Belton Educational Foundation

What Belton Educational Foundation does

Belton Educational Foundation (BEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Belton, Missouri, founded to bridge the funding gap between public school budgets and educational excellence for the Belton School District (BSD). The foundation operates a portfolio of programs across three core areas: (1) student and teacher support, including Teacher Grants (over $350,000 awarded since 2008), a Mental Health Support program placing licensed therapists in every Belton school (since 2012, serving 300+ students annually), Pirate Pantries providing weekend food and basic-needs items at five school locations (serving 400 children weekly), BackSnacks in partnership with Harvesters (serving 200 children weekly), and Student Scholarships and Dual Credit Tuition Assistance (over $32,000 awarded annually); (2) alumni engagement through the Belton High School Hall of Fame (established 1998), Alumni Weekend, and the All Class Reunion; and (3) fundraising and sponsorship programs including the annual BEF Gala, Pirate Dash 5K, Major Saver Card sales, a six-tier Pirate Foundation Sponsorship program ($500-$15,000), and a Planned/Legacy Giving program (Legacy of Believers Giving Circle).

The foundation generates revenue through a diversified community-driven fundraising model: individual donations (online, mail, in-person, Venmo, and BSD staff payroll deduction with 55-68% staff participation), corporate sponsorships across multiple tiers, event-based fundraising, the spring Major Saver Card fundraiser ($20 per card), and planned/legacy giving. Distribution occurs exclusively through BSD infrastructure, with 100% of donations remaining in Belton. The expense profile is 70% programs, 22% fundraising, and 7% administrative — a lean ratio enabled by a 3-person staff (Executive Director Sonja Abdelgawad, Foundation Assistant Jennifer Mata, Office Assistant Tyler Fulton) supported by a 17-member Board of Trustees. The foundation holds a Charity Navigator Four Star rating and a Candid Transparency Seal, and annually distributes over $232,000 to support Belton schools.

Name

Belton Educational Foundation

Legal name

Belton Educational Foundation

Website

https://beltonfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Belton Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Belton, Missouri that funds teacher grants, student scholarships, mental health services, and basic-needs programs (Pirate Pantries, BackSnacks) for Belton School District K-12 students and teachers, sustaining operations through community donations, corporate sponsorships, and signature fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Educational foundation services
• Student scholarship programs
• Teacher grant funding
• School nutrition assistance
• Nonprofit fundraising services

Headquarters

HQ city

Belton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Donations from community members, alumni, and supporters. 100% of donations stay in Belton. Accepts checks, cash, money orders, online payments, and Venmo.
2. Pirate Foundation Sponsorships: Annual sponsorship program with multiple tiers from $500 (Friend) to $15,000 (Diamond). Includes marketing benefits, event tickets, and social media recognition.
3. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorships for specific events including Pirate Dash 5K, BEF Gala, and Turkey Bowl with varying contribution levels.
4. Helping Children Grow Sponsorships: Smaller sponsorship levels from $50 to $1,000 designed for individuals and small businesses with various recognition perks.
5. Major Saver Card Sales: Spring fundraiser selling discount cards for $20 that provide deals at area restaurants and retailers. Proceeds divided between elementary schools and BEF for teacher grants.
6. Employee Payroll Deduction: BSD staff can set up automatic payroll deductions to support BEF. 55-68% of district staff participate.
7. Planned and Legacy Giving: Bequests, gifts of property, appreciated stock, and retirement plan donations. Legacy of Believers Giving Circle for planned giving donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Belton Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and operates programs supporting Belton School District students and teachers. Its core offerings include teacher innovation grants, student scholarships, dual credit tuition assistance, mental health therapy services, Pirate Pantries (food, clothing, shoes, and basic needs), and the BackSnacks weekend food program, all funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and community events.

Product overview

Belton Educational Foundation operates as a nonprofit educational support organization offering a portfolio of programs organized into three main categories: student/teacher support programs (Teacher Grants, Pirate Pantries, BackSnacks, Mental Health Support, Student Scholarships, Tuition Assistance, and Student Leadership Opportunities), alumni engagement programs (Hall of Fame and Alumni Weekend events), and fundraising/sponsorship initiatives (Major Saver Cards, Planned Giving, Pirate Foundation Sponsorships, and signature events including the BEF Gala, Pirate Dash 5K, and Turkey Bowl). The Foundation also operates a Volunteer Program connecting community members with various opportunities to support Belton School District students and educators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Teacher Grants Grant program providing funding for innovative teacher-led projects, new teacher classroom setup, mini grants, and the annual Ferguson Excellence in Teaching Award for Belton School District teachers.
• Pirate Pantries Food and basic needs assistance program operating pantries in five Belton School District locations, providing weekend food, clothing, hygiene items, coats, hats, gloves, and shoes to students in need.
• BackSnacks Weekend food program partnering with Harvesters to provide meals for approximately 200 Belton children (preschool through 6th grade) each week.
• Mental Health Support School-based therapy program providing licensed therapists in every Belton school, supporting the You Matter Belton initiative for youth mental wellness and serving over 300 students annually.
• Student Scholarships Scholarship program awarding over $20,000 annually to Belton High School graduating seniors, including renewable scholarships, one-time scholarships, and memorial scholarships for college and trade school.
• Dual Credit Tuition Assistance Financial assistance program for AP and dual credit course tuition and test costs for students who cannot afford to pay, selected based on teacher/counselor recommendation, financial need, and written essay.
• BEF Gala Annual signature fundraising event raising program funding to enrich educational opportunities for students in the Belton School District.
• Pirate Dash 5K & Fun Run Annual family fun run event hosting over 200 runners and volunteers, featuring glow run elements.
• Alumni Weekend Annual alumni celebration held over BHS Homecoming weekend, including parade float, tailgate party, and All Class Reunion Luncheon with Hall of Fame Induction.
• Belton High School Hall of Fame Hall of Fame honoring lifetime achievements of distinguished BHS alumni who excelled in professional careers, community service, or other endeavors reflecting positively on their educational foundation.
• Major Saver Cards Fundraising program selling discount cards ($20) providing deals at area restaurants and retailers, with proceeds split between Belton elementary schools and BEF teacher grant program.
• Planned and Legacy Giving Endowment and planned giving program allowing donors to include BEF in wills, gift property, appreciated stock, or retirement plans, with Legacy of Believers Giving Circle membership.
• Pirate Foundation Sponsorships Corporate sponsorship program with Diamond ($15,000), Platinum ($7,500), Gold ($5,000), Silver ($2,500), Bronze ($1,000), and Friend ($500) tiers offering marketing, event recognition, and gala tickets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 children receive weekend food weekly
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HarvesterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Harvesters (food bank) to supply weekend food for the BackSnacks program serving 200 Belton children weekly through preschool to 6th grade.
• Belton School District #124coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner district for all programs including mental health services, Pirate Pantries, teacher grants, and scholarships. Foundation provides supplemental funding to enhance educational opportunities.
• You Matter Belton InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity initiative to remind youth of their importance and connect them to community support through You Matter Belton Days at schools.
• Community Organizations (Shoe/Clothing Donors)minorOthersVarious community organizations and individual donors partner to provide shoes, coats, clothing, and hygiene items for students in need through the Pirate Pantry program.
• Belton School District FamiliescoreOthersOver 4,000 households and 600+ staff members receive quarterly communications about sponsor recognition and foundation programs through BSD channels.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Blue Valley Educational Foundation: Education foundation supporting the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, Kansas, funding teacher innovation grants, scholarships, and student programs. Operates an analogous single-district grantmaking model.
• Olathe Public Schools Foundation: Foundation supporting the Olathe School District in the Kansas City metro, funding classroom grants, scholarships, and innovative teaching. Directly comparable single-district education foundation structure.
• Lee's Summit Educational Foundation: Education foundation supporting the Lee's Summit R-7 School District in the Kansas City metro, raising funds for teacher grants, scholarships, and student programs. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and community-based nonprofit model serving a single district.
• Park Hill Education Foundation: Education foundation for the Park Hill School District in the Kansas City metro, funding innovative classroom grants, scholarships, and student programs. Comparable mission and donor-base model for a single district.
• Liberty Public Schools Education Foundation: Education foundation for Liberty Public Schools near Kansas City, providing teacher grants and scholarships to district students. Closely comparable in scale, mission, and single-district community-fundraising model.
• Shawnee Mission Education Foundation: Education foundation serving Shawnee Mission School District in the Kansas City metro, providing classroom grants and scholarships. Larger and more established, but directly comparable in function and model.
• Independence School District Foundation: Education foundation supporting the Independence School District in the Kansas City metro, funding teacher grants and student scholarships. Comparable single-district education nonprofit model.
• Ray-Pec Education Foundation: Foundation supporting the Raymore-Peculiar R-II School District, providing teacher grants and student scholarships in a suburban Kansas City district. Closely mirrors BEF's single-district education foundation model.
• North Kansas City Schools Education Foundation: Education foundation for North Kansas City School District, providing classroom innovation grants and scholarships. Comparable community-based education foundation operating in the same KC metro region.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Kansas City Community Foundation: Large regional community foundation serving the greater Kansas City area, including education-focused grantmaking. Broader in scope than BEF, but operates in the same regional philanthropy ecosystem and competes for some of the same education-focused donor dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSshBM8OGMAIOZyZXj_1VXw
• Facebookfacebook.com/BeltonEducationalFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/belton-educational-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/beltoneducationalfoundation
• Xx.com/BeltonEdFound

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Belton Educational Foundation