SUFFOLK EDUCATION FOUNDATION

What SUFFOLK EDUCATION FOUNDATION does

Suffolk Education Foundation (SEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Suffolk, Virginia. The Foundation supports Suffolk Public Schools through three core programs: an annual College Scholarship Program that distributes approximately $20,000+ per graduating class via seven managed endowment funds; an Instructional Grants Program providing up to $2,000 per teacher for innovative classroom projects, STEM initiatives, and special programs; and a Teacher Supply Store launched in 2018 that provides free classroom supplies to teachers. Since inception, SEF has distributed close to $500,000 in scholarships and over $350,000 in instructional grants, impacting nearly 2,500 students.

SEF's technology stack is intentionally lightweight: the public website is hosted on Wix, donation and event registration processing is handled through NeonCRM, and volunteer scheduling for the Teacher Supply Store runs on Sign-Up Genius. No proprietary technology, mobile applications, or API services are disclosed, and there is no evidence of in-house software development, AI/ML capabilities, or proprietary technical infrastructure beyond standard nonprofit SaaS tooling.

SEF operates on a donations-based revenue model with no paid products or services. Revenue streams include individual donations (online and via payroll deduction for Suffolk Public Schools staff), corporate sponsorships across Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers for the annual Gala and Golf Tournament, memorial and honorary gifts, and returns from seven endowed scholarship funds. Distribution channels combine an online NeonCRM donation portal, school-based communication through Suffolk Public Schools guidance departments, and physical retail via the Teacher Supply Store. The Foundation reports a 94-cent program efficiency ratio — 94 cents of every dollar raised returned to schools — and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with no paid executive leadership disclosed.

Name

SUFFOLK EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Legal name

Suffolk Education Foundation

Website

https://suffolkeducationfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Suffolk Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that supports Suffolk Public Schools through college scholarships, instructional grants, and a free Teacher Supply Store for teachers and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Educational foundation services
• College scholarship programs
• Instructional grant funding
• Teacher supply assistance
• Community education fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Suffolk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct financial donations from community members to support educational programs and scholarships. Includes online donation processing via debit, credit, and e-check.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from businesses for annual events including the Gala and Golf Tournament. Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tier sponsorships available.
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from annual events including the Prom Rewind Gala and Golf Tournament honoring Dr. Milton Liverman.
4. Payroll Deduction: Suffolk Public Schools staff can contribute through payroll deduction programs for convenient giving.
5. Memorial & Honorary Donations: Charitable donations accepted in memory or honor of individuals, with tax-exempt receipts provided.
6. Endowment Management: Manages seven scholarship endowments as perpetual funds for long-term sustainability of scholarship programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Suffolk Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides college scholarships to graduating seniors of Suffolk Public Schools, instructional grants (up to $2,000 each) to fund innovative classroom projects for teachers, and a free monthly Teacher Supply Store distributing classroom supplies to teachers. Programs are funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, payroll deduction, and signature fundraising events including an Annual Gala and Golf Tournament.

Product overview

Suffolk Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as a single unified charitable organization supporting Suffolk Public Schools through multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include a College Scholarship Program awarding $20K+ annually to graduating seniors through endowed memorial scholarships, an Instructional Grants Program providing up to $2,000 per grant to fund innovative classroom projects and STEM education, and a Teacher Supply Store offering free monthly supply access for teachers. These are supplemented by signature fundraising events (Annual Gala highlighting student art and music, and an Annual Golf Tournament honoring Dr. Milton Liverman) and a School & Community Campaign for donations. An IDEA Commitment program guides equitable distribution of funds. All money raised returns 94 cents directly to the schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Instructional Grants Program Annual grant program providing up to $2,000 per grant to Suffolk Public Schools teachers and staff to fund innovative classroom projects, experiences, programs, and special projects in STEM education and staff development. Over $350,000 in grants have been awarded to date impacting close to 2,500 students.
• College Scholarship Program Annual college scholarships and tuition assistance awarded to graduating seniors at Suffolk Public Schools high schools. The foundation typically awards $20K+ in scholarships per graduating class through multiple endowed memorial scholarships including Future Educator, E. Talmadge Darden Memorial, Cross Family, Milton R. Liverman Memorial, Gertrude B. Pruden Family Arts, G. Blair Harry Memorial, Helen and Ned Ferguson Endowment, and Ellis E. Temple Sr. Memorial scholarships, with individual awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.
• Teacher Supply Store Free monthly supply store for Suffolk Public Schools teachers to obtain classroom supplies. Located at John F. Kennedy Middle School, the store operates Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., August through May each year, helping teachers supplement materials for students in need.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94 cents returned to schools for every dollar raised
• +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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RRMM ArchitectsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20262026 Diamond Sponsor for Golf Tournament honoring Dr. Milton Liverman. Corporate sponsor supporting annual fundraising event.
• MSA P.C.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20262026 Diamond Sponsor for Golf Tournament honoring Dr. Milton Liverman. Corporate sponsor supporting annual fundraising event.
• GET SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20262026 Diamond Sponsor for Golf Tournament honoring Dr. Milton Liverman. Corporate sponsor supporting annual fundraising event.
• Speight Marshall FrancisminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20262026 Diamond Sponsor for Golf Tournament honoring Dr. Milton Liverman. Corporate sponsor supporting annual fundraising event.
• Thompson Consulting EngineersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20262026 Diamond Sponsor for Golf Tournament honoring Dr. Milton Liverman. Corporate sponsor supporting annual fundraising event.
• Suffolk Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Primary strategic partner since 2018 for Teacher Supply Store program and general foundation operations. SEF provides scholarships, grants, and supply store access to benefit SPS students and staff. Collaboration on Title I community outreach and guidance department communications.
• John F. Kennedy Middle SchoolminorOthersHost location for Teacher Supply Store operations. Houses SEF's monthly supply distribution for Suffolk Public Schools teachers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Norfolk Education Foundation: Direct peer: a Hampton Roads-area education foundation providing scholarships, instructional grants, and teacher support to a single public school district (Norfolk Public Schools). Operates with a similar nonprofit, single-district model.
• Chesapeake Public Schools Education Foundation: Direct peer: a neighboring Hampton Roads single-district education foundation awarding classroom grants and scholarships to Chesapeake Public Schools teachers and students. Same single-district nonprofit structure and program mix as SEF.
• Hampton City Schools Education Foundation: Direct peer: another Hampton Roads-area district-level education foundation providing scholarships, classroom grants, and teacher resources to Hampton City Schools. Highly comparable geographic and operational profile.
• Newport News Education Foundation: Direct peer: a Hampton Roads-area district education foundation supporting Newport News Public Schools with scholarships, mini-grants, and teacher programs. Operates the same single-district model with similar fundraising events.
• Virginia Beach City Public Schools Education Foundation: Direct peer: a Hampton Roads-area single-district foundation supporting Virginia Beach City Public Schools with scholarships, grants, and enrichment funding. Closely comparable structure, geography, and program set.

Broad incumbents

• DonorsChoose: Broad incumbent: a national nonprofit enabling public school teachers to post classroom project requests for direct donor funding. Larger scale and broader geographic reach than SEF, but its classroom-grant model competes for the same donor dollars and addresses the same teacher-supply pain point.
• Communities In Schools: Broader incumbent K-12 education nonprofit that operates student-support programs inside public schools nationally. Less directly competitive, but it competes for school-district partnerships and education-focused donor funding in the same impact area.

Regional players

• Hampton Roads Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving southeastern Virginia, including education-focused grantmaking. Operates at a larger geographic scale than SEF and awards grants across multiple sectors, including K-12 education, making it both a potential partner and a regional competitor for education-focused donations.
• Carolina Donor Services / Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina: Regional community foundation with a scholarship and education-grantmaking program serving coastal South Carolina. Similar grantmaking-and-scholarship nonprofit model to SEF but at a regional rather than single-district scale.

Emerging players

• National Education Foundation (NEF): Emerging broader nonprofit operating scholarship and student-success programs nationally with K-12 and adult-learner focus. Less directly comparable in scale and structure, but overlapping mission around scholarships and student success for disadvantaged learners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPhz4qGVZFv-HHf0MlcW7-w
• Facebookfacebook.com/SuffolkEducationFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/suffolkef
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suffolk-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 SUFFOLK EDUCATION FOUNDATION