Salt Lake Education Foundation

What Salt Lake Education Foundation does

Salt Lake Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Utah's first female governor, Olene Walker, and recognized as the oldest public education foundation in Utah. The foundation operates as the exclusive nonprofit partner of the Salt Lake City School District, raising private donations to fund programs and services not covered by district budgets across the district's 23 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 3 Community Learning Centers. Its core business is charitable fundraising across four streams: individual donations, capital campaigns, employee giving through payroll deduction, and legacy/planned giving including bequests and charitable trusts.

The foundation's product portfolio is programmatic rather than technology-based. Core offerings include the Scholarship Program and Teacher Recruitment Scholarship pipeline, a portfolio of capital campaigns (a $31 million Career & Technical Center, two $2 million school-based health clinics, and the Ron McBride Track & Field expansion), academic programs supporting STEM, arts, music, and literacy, and a student and family support suite covering 14 on-site food pantries, vision and dental clinics, and emergency assistance. Career and college readiness programs (CTE, apprenticeships, AVID, ACT prep) and educator recognition programs round out the service mix. Distribution runs through district schools, Community Learning Centers, and an online donation portal; the foundation itself uses ParentSquare, a donor CRM, and a standard website as its technology stack, with no proprietary software or AI components.

Revenue is purely donation-based with no products or services sold and no fees charged to beneficiaries. Capital campaign goals currently exceed $35 million in aggregate active asks, indicating a multi-year fundraising pipeline of significant scale relative to the foundation's ~8-person staff. The foundation is governed by an independent board of directors, chaired by T. Richard Davis, with Executive Director James Yapias leading day-to-day operations. Corporate and institutional partners include Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Marathon Petroleum, University of Utah Health, Utah Food Bank, and UTA, evidencing a diversified donor and partner base concentrated entirely within the Salt Lake City geography.

Name

Salt Lake Education Foundation

Legal name

Salt Lake Education Foundation

Website

https://saltlakeeducationfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Salt Lake Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the exclusive charitable partner of the Salt Lake City School District, raising private donations to fund scholarships, capital projects, student support services, and educational programs across 40+ district schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Fundraising & Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAK

Education Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

SECONDARYBPAGADAH

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Public education fundraising
• Nonprofit education foundation
• Student support programs
• School district philanthropy
• Educational capital campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The foundation receives donations from individuals through online donations, tribute gifts, and general fund contributions. Options include one-time or recurring monthly gifts.
2. Capital Campaigns: Major fundraising campaigns for specific projects including Career & Technical Center ($31 million goal), Highland High Health Clinic ($1 million), West High Health Clinic ($1 million), and Glendale/Ron McBride Track & Field ($600,000).
3. Legacy/Planned Giving: Bequests in wills, charitable remainder trusts, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and endowments.
4. Employee Giving: Payroll deduction program allowing district employees to make recurring donations through the 'Committed to Excellence' campaign.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Salt Lake Education Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that serves as the exclusive fundraising partner of the Salt Lake City School District. It raises charitable contributions from individuals, employees, corporations, and foundations to fund programs and facilities that the district budget does not cover, including scholarships, academic enrichment (STEM, arts, music, literacy), student and family basic-needs support, community learning centers, and capital campaigns for school-based health clinics, a Career & Technical Center, and athletic facilities.

Product overview

Salt Lake Education Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that serves as the exclusive nonprofit associated with Salt Lake City School District. Rather than a unified technology product, the foundation offers a portfolio of educational support programs including: Scholarship Programs and the Teacher Recruitment Scholarship for student financial assistance; Capital Campaigns for the Career & Technical Center, School-based Health Centers, and Ron McBride Track & Field; Academic Programs supporting STEM, Arts & Music, and Literacy; Student and Family Support Services including food pantries, vision and dental clinics, and internet access; Community Learning Centers providing holistic support; Career and College Readiness Programs including CTE, apprenticeships, and AVID; and Recognizing Excellence programs for educators. These programs work together to promote student success by supplementing educational experiences through private donations and community partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarship Programs Financial assistance scholarships for Salt Lake City School District seniors pursuing postsecondary education; 28 scholarships totaling $43,200 were awarded in 2023-24.
• Teacher Recruitment Scholarship (TRS) Pipeline scholarship that supports Salt Lake City School District high school students to become teachers, beginning at Salt Lake Community College (with approximately $3,500 per year tuition waivers for up to 2 years) and transferring to the University of Utah College of Education (up to $3,000 per year for 2 years) for a bachelor's degree and licensure.
• Career & Technical Center (CTC) Campaign

Quantifiable outcome

• 28 scholarships awarded totaling $43,200 in 2023-24
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Boeing CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded $100,000 grant for STEM education at Northwest Middle School. Funds supported 125 Chromebooks, PocketLab Notebook and OpenSciEd curriculum, and STEM Night event for students and families.
• Marathon Community Investment ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded Environmental Studies opportunities at Northwest Middle School and STEM kits for four elementary schools (Edison, Franklin, Rose Park, Washington). Students learn about life sciences and biodiversity through hands-on research.
• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported expansion of West High School Robotics programming to Northwest Middle School through FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics teams.
• Friends for SightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision clinics providing comprehensive eye exams and prescription glasses free of charge at Parkview Elementary, Glendale CLC, and Liberty CLC. Staffed by volunteer optometrists and Rocky Mountain University College of Optometry.
• University of Utah School of DentistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free and discounted dental care at Liberty Dental Clinic including cleanings, sealants, fluoride washes for district students and community members.
• University of Utah Department of PediatricscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped integrated healthcare model for school-based health clinics at Highland and West High Schools, combining physical, mental, and behavioral health services.
• University of Utah HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner staffing and furnishing both school-based health clinics at Highland and West High Schools as part of the $2 million interior construction fundraising effort per clinic.
• Utah Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports 14 on-site food pantries at Title I elementary schools and mobile food pantry distributions across the district.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports food programs through donations to Utah Food Bank and grants for Bishops' Storehouse vouchers benefiting school pantries and families.
• USANA Kids EatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on weekend and holiday backpack programs to address food insecurity among students.
• For The KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on weekend backpack food programs for students in need.
• UTA (Utah Transit Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free transit passes for all district students over 6 years of age and one adult family member through partnership with UTA and Salt Lake City government.
• Ron McBride FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports expansion of Ron McBride Track & Field at Glendale Middle School, including locker rooms, bathrooms, bleachers, scoreboards, and track improvements. Original track opened November 2022.
• Salt Lake Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher Recruitment Scholarship (TRS) program - students start at SLCC with approximately $3,500 per year in tuition waivers for up to 2 years, then transfer to University of Utah.
• University of Utah College of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher Recruitment Scholarship (TRS) - TRS scholars complete associate's degree at SLCC then transfer to U of U for bachelor's in education and licensure. Up to $3,000 per year for 2 years pending funding.
• My HometownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonates gift cards for Thank You Thursday educator recognition program.
• U.S. Novelty and PartyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonates balloon bouquets for Thank You Thursday educator recognition program.
• Cyprus Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonates gift cards for CTE Thank You Thursday monthly educator recognition.
• Stadler UScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPays full tuition for TRAC apprenticeship students at Salt Lake Community College for 2 years after completing first year during senior year of high school.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DonorsChoose: Broad incumbent - national nonprofit crowdfunding platform for K-12 classroom projects. While not district-exclusive, DonorsChoose addresses similar donor-to-school funding flows and represents a more scalable alternative for donors considering SLC Education Foundation.

Direct peers

• Austin Ed Fund: Direct peer - nonprofit supporting Austin Independent School District with teacher innovation grants, student programs, and equity initiatives. Operates the same district-exclusive foundation model in a similarly-sized urban district.
• Pittsburgh Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer - nonprofit foundation supporting Pittsburgh Public Schools with classroom grants, scholarships, and student programs. Similar geographic exclusivity to one urban district and analogous mix of capital campaigns and student support services.
• Boston Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer - exclusive nonprofit partner of Boston Public Schools funding enrichment programs, teacher grants, and student support. Comparable mission scope and exclusive-district model.
• Cleveland Metropolitan School District Foundation: Direct peer - district-affiliated education foundation supporting Cleveland Metropolitan School District with scholarships, basic needs, and program funding. Operates under similar exclusive district partnership structure.
• Chicago Public Education Fund: Direct peer - district-affiliated education fund supporting Chicago Public Schools with principal leadership, teacher pipeline, and capital campaigns. Operates the same exclusive district foundation model at larger scale.
• San Francisco Education Fund: Direct peer - nonprofit supporting San Francisco Unified School District with fundraising, donor-advised classroom funds, scholarships, and student services. Comparable operating model as a district-exclusive education foundation.
• Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer - exclusive nonprofit partner of Indianapolis Public Schools running capital campaigns, scholarships, and student support programs. Direct analog as a single-district education foundation with comparable staff size and program scope.
• Denver Public Schools Foundation: Direct peer - district-affiliated public education foundation supporting Denver Public Schools with fundraising, scholarships, and student support programs. Operates with similar exclusive district partnership model and comparable program mix (basic needs, scholarships, educator recognition).

Regional players

• United Way of Salt Lake: Regional peer - major Salt Lake-area nonprofit that funds education initiatives alongside other social programs. Overlaps as a regional fundraising competitor for the same donor pool but does not focus exclusively on K-12 education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• XInstagram.com/slcschools
• YouTubeYouTube.com/slcschools
• FacebookFacebook.com/slcschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salt-lake-education-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Salt Lake Education Foundation