Pacifica Education Foundation

What Pacifica Education Foundation does

Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Pacifica, California. PEF's mission is to bridge a structural funding gap for music, arts, and science education within the Pacifica School District (PSD), which ranks 2nd lowest in per-student funding among San Mateo County's 17 elementary/middle school districts. PEF operates as an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff, governed by a board of directors and supported by school ambassadors at each of the six PSD schools.

PEF funds and delivers four core educational programs across all six PSD schools: the Elementary School Music Program (TK-5th grade, two credentialed teachers and instructional materials), SPARC Poetry (5th grade slam poetry residency delivered through Bay Area Creative), the Middle School Band Program (instruments, sheet music, competitions), and Science from Scientists hands-on STEM (6th grade at IBL and Cabrillo, expanded in 2025). The organization's technology stack is non-proprietary and lightweight — a Wix-hosted website, Givebutter for donation processing, Formstack for membership forms, Google Calendar for events, and CARS for vehicle donation intake — with no API, mobile app, or AI/ML capabilities.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, event proceeds, membership fees, and grants. The membership program offers four auto-renewing tiers ($125 Supporter, $250 Sponsor, $500 Sustainer, $1,000 Patron), each conferring a digital wallet card, discounts at 65+ local Pacifica businesses through the Partner Perks Program, and varying Gala benefits. Two signature events — the annual Spring Gala (250 ticket capacity, often sold out) and Donation Days school competition — are the largest fundraisers, with Donation Days alone raising $91,000 in 2025 (over half of annual funding). Additional streams include one-time online donations, corporate matching, vehicle donations through CARS, and grants from foundations and corporate giving programs. Customer/beneficiary concentration is effectively total: a single institutional beneficiary (PSD), a single donor geography (Pacifica), and a single mission focus (supplemental enrichment funding).

Name

Pacifica Education Foundation

Legal name

Pacifica Education Foundation

Website

https://pacificaef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pacifica Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit that funds music, arts, and science enrichment programs for the Pacifica School District's 2,600+ TK-8 students across six schools. Revenue comes from membership fees, an annual Spring Gala, the Donation Days campaign, grants, and corporate matching.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Education nonprofit funding
• School enrichment programs
• Community fundraising events
• Membership nonprofit programs
• Music arts science education

Headquarters

HQ city

Pacifica

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership program with four tiers ($125-$1,000) that auto-renew. Members receive digital wallet cards and exclusive discounts at 65+ local businesses. Membership purchases are 100% tax deductible.
2. Donations: One-time donations accepted via website (Givebutter platform). Corporate matching programs available. Vehicle donations through CARS partnership.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual Spring Gala featuring live and silent auctions, casino games, and dancing. Donation Days school competition. Community events led by supporters.
4. Grants: PEF applies for grants that fund music, arts, science and technology programs. Receives support from foundations and corporate giving programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Pacifica Education Foundation is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and delivers music, arts, and science enrichment programs for the 2,600+ TK-8 students across the six schools of the Pacifica School District. Its portfolio includes an Elementary School Music Program (TK-5), a Middle School Band Program, the SPARC Poetry program for 5th graders, and Science from Scientists hands-on STEM for 6th graders, all supported by a tiered Family Membership program ($125–$1,000), community donations, grants, corporate matching, an annual Spring Gala, and the Donation Days school competition.

Product overview

Pacifica Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit that operates a unified suite of educational enrichment programs and membership-based fundraising offerings rather than a traditional software product. The core portfolio consists of four funded educational programs (Elementary School Music Program, Science from Scientists, Middle School Band, and SPARC Poetry) supported by a Family Membership Program and Business Partnership Program. The Family Membership Program (Supporter/Sponsor/Sustainer/Patron tiers at $125-$1,000 annually) provides members with digital wallet cards and access to the Partner Perks Program offering 65+ local business discounts. Fundraising is driven through two signature events: the annual Spring Gala and Donation Days campaign. The Business Partnership Program connects local businesses with the PEF member community for mutual benefit. Technical infrastructure is Wix-based with operational integrations to givebutter (donations), Formstack (membership forms), Google Calendar (events), and CARS (vehicle donations), but no public API or AI/ML capabilities are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Membership Program Annual tiered membership ($125–$1,000) with auto-renewal providing a digital wallet membership card, exclusive discounts at 65+ local Pacifica businesses, and gala-related benefits including ticket discounts and pre-event invitations; 100% tax deductible.
• Elementary School Music Program Music education program providing credentialed teachers and instructional materials for TK through 5th grade students across all Pacifica elementary schools, ensuring equitable access regardless of individual school resources.
• SPARC Poetry Program Year-round slam poetry writing and performance residency taught by Bay Area Creative; fully funded by PEF for all fifth graders across Pacifica elementary schools, combining performance arts, creative writing, and social-emotional learning.
• Middle School Band Program Band program funding sheet music, instruments, repairs, venue rental, and competition trips for Pacifica middle school bands at IBL, Cabrillo, Vallemar, and Ocean Shore.
• Science from Scientists (SciSci) Program Hands-on STEM program bringing trained scientists into classrooms bi-weekly to deliver real-world experiments and discussions for sixth graders at Cabrillo and IBL schools, funded by PEF and delivered by the national nonprofit SciSci.
• PEF Spring Fundraising Gala Annual adult fundraising event featuring casino games, live DJ, live and silent auctions, hors d'oeuvres, and cocktails to support PEF educational programs; includes early bird ticket discounts, gala entry tickets, and VIP table options for up to 4 people.
• Donation Days Annual fall fundraising campaign creating friendly competition across Pacifica school campuses, raising funds through memberships and donations to support music, arts, and science education; PEF's most important fundraiser of the year.
• Partner Perks Program Member benefit providing exclusive discounts at 65+ local Pacifica businesses across restaurants, retail, services, and activities; activated by showing a digital or physical PEF membership card and promoted through PEF's website, social media, and monthly e-newsletter.
• Vehicle Donation Program Partnership with Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS) enabling donors to contribute vehicles, with PEF as the designated beneficiary receiving the charitable proceeds; donors contact CARS by phone or web to designate PEF.

Quantifiable outcome

• Funded programs for 2,600+ TK-8th grade students across 6 schools
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Science from Scientists (SciSci)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Award-winning national nonprofit bringing real scientists into classrooms for hands-on STEM lessons. PEF expanded SciSci to 6th graders at IBL and Cabrillo schools in 2025. Scientists deliver bi-weekly hands-on STEM experiments and discussions.
• Bay Area CreativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Bay Area Creative, founded by former PSD educator Mike Taylor, delivers the SPARC (Stage Performance and Rhythmic Culture) Poetry program to all 5th graders in Pacifica. PEF fully funds this 26-week residency including instructors, supplies, and poetry event expenses. The program is in its 18th year.
• Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCARS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise that processes vehicle donations for nonprofits. When donors name PEF as beneficiary, CARS notifies PEF of the donation via email.
• IBL SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntermediate School in Pacifica where PEF funds SciSci program for 6th graders and supports band program.
• Cabrillo SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiddle School in Pacifica where PEF funds SciSci program for 6th graders and supports band program.
• Happy Hall SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free childcare during PEF Gala events. Major gala sponsor offering $50 value childcare service.
• Skyline CollegeminorOthersFarallon Room at Skyline College is the venue for PEF's annual Spring Gala events.
• 65+ Local Business PartnersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal Pacifica businesses offering exclusive promotional discounts to PEF members including restaurants, retail, services, fitness, and more. Partners display PEF logo decal and are promoted through PEF's website, social media, and monthly e-newsletter.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF): Bay Area education foundation serving Los Altos School District with annual fundraising events and a membership/donor program funding enrichment programming. Comparable in scale, geography, and nonprofit operating model.
• Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE): East Bay K-12 education foundation funding supplemental programs across Lafayette elementary and Acalanes Union High School districts. Comparable as a community-led nonprofit using annual giving campaigns and events to support enrichment programming.
• San Bruno Park Education Foundation: Bay Area education foundation serving San Bruno Park School District through community donations and fundraising events funding enrichment programs. Comparable as a San Mateo County peer nonprofit with similar scale and mission.
• Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF): Bay Area education foundation serving Menlo Park and Atherton school districts through community fundraising and grants. Comparable in mission, district-scale service area, and volunteer-driven operating model.
• San Carlos Education Foundation (SCEF): Bay Area community education foundation funding enrichment programs for San Carlos School District. Comparable as a small-district K-12 education foundation using events and donations to support arts, science, and music programming.
• Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE): Bay Area K-12 education foundation funding supplemental programs across Palo Alto Unified School District. Directly comparable as a community-led nonprofit raising funds through memberships, events, and donations to bridge district funding gaps for enrichment programs.
• Redwood City Education Foundation (RCEF): Bay Area community education foundation supporting Redwood City School District programs. Comparable as a San Mateo County-area K-12 education foundation using community fundraising to bridge district funding shortfalls.
• Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation: Bay Area education foundation supporting Mill Valley School District through community fundraising. Comparable in operating model — volunteer-driven, event-and-membership funded nonprofit serving a single small school district.
• Burlingame Education Foundation (BEF): Bay Area K-12 education foundation serving Burlingame School District through community donations and fundraising events funding supplemental academic and enrichment programs. Directly comparable in mission, district-scale service, and fundraising approach.

Regional players

• Education Foundation of Sarasota County: Florida-based K-12 education foundation supporting Sarasota County Schools through community fundraising and grant programs. Comparable as a regional education foundation using similar donor-membership-event revenue mix to fund district enrichment, but operates in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_atKK8qkmgUV9MUQFEGbBg
• Facebookfacebook.com/PacificaEducationFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/pacificaedfoundation
• Xx.com/PacificaEF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacifica-education-foundation

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 Pacifica Education Foundation