MILLCREEK EDUCATION FOUNDATION

What MILLCREEK EDUCATION FOUNDATION does

Millcreek Education Foundation (MEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation established in 1983 in Erie, Pennsylvania, originally as the Millcreek Schools Foundation and among the first U.S. education foundations. It supports students, educators, and programs within the Millcreek Township School District (MTSD), which serves approximately 7,000 students. MEF's core offerings include over 40 named scholarship funds for McDowell High School seniors pursuing college or career-technical education, MEF Grants of up to $2,000 for teachers and staff, an Inspiration for Instruction grant for first-year Pre-K-12 teachers, and student-facing programs such as Full STEAM Ahead (girls-only STEAM enrichment), the Sparks 8th-grade recognition program, and Caring Closets (Walmart-partnered essential-needs registries). It also manages a portfolio of donor-established funds (Donor Advised, Designated, Field of Interest, Scholarship) and named funds including the Bre Humble & Kind Fund, Eller's Piece of the Puzzle Fund, and AJ's Heart of Champions Fund.

MEF operates with a contracted part-time Executive Director (Kristina Huber, CFRE), outsourced accounting/website/database services, and a volunteer Board of Trustees that includes non-voting seats held by the MTSD Superintendent, Supervisor of Curriculum, and a School Board representative. The foundation generates revenue through individual donations (via website, PayPal, and check), corporate giving enabled by its PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) approval as both an Education Improvement Organization and a Pre-K Scholarship Organization, event fundraising (notably the Schoolhouse Craft Festival with 100+ vendors and up to 5,000 attendees, plus a Charity Golf Tournament), and alumni engagement activities including reunion coordination and merchandise sales. It participates in coordinated giving days (Erie Gives Day, Giving Tuesday, Give-Education Day) and accepts recycled-material donations via partners such as Lincoln Metal & Recycling. The organization operates from the former Ridgefield Elementary School building at no facility cost, and is currently advancing the McDowell Athletic & Activities Complex (a multi-million-dollar capital initiative) and the Armed Services Project honoring alumni veterans.

Name

MILLCREEK EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Legal name

Millcreek Education Foundation

Website

https://millcreekeducationfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Millcreek Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation established in 1983 that provides scholarships, teacher grants, and program funding to the approximately 7,000 students and hundreds of educators of the Millcreek Township School District in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Education foundation services
• Student scholarship programs
• Teacher grant programs
• School district fundraising
• Alumni engagement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Erie

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct charitable contributions from individuals, alumni, and community members. Accepts donations via PayPal and check. Donors can contribute to specific funds or general operations.
2. Corporate Giving Programs: Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program allows S&C corporations to receive up to 90% tax credit for contributions. MEF is approved as an Education Improvement Organization and Pre-K Scholarship Organization. Also accepts Pre-K scholarships through ECGRA School Foundation Challenge endowment.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual events including Schoolhouse Craft Festival (100+ vendors, up to 5,000 attendees), Charity Golf Tournament, Erie Gives Day, Giving Tuesday, and Give-Education Day generate revenue through vendor fees, entry fees, and donations.
4. Alumni Engagement: Coordinates class reunions and alumni events. Sells alumni merchandise (flags, bags, tech tattoos). Collects reunion registration fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Millcreek Education Foundation raises and distributes philanthropic funds on behalf of the Millcreek Township School District. It awards student scholarships for college and career-technical education, provides mini-grants of up to $2,000 to teachers for classroom programs and supplies, funds student recognition and enrichment initiatives (Sparks, Full STEAM Ahead, Caring Closets), and manages donor-established funds including scholarship, donor advised, designated, and field of interest funds. The foundation also runs community fundraising events and connects McDowell High School alumni through reunion coordination and merchandise sales.

Product overview

The Millcreek Education Foundation is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of educational support programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings center on scholarship funds (individual named scholarships with specific criteria), grant programs for teachers (MEF Grants up to $2,000, Inspiration for Instruction for new teachers), and student support initiatives (Sparks recognition program, Caring Closets, Full STEAM Ahead). The organization also manages various donor-established funds including donor advised funds, designated funds, field of interest funds, and scholarship funds. Additional programs include the Schoolhouse Craft Festival, Charity Golf Tournament, PopLuck Grams, alumni association services, and special projects like the McDowell Athletic/Activities Complex initiative and Armed Services Project. The foundation connects donors with students through Erie Gives Day and the Pennsylvania EITC program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MEF Scholarship Funds Donor-established scholarship funds for McDowell High School seniors pursuing college or career/technical education; each scholarship has donor-defined eligibility criteria. MEF manages over 40 unique named scholarship funds.
• MEF Grants Program Mini grants of up to $2,000 awarded to MTSD teachers and staff for classroom programs, projects, supplies, and professional development. Applications are accepted three times per year.
• Inspiration for Instruction Grant Grant for first-time Pre-K-12 classroom teachers employed by Millcreek Township School District, providing funding for classroom resources and instructional support.
• Full STEAM Ahead Program Free before-school, girls-only STEAM program introducing students to women mentors in STEAM fields through hands-on, interactive make-and-take activities, delivered across five MTSD elementary schools.
• Sparks Program Recognition program for 8th-grade students who exemplify investment in the school community with a financial award eligibility upon McDowell High School graduation.
• Caring Closets School/classroom registries through Walmart providing essential items and personal care products for MTSD students in need, supporting students eligible for free and reduced lunch.
• Donor-Advised Funds Donor-established funds allowing contributors to recommend grants for educational interests of special meaning to the donor.
• Designated Funds Funds directing ongoing support to a specific educational area such as a particular school or subject.
• Field of Interest Funds Funds supporting broad educational areas while allowing MEF to select specific projects or programs meeting the donor's giving goals.
• Schoolhouse Craft Festival Annual two-day craft festival held at McDowell Intermediate High School with 100+ vendors, musical performances, food, and a $5 entry fee supporting MTSD students.
• MEF Charity Golf Tournament Annual charity golf tournament at Lake Shore Country Club raising funds for Millcreek Township School District students.
• Alumni Association Services Services connecting McDowell alumni with classmates, other alumni, and faculty, including reunion planning assistance and reunion contact lists.
• Eller's Piece of the Puzzle Fund Fund providing financial support for MTSD students to participate in camps, clubs, sports, YMCA activities, or other out-of-school experiences to build peer connections.
• AJ's Heart of Champions Fund Fund supporting blood clot awareness initiatives and awarding an annual football scholarship to a McDowell senior demonstrating dedication to the sport and AJ's values of character, teamwork, and perseverance.
• Bre Humble & Kind Fund Fund accepting metal donations at Lincoln Metal & Recycling and pop/beer/Celsius drink tabs to support Millcreek teachers.
• PopLuck Grams Popcorn gram sales allowing supporters to send messages with popcorn to MTSD staff as appreciation, with a portion of sales benefiting MEF's grants program.
• McDowell Athletic & Activities Complex Project Special project to build a multi-athletic complex with modern amenities for sports and student activities, with a $5 million initial district investment as part of a bond acquisition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 unique scholarship funds managed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting, historical and core.

• Erie Community FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the annual Erie Gives Day, a 12-hour community giving event. MEF has participated for 10 years. The foundation provides matching funds based on number of gifts received.
• Alumni NationssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the annual Give-Education Day each March to support K-12 Education Foundations. This 24-hour virtual fundraising day began in 2014. In 2025, Give-Education Day raised nearly $123,000 with MEF earning a $500 sponsor incentive bonus.
• Asbury Woods Nature CenterhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreviously hosted the Schoolhouse Craft Festival before MEF assumed control of the event in 2020. Covid-19 restrictions prevented MEF from holding the event in 2020 and 2021.
• CHA (Architecture/Engineering Firm)supportingTechnology or IntegrationCHA prepared planning slides and renderings for the McDowell Athletic & Activities Complex project. The district committed an initial $5 million investment as part of a bond acquisition.
• McDowell Intermediate High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the Schoolhouse Craft Festival (first weekend in December annually). Hosts McDowell College Night for student scholarship information.
• Lincoln Metal & RecyclingsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAccepts metal donations for the Bre Humble & Kind Fund at their location (1602 Selinger Ave, Erie, PA 16505). They recycle the metal and mail a check to MEF.
• PopLuck (Local Business)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal popcorn business supports MEF through annual Popcorn Grams sales for Teacher & Staff Appreciation. On National Teacher Appreciation Day, MEF receives 20% of purchases of 'Celebrate' flavor.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pittsburgh Public Schools Foundation: Pennsylvania-based K-12 education foundation that raises private funds to support a single urban school district through scholarships, teacher grants, and program funding. Same operating model as MEF at slightly larger scale.
• DonorsChoose: National crowdfunding platform that lets teachers post classroom project requests and donors fund them directly. Closely comparable to MEF's MEF Grants (up to $2,000) and Caring Closets model of channeling donor dollars to specific teacher/student needs in K-12.
• Foundation for Cincinnati Public Schools: Single-district education foundation supporting Cincinnati Public Schools with scholarships, teacher grants, and enrichment programs. Highly analogous structure to MEF's support for Millcreek Township School District.
• AdoptAClassroom.org: National nonprofit that connects donors directly to PreK-12 teachers for classroom supply and project funding. Mirrors MEF's teacher mini-grant program and Inspiration for Instruction new-teacher grants.

Broad incumbents

• Cleveland Foundation: Major Ohio-based community foundation with significant K-12 and education grantmaking programs. Comparable at the institutional level as a multi-decade community foundation with similar geographic anchoring.
• National PTA: National parent-teacher association with local chapters that fundraise and grant for K-12 classrooms and student programs. Overlaps with MEF's teacher grants, scholarships, and family-driven fundraising model.
• The Columbus Foundation: Large Ohio community foundation that operates Giving Days, donor-advised funds, and education grantmaking. Demonstrates the scaled version of an education-active community foundation that MEF's ecosystem could mature into.
• Erie Community Foundation: Regional community foundation that runs Erie Gives Day and manages donor-advised funds across many causes. Comparable in that it channels philanthropy into the same Erie region, though it is broader than MEF's K-12 focus.

Regional players

• Chester County Community Foundation: Pennsylvania-based community foundation serving Chester County with scholarship funds, donor-advised funds, and education grantmaking. Comparable in PA geography and education-fund administration, though serving a different region than MEF.

Others

• GoFundMe (Education category): General crowdfunding platform that hosts a large education-cause category including K-12 student/teacher campaigns. An enabling/competing channel rather than a foundation peer, but competes for the same donor intent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/383835535108191
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/millcreek-education-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/millcreekeducationfoundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 MILLCREEK EDUCATION FOUNDATION