What Bellevue Schools Foundation does

Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 91-1080997) that operates as the sole philanthropic partner to the Bellevue School District in Washington State. Founded in 1979, the Foundation invests over $1 million annually to fund programs across BSD's 28 schools serving 19,000+ students in areas that state education funding does not cover. Its portfolio spans four core program areas: Mental Health (MHAT screening and the Signs of Suicide curriculum, with 7,108 students screened in 2022-2023), Computer Science (a K-12 pathway beginning in preschool to close race and gender opportunity gaps), Early Learning (12 inclusive preschool sites serving low-income and homeless children), and National Board Certification support for BSD's 400+ NBCT teachers. BSF also administers multiple scholarship programs, runs the BIPOC-focused BOOM youth empowerment series, and operates the Inspiration & Incubation grant program for innovative teacher-led projects.

Revenue is generated through five principal streams: individual donations (one-time, recurring GEM monthly gifts, and stock transfers), corporate sponsorships (Amazon, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Overlake Hospital/MultiCare, Alaska Airlines), special events (Spring for Schools gala, Block Party reaching nearly 1,000 attendees, and Education Connections lecture series), the Honor Roll Realtors & Lenders program (commission-based donations that have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2016 for computer science and teacher training), and planned giving/endowments — including a $500,000 Hanson Family Foundation gift in 2020 that established the Sherry Ladd Endowment for Teacher Development. GEM tiers range from $15/month (funds one BOOM keynote) to $100/month (computer science supplies for 12 Pre-K classrooms), and Bellevue MONOPOLY merchandise is sold at $40/unit with proceeds going to BSD programs.

Distribution is delivered through BSD's existing school infrastructure rather than via separate channels, with BSF leveraging BSD's email reach (11,000+ families), the BSD Alumni Network, Eventbrite for webinar registration, and DonorPerfect for online donations. The Foundation employs a small staff (1-10) and is governed by a Board of Trustees with three-year terms; an Executive Director posting at $150,000-$170,000 suggests active organizational professionalization. BSF operates exclusively in Bellevue, WA, with no current geographic expansion.

Name

Bellevue Schools Foundation

Legal name

Bellevue Schools Foundation

Website

https://bellevueschoolsfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bellevue Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that invests over $1 million annually to fund computer science, mental health, early learning, and teacher certification programs across Bellevue School District's 28 schools serving 19,000+ students in Bellevue, Washington.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12) (EDAJALAG)

Keywords

• Education philanthropy
• Nonprofit fundraising
• School foundation grants
• Teacher certification support
• Student mental health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, including one-time gifts, monthly giving (GEM Club), and stock transfers. Tax ID: 91-1080997
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Business sponsorships for events and programs including Block Party, Education Connections, and Spring for Schools. Tiered giving programs including Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Merit Scholar, and Friend levels.
3. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Spring for Schools gala, Block Party community event, and Education Connections speaker series.
4. Honor Roll Realtors Program: Realtors and lenders donate a portion of commissions to BSF, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund Computer Science in every classroom, books, and teacher training.
5. Planned Giving & Endowments: Legacy gifts, endowments, and scholarships ensuring continued funding for critical programs including the Sherry Ladd Endowment for Teacher Development ($500,000 gift).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bellevue Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises philanthropic funds and invests over $1 million annually in educational programs for the Bellevue School District's 19,000+ students across 28 schools. Its core offerings comprise four program portfolios: Educational Programs (Computer Science Initiative, Mental Health Assistance Team with Signs of Suicide screening, Early Learning, National Board Certification support, BOOM BIPOC empowerment), Scholarships & Awards, Community Engagement Events (Block Party, Education Connections, Spring for Schools gala), and Engagement Networks (BSD Alumni Network, Volunteer Program, Board Service), funded through individual donations, monthly giving, corporate sponsorships, and the Honor Roll Realtors program.

Product overview

Bellevue Schools Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as the primary philanthropic partner to the Bellevue School District. The organization invests over $1 million annually in programming across multiple portfolio areas. Its core offering is a comprehensive digital platform for fundraising and community engagement, complemented by diverse program categories including Scholarships & Awards (supporting students through Brandon West Memorial, Debra Muren Nursing, Howard Johnson, Nan Campbell, and other scholarships), Educational Programs (Computer Science Initiative, Mental Health Assistance Team with Signs of Suicide curriculum, Early Learning Program, National Board Certification support, BOOM BIPOC student empowerment, Inspiration & Incubation grants), Community Events (Block Party, Education Connections lecture series, Spring for Schools gala), and Engagement Networks (BSD Alumni Network, Volunteer Program, Board Service). The Foundation facilitates giving through multiple channels including an Online Donation Portal with DonorPerfect integration, GEM Monthly Giving Club, Corporate Sponsorship, Honor Roll Realtors partnership, and Planned Giving options. In 2024-2025, the Foundation received a $500,000 gift from the Hanson Family Foundation to establish the Sherry Ladd Endowment for Teacher Development supporting National Board Certification for BSD teachers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BOOM (Breaking Out of the Margins): A BIPOC-focused opportunity for secondary students to engage in meaningful, facilitated conversations that center issues most important to them. BOOM events are intended to inspire, build community, and provide opportunity to connect with leaders of color.
• Computer Science Initiative
• Mental Health Assistance Team (MHAT) & Signs of Suicide (S.O.S.) Program
• Early Learning Program
• National Board Certification Program
• Peer Power
• Education Connections
• GEM (Give Every Month) Club

Products and services

• Computer Science Initiative

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million invested annually in programming
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Bellevue School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2025Primary beneficiary partner; BSF provides over $1 million annually to fund programs across 28 schools serving 19,000+ students including computer science, mental health, early learning, and teacher development.
• Bellevue CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2025Host venue partner for BOOM event at Bellevue College; provides facilities for BIPOC student engagement events serving grades 8-12.
• 4 TomorrowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2025Co-organizer of BOOM (Breaking Out of the Margins) event supporting BIPOC student empowerment and community building.
• AmazonmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 April 2025Corporate sponsor providing financial support for BOOM events and general educational programs; logo featured prominently at highest sponsorship tier.
• ParentMapcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Partnership to offer BSD community FREE access to ParentEd Talks webinar series (12 speakers, $120 value) covering parenting topics including resilience, screen time, mental health, and fostering independence.
• Bellevue PTSA CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Co-presenter of ParentEd Talks webinar series; collaborative community engagement for education initiatives.
• National Board for Professional Teaching StandardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSF has supported National Board Certification for almost 20 years since 2003; Washington State provides bonus pay for NBCTs and no-interest loans for certification fees.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DonorsChoose: National crowdfunding platform connecting individual donors to public school teacher needs, with overlapping donor psychology and digital fundraising mechanics. While national in scope, the direct-donor-to-classroom funding model parallels BSF's Peer Power and online donation portal.
• San Francisco Education Foundation: Philanthropic partner for San Francisco Unified School District with comparable mission of funding programs beyond state allocations. Operates a similar model of corporate sponsorships, teacher grants, scholarships, and equity-focused programs in an urban high-cost district context.
• Seattle Public Schools Foundation: Philanthropic partner foundation for Seattle Public Schools, mirroring BSF's model of raising private funds to supplement public K-12 funding across multiple program verticals. Highly comparable structure, scale, and metropolitan Pacific Northwest geography.
• Pencils of Promise: Nonprofit that funds schools, teacher training, and education programs in underserved communities globally. Operates a similar donor-funded education program model targeting structural gaps in education access, with corporate partnerships and event-driven fundraising.

Broad incumbents

• National PTA: Largest K-12 parent volunteer and advocacy organization with local unit structure (BSF partners directly with Bellevue PTSA Council). Shared constituency of school families and overlapping parent-engagement mission, though PTA focuses on advocacy versus BSF's direct program funding.
• KIPP Foundation: Large-scale national K-12 education nonprofit operating a charter school network with intensive fundraising from corporate and individual donors. Comparable K-12 mission and corporate donor base, but operates schools directly rather than as a district partner.
• Room to Read: Global education nonprofit focused on literacy and gender equality, with a structured program funding model and corporate partnerships. Comparable programmatic depth and donor-funded education model, though operates internationally rather than at district level.

Emerging players

• ParentMap: Pacific Northwest parenting media and education events company that co-presents ParentEd Talks with BSF. Comparable parent-education content model and overlapping audience, though for-profit media rather than a foundation.
• 4 Tomorrow: BIPOC youth empowerment nonprofit that co-organizes BSF's BOOM event. Shares the education equity mission and Bellevue geography but focuses on direct youth programming rather than district-wide fundraising.

Others

• United Way of King County: Regional community foundation operating in the same King County geography with corporate workplace giving, multi-program portfolio, and event-based fundraising. Not a direct K-12 peer, but a comparable community foundation donor infrastructure and corporate partnership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bellevueschoolsfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bellevue-schools-foundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BSF
• Instagraminstagram.com/bellevueschoolsfdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bellevue Schools Foundation