Rockford Education Foundation

What Rockford Education Foundation does

Rockford Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in Rockford, Michigan. It functions as a community-driven fundraising entity that aggregates private donations, corporate sponsorships, and event proceeds and redistributes them as educational grants to Rockford Public Schools. The foundation does not operate a commercial product or fee-for-service revenue line; its economic activity is donation-funded and grant-disbursing in nature. Executive Director Beth Meyer-Kraff leads a small staff of 1-10 employees.

The foundation's core activity is grant administration. In its fiscal year 2022-23, it awarded 82 grants and disbursed approximately $100,000 directly to classrooms, serving more than 8,000 students. Since inception, cumulative grants to local education approximate $2 million, with an average annual grant cadence exceeding 50 awards. Funded programs span classroom supplies, the new Student Wellness & Safety initiative ($75,000 in 2025), experiential learning (e.g., the Edgerton Trails Maple Syrup Sugar Shack, $10,000 in 2026), and STEM/media programming through the "Beyond The Rock Weather Desk" launched in May 2026.

Revenue mechanics consist of individual donations, community fundraising events, corporate sponsorship (Wolverine Worldwide, GMB, Owen Ames Kimball), legacy giving, and donor-recognition programs such as wall plaques. The foundation operates within a single geographic market — the Rockford Public Schools district — and has no disclosed proprietary software platform, digital product, AI/ML capability, or paid customer base. Strategic activity in 2025-2026 has emphasized new programmatic verticals, media partnerships (WOODTV8), and external nonprofit alliances (Anni's Army Foundation).

Name

Rockford Education Foundation

Legal name

Rockford Education Foundation

Website

https://rockfordedfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rockford Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that raises community donations and corporate sponsorships to fund educational grants for Rockford Public Schools, awarding 50-80+ grants annually to serve more than 8,000 students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Services (611), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Educational grant funding
• Nonprofit education foundation
• Community fundraising programs
• School grant programs
• Student scholarship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and community donations from supporters of Rockford education.
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue from events including The Taste, Rockford Hall of Fame, Superintendent Sub for a Day, and other fundraisers.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship packages from businesses supporting education programs, ranging from $300 to $10,000+ per year.
4. Legacy Giving: Planned giving options including bequests, retirement account beneficiary designations, and other estate planning vehicles.
5. Donor Wall Plaques: Commemorative plaques at Rockford High School Creative Teaching and Learning Center, priced at $500-$2,500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rockford Education Foundation is a nonprofit grant-making organization that raises funds through community donations, events, corporate sponsorships, and planned giving, then awards grants and operates programs that fund educational opportunities within Rockford Public Schools. It supports STEAM education, fine arts, social-emotional health, college/career readiness, and literacy, awarding an average of 50+ grants totaling approximately $100,000 per year, in addition to operating programs such as Beyond The Rock student broadcasting, the Rockford Book Bus, the Counseling Dog Program, scholarships, and the Rockford Instrument Fund.

Product overview

Rockford Education Foundation operates as a grant-giving nonprofit organization that provides funding for educational opportunities within Rockford Public Schools. The foundation's core offerings include REF Grants (awarding approximately $100,000 annually to 50+ programs), the Beyond The Rock student broadcasting program, scholarships, and the Rockford Instrument Fund. Programs support five focus areas: STEAM education, fine arts, social-emotional health, college/career readiness, and literacy. Additional offerings include the Rockford Book Bus, Counseling Dog Program, Sensory Room, Early College Program, and Student Grants. Grant applications are processed through a Reviewr-powered online portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• REF Grants

Quantifiable outcome

• 82 grants awarded in 2022-23 school year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WOODTV8minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026WOODTV8 installed a live weather camera on the roof of Rockford High School as part of the Beyond The Rock weather program partnership. The camera overlooks a west-facing view of the community and will be featured during WOODTV8 weather broadcasts.
• Beyond The Rock Alumni NetworkminorOthers · 28 May 2026Alumni including Ginger Zee (ABC News Chief Meteorologist) and Derek Van Dam (CNN Meteorologist) contributed to the weather program fundraiser and donated professional weather equipment to enhance the student experience.
• Anni's Army FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025Partnership to administer the Annika Meier Honorary Scholarship for Rockford High School seniors. Scholarship supports students who have faced significant challenges demonstrating resilience, compassion, and care for others. Provides two $1,500 scholarships annually starting with Class of 2026.
• GMB Architecture & EngineeringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of REF events and programs.
• Owen Ames KimballminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor (Building Since 1891) of REF events and programs.
• Wolverine WorldwideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of REF events and programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• DonorsChoose: National crowdfunding platform enabling donors to fund K-12 teacher classroom projects; competes for the same donor dollars and addresses the same teacher grant-funding need, though at a national scale.

Direct peers

• Foundation for OKC Schools: Single-district education foundation raising private funds for Oklahoma City Public Schools; comparable grant programs, scholarships, and corporate sponsorship model.
• Pinellas Education Foundation: Nonprofit foundation funding Pinellas County Schools through teacher grants, scholarships, and community donations — directly comparable single-district education foundation structure.
• Clark County Education Foundation: Community foundation supporting K-12 students in Clark County, Nevada, via scholarships, classroom grants, and community fundraising events — directly comparable in mission and operating mechanics.
• Hillsborough Education Foundation: Community-funded 501(c)(3) supporting Hillsborough County Public Schools via classroom grants, scholarships, and signature fundraising events — analogous model and donor community.
• Education Foundation of Sarasota County: Single-district K-12 education foundation raising community funds and awarding classroom/teacher grants in Sarasota County, Florida — same operating model, scale, and stakeholder base as REF.

Regional players

• Grand Rapids Community Foundation: Community foundation serving the broader West Michigan region including Rockford's nearby metro; comparable grantmaking and donor-development infrastructure, though scope extends beyond K-12 education.

Others

• Council of Michigan Foundations: Statewide membership association for Michigan grantmaking foundations; not a direct fundraiser but comparable ecosystem peer that supports REF-type organizations with shared back-office and capacity resources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5deLBvclYkXof5wZEKP1Qw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Rockford-Education-Foundation-113251619637
• Instagraminstagram.com/rockfordedfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rockford-education-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Rockford Education Foundation