The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation - Today's Students- Tomorrow's Future

What The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation - Today's Students- Tomorrow's Future does

The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation (CFEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1970 and headquartered in Cypress, Texas, that provides higher education scholarships to graduating seniors of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) and staff development grants to CFISD educators. Since inception, CFEF has distributed over $14.6 million in scholarships to more than 1,400 graduates and over $4 million to CFISD for teacher development, with annual scholarship disbursements rising from approximately $530,000 in 2019 to a planned $1,025,000 in 2026. Its product surface consists of scholarship and grant programs, an online scholarship application portal, and a portfolio of recurring fundraising events including the B.F. Adam Golf Classic (since 1992; over $4.3M raised), Salute to the Stars gala, Salute to Our Heroes, the Houston Methodist Cy-Hoops Invitational basketball tournament, the Superintendent's Fun Run, and the recently launched Sporting Clay Tournament (August 2026). Revenue is entirely donation-based, sourced from individual giving, multi-year corporate sponsorships (Houston Methodist, HCA, Caldwell Companies, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, IBI Group, Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union), payroll deductions through the Donate to Educate program, planned giving, and the CFFCU affinity credit card program. The foundation is governed by a 57-member Board of Trustees (maximum 65) and operates on a 1–10 employee base, distributing funds across all 88 CFISD campuses via school counseling offices.

Name

The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation - Today's Students- Tomorrow's Future

Legal name

Cy-Fair Educational Foundation

Website

https://thecfef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation (CFEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1970 in Cypress, Texas, that awards higher education scholarships to graduating Cy-Fair ISD seniors and staff development grants to district educators, distributing over $14.6 million in scholarships to date.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Foundation / Nonprofit Scholarship Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Educational scholarships
• Staff development grants
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Community education support
• K-12 education foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cypress

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 in the community who support education. Donors can contribute online, through payroll deductions via the Donate to Educate program, or via various donation programs including Buy Cy-Fair 4 Cy-Fair, Gifts in Honor or Memoriam, and direct donations.
2. Event Fundraising: The foundation hosts four major annual fundraising events: B.F. Adam Golf Classic, Salute to the Stars gala, Salute to Our Heroes event, and Houston Methodist Cy-Hoops Invitational basketball tournament. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, sponsorships, advertising, silent auctions, and raffle tickets.
3. Corporate and Foundation Sponsorships: Local businesses and foundations sponsor events and establish endowed scholarships. Partners include Houston Methodist, Caldwell Companies, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP, HCA, and others who provide financial support through multi-year agreements.
4. Planned Giving: Donors can make planned gifts through wills, life insurance policies, retirement plans, or charitable trusts. The foundation also accepts donations of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, and charitable gift annuities.
5. Credit Card Program: The Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union offers a credit card program where a portion of spending benefits the foundation.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation provides higher education scholarships for CFISD graduating seniors and staff development grants for CFISD teachers, offering 60+ scholarship opportunities alongside named endowed scholarships (Edwin C. Schroeder Trust and InterLinc Family Foundation). Programs are funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, the Donate to Educate payroll giving program, and proceeds from a portfolio of annual fundraising events.

Product overview

The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation (CFEF) is a non-profit organization that operates as a unified scholarship and educational support platform rather than a technology product. Its core offerings include student scholarship programs providing over $14.6 million to CFISD graduates since 1970, staff development grants exceeding $4 million for CFISD educators, and various fundraising events (B.F. Adam Golf Classic, Salute to Our Heroes, Salute to the Stars, Houston Methodist Cy-Hoops Invitational, Superintendent's Fun Run). The foundation also manages endowed scholarship funds at various tier levels and a Donate to Educate payroll deduction program for CFISD employees. CFEF's offerings are integrated through an online scholarship application portal and donation system, supporting the foundation's mission of empowering students through higher education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Student Scholarship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $14.6 million in scholarships provided since 1970
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Houston Methodist (Cypress Hospital, Willowbrook Hospital, West Hospital)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerHouston Methodist is the named sponsor for the Houston Methodist Cy-Hoops Invitational basketball tournament through a multi-year agreement. They also underwrite Salute to Our Heroes and are a major sponsor for other CFEF events. They provide funds for student scholarships and staff development grants.
• Caldwell CompaniescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCaldwell Companies, led by CFEF Trustee Fred Caldwell, provides lunch sponsorship for the B.F. Adam Golf Classic and is an Endowment Partner and Foundation Partner. They employ former CFEF scholarship recipients.
• Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time Platinum Sponsor of the B.F. Adam Golf Classic and major sponsor for Salute to the Stars. Has supported CFEF events for 10+ years.
• Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital (HCA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnderwriter of B.F. Adam Golf Classic since 2010 and Salute to the Stars. Major sponsor for Salute to Our Heroes. Also provides healthcare field scholarships for CFISD students.
• Memorial HermannminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation Partner supporting CFEF through donations and event sponsorships.
• Cy-Fair Federal Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnderwriter of Salute to the Stars and sponsor of CFEF events. Offers a credit card program benefiting the foundation.
• The Howard Hughes CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected CFEF as one of a small group of non-profits to participate in their Spring Giving Campaign. Donates $1,000 for every home purchased in Bridgeland, The Woodlands, or The Woodlands Hills communities to selected charities.
• InframarkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPledged to donate $100 for every $1,000 donated by The Howard Hughes Corporation to CFEF if the home is purchased in Bridgeland.
• Community Impact NewspaperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation Partner providing media support and sponsorships for CFEF events.
• IBI GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Sponsor of B.F. Adam Golf Classic and major sponsor for Salute to the Stars for 10+ years.
• Big Give HoustonminorGTM or Marketing Partner24-hour crowdfunding event partnership allowing donors to support CFEF through the Big Give Houston platform.
• Lone Star CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Edwin C. Schroeder Trust Scholarships which provide $1,500 scholarships for CFISD graduates attending Lone Star College.
• Satterfield & Pontikes ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Salute to the Stars and B.F. Adam Golf Classic events.
• InterLinc Family FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides $32,000 scholarships ($16,000 each) to two CFISD students annually through endowed scholarships.
• Carl's BBQminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDinner sponsor for B.F. Adam Golf Classic, providing catering services for the event.
• The Backyard GrillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDinner sponsor for B.F. Adam Golf Classic and provides lunch for Donate to Educate program winners.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tomball Education Foundation: Direct peer: a small Houston-area district education foundation serving Tomball ISD students via scholarships and grants. Closely comparable size and structure to CFEF.
• Conroe ISD Education Foundation: Direct peer: Houston-metro K-12 district education foundation providing scholarships to Conroe ISD graduates. Comparable mission, beneficiary base, and event-driven fundraising model.
• Pasadena ISD Education Foundation: Direct peer: Houston-metro K-12 district education foundation providing scholarships and teacher grants to Pasadena ISD. Same mission, similar donor model, and same geographic-restriction constraint as CFEF.
• Spring Branch Education Foundation: Direct peer: Houston-area K-12 district education foundation supporting Spring Branch ISD students and teachers through scholarships, staff grants, and fundraising events. Mirrors CFEF's mission, geographic focus, and donor base.
• Katy ISD Education Foundation: Direct peer: a fellow Houston-area K-12 district education foundation providing scholarships and staff grants to Katy ISD students. Operates with the same mission, donor model (events + corporate sponsorships + endowments), and community-centric structure as CFEF.
• Aldine Education Foundation: Direct peer: another Houston-metro district-level education foundation providing scholarships and grants to Aldine ISD students and teachers. Closely comparable scope, beneficiary base, and fundraising approach.
• Fort Bend Education Foundation: Direct peer: a Houston-area school district education foundation serving Fort Bend ISD with scholarships, staff development grants, and community fundraising events. Directly comparable mission and operational model to CFEF.
• Klein ISD Education Foundation: Direct peer: another large Houston-area district education foundation serving Klein ISD students with scholarships and teacher grants. Directly comparable mission and operational scale.

Emerging players

• Communities In Schools of Houston: Adjacent Houston-area education nonprofit that supports students in surrounding school districts, including some CFISD schools, with a broader student-support model. Comparable donor ecosystem and event fundraising approach but with a wider service mission.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Houston Community Foundation: Broader incumbent: a much larger Houston-wide community foundation with an education grantmaking focus and significantly broader geographic and programmatic scope than CFEF. Operates as a more established, larger-scale grantmaking platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theCFEF
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCivMmNFPbFuvoERT9uOzzjg
• Facebookfacebook.com/cyfaireducationalfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cy-fair-educational-foundation
• Pinterestpinterest.com/thecfef

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Cy-Fair Educational Foundation - Today's Students- Tomorrow's Future