state dollar-for-dollar matching for eligible gifts amplifying donor impact.
• Superintendent's Society A leadership giving society uniting Baton Rouge's civic and business leaders to support public education through annual contributions of $1,000 or more. Tiers include Visionary Leader ($10,000+), Champion ($5,000–$9,999), Advocate ($2,500–$4,999), Professionals Circle ($1,000–$2,499), plus Century Circle for $15,000+ sustained pledges over 3 years.
• Request Support Program A database initiative allowing EBR public school principals, teachers, and administrators to submit school and classroom needs (supplies, technology, field trips, band uniforms, professional development) for potential donor matching and Foundation funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Early Steps Campaign raised $41,125.57 (matched to over $82,000) for early childhood education
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

22 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, flagship, major and core.

• Quota Baton RougesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2026Quota Baton Rouge selected the Foundation as a beneficiary of its Stars for a Cause signature fundraising event, an evening of dinner, entertainment, and auctions supporting community organizations. Quota Baton Rouge focuses on supporting deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals and women and children in need.
• ExxonMobilflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025ExxonMobil is the Foundation's primary STEM education partner, having provided a $200,000 gift in September 2025 to expand STEM opportunities for EBR students. The partnership also includes the Star STEM Teacher Grants program, which awards 20 educators $2,500 each annually for innovative classroom STEM projects. ExxonMobil has a long-standing tradition of supporting education in East Baton Rouge Parish.
• YWCAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2025The Foundation partnered with the YWCA and the EBR Ready Start Network to open the YWCA Microcenter at Capitol Elementary, a new early childhood education facility funded by over $150,000 secured by the Foundation. The YWCA provides programming focused on early literacy, social-emotional development, and school readiness.
• EBR Ready Start NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EBR Ready Start Network collaborates with the Foundation and YWCA to expand early childhood education microcenters across East Baton Rouge Parish, providing infrastructure and coordination for early learning programs.
• PCs for PeoplesupportingOthersPCs for People served as the vendor partner for the laptop donation from the James M. Cox Foundation to Claiborne Elementary School, providing devices to bridge the digital divide for students.
• Academic Distinction Fund (ADF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADF co-funds teacher and classroom grants with the Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System, supporting academic excellence initiatives across the district. ADF and the Foundation jointly seek proposals from EBRPSS teachers to enhance student achievement.
• CSRSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSRS is an architecture/engineering firm where Judith Anderson, a Foundation Board member, serves as Architectural Program Manager overseeing major construction projects for the EBR Parish School System.
• Cox CommunicationssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCox Communications sponsored the Roar Into EBR enrollment event at the Baton Rouge Zoo, which the Foundation supported, providing free zoo admission for enrolling families.
• HES Facilities ManagementsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHES Facilities Management co-sponsored the Roar Into EBR enrollment event, supporting public school enrollment efforts in partnership with the Foundation.
• HumanasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHumana co-sponsored the Roar Into EBR enrollment event, contributing to family-friendly resources and a welcoming atmosphere for enrolling families.
• Our Lady of the LakesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOur Lady of the Lake co-sponsored the Roar Into EBR enrollment event, supporting public school enrollment in the Baton Rouge community.
• Baton Rouge Area FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaton Rouge Area Foundation is a key Early Steps Campaign partner supporting the expansion of high-quality early learning experiences for children birth to age 4 in East Baton Rouge Parish.
• Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMary Beth Derrickson, Director of Government Relations at LABI, joined the Foundation's Board. LABI advocates for education, workforce development, and transportation policy in Louisiana.
• BR STEM NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BR STEM Network, managed by the Foundation, connects STEM professionals with EBR schools through a weekly volunteer mailing list, classroom mentoring, judging at competitions, and career awareness programs.
• EBR Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTEC is the district's career and technical education center providing programs in medical, construction crafts, computer science, culinary arts, process technology, and media arts. The Foundation holds board meetings there, supports student internships, and collaborates on workforce development initiatives.
• Southern UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobyn Merrick, Vice President for External Affairs at Southern University, serves on the Foundation's Board, bringing higher education partnership perspectives to the Foundation's workforce development strategy.
• Ochsner HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeidi Wendt, Manager of Education & Community Outreach at Ochsner Health, serves on the Foundation's Board, contributing healthcare partnership and school wellness expertise.
• Emergent MethodsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJonathan Percle, CFO of Emergent Method, serves as Board Vice President. Emergent Method is a management consulting firm in Baton Rouge.
• Louisiana State University (LSU)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreg Upton, Executive Director & Associate Professor-Research at LSU's Center for Energy Studies, serves as Board Treasurer, bringing academic and energy sector expertise.
• School AidssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTed Firnberg, Co-owner of School Aids (an educational resource company), serves as an Ex-Officio Board Member. His son Jamey Firnberg served on the Board from 2018–2025 as President and CEO of School Aids, driving key student-focused initiatives.
• SparkhoundsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSandy Michelet, Vice President of Human Resources at Sparkhound (a technology services firm), serves on the Foundation's Board.
• Hinshaw & Culbertson LLPsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStewart Spielman, Partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP (a law firm), serves on the Foundation's Board.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DonorsChoose: Nationwide crowdfunding platform for teacher classroom projects, operating at much larger scale but serving a similar mission of supplementing underfunded public school classrooms.

Direct peers

• Hillsborough Education Foundation: County-level education foundation supporting Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida with corporate STEM grants, teacher innovation awards, and student enrichment programs — directly comparable mission and structure to the EBR Foundation.
• San Francisco Education Fund: Supports San Francisco Unified School District through classroom grants, scholarships, and corporate partnerships — analogous K-12 foundation model with teacher innovation grants.
• Fund for Public Schools (NYC): The official nonprofit partner of New York City Department of Education, channeling corporate and individual donations into district schools — comparable district-affiliated fundraising mission, though at much larger scale.
• Foundation for DC Public Education: Nonprofit partner of DC Public Schools raising private funds to supplement district budgets, with teacher grants and corporate engagement programs.
• Foundation for Orange County Public Schools: Nonprofit foundation supporting Orange County Public Schools (FL) with teacher grants, student scholarships, and corporate partner programs — analogous scale and structure.
• Chicago Public Education Fund: Nonprofit fundraising partner for Chicago Public Schools, focused on teacher leadership, STEM, and college readiness — directly comparable in mission and school-district partnership model.
• Pinellas Education Foundation: Affiliated fundraising arm for Pinellas County Schools in Florida, running competitive teacher grants, scholarship programs, and corporate workforce partnerships — same model of district-aligned grantmaking.

Others

• Baton Rouge Area Foundation: Community foundation partner of the EBR Foundation supporting the Early Steps Campaign and broader regional philanthropy — a funder/partner rather than direct competitor.
• National School Foundation Association: Industry association that helped organize the EBR Foundation and supports more than 10,000 similar district-affiliated education foundations nationwide — adjacent enabling organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/foundationEBRSS
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61559089110769
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foundation-for-east-baton-rouge-school-system/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/foundationebrss

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System