Heights Schools Foundation

What Heights Schools Foundation does

Heights Schools Foundation (HSF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in University Heights, Ohio. It serves as the official fundraising arm of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights (CH-UH) City School District, engaging alumni and community members to fund scholarships for graduating seniors, opportunity grants for teachers, and priority educational programs for current students. The foundation operates a portfolio of programs including a Scholarships Program, Opportunity Grants, Learning Programs, a Family Resource Center, the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, the Lessons of the Holocaust educational program, and Historical Archives (including Black & Gold student newspapers and Gospel Choir records). Supporting communications include The Heights Magazine (a print publication produced jointly with the CH-UH District) and a monthly E-News newsletter.

The foundation's revenue model is donation-driven, supplemented by merchandise sales through an online e-commerce shop selling branded apparel and accessories (price range $10-$45). Distribution occurs via direct donations, an online merchandise storefront, and event-based sales at community gatherings including Homecoming, reunions, and the Tiger Nation Tailgate. Marketing channels span social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram), email newsletters, print publications, and community events. Notable partnerships include Travis Kelce's Eighty-Seven and Running Foundation (which raised $80,000 for after-school programs via the 'Walk the Walk' event), Heights Athletic Boosters, and various local vendors.

The foundation has reported awarding $465,000 in grants and scholarships, impacting 4,639 students and providing 95 scholarships to graduating seniors. It is governed by a Board of Trustees (Dr. Susan D. Carver '78 serving as President) and led by Executive Director Laura Schwartz Loebl, who was appointed in November 2022. The organization employs 1-10 people and operates within a single geographic market (Ohio). The foundation was spun off from the Hei

Name

Heights Schools Foundation

Legal name

Heights Schools Foundation

Website

https://heightsschoolsfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Heights Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the official fundraising arm of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, channeling alumni and community donations into student scholarships, teacher grants, and educational enrichment programs for public school students in Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Foundation Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB)

Keywords

• Educational foundation services
• Alumni fundraising programs
• Student scholarship programs
• Teacher grant programs
• Public school support

Headquarters

HQ city

Broadview Heights

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. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from alumni and community donations. The foundation receives contributions through annual giving campaigns, opportunity grants, and targeted fundraising initiatives to support CH-UH school district programs, student scholarships, and teacher grants.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sales of branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts), accessories (pennants), and limited edition items. Products range from $10 for pennants to $45 for premium items like 1/4 zip sweatshirts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heights Schools Foundation is the nonprofit fundraising arm of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District. It engages alumni and community members to fund student scholarships for graduating seniors, opportunity grants for teachers and innovative classroom programming, learning programs, and the Family Resource Center. It also operates the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame recognition program, the Lessons of the Holocaust educational initiative, and an online merchandise shop selling branded apparel.

Product overview

Heights Schools Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation that serves as the fundraising arm of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including a Scholarships Program awarding annual scholarships to graduating seniors, Opportunity Grants supporting teachers and innovative classroom programming, Learning Programs for student development, and a Family Resource Center. The foundation also runs a Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame recognizing accomplished graduates, maintains Historical Archives including student newspapers, and delivers the Lessons of the Holocaust educational program. Revenue generation includes an e-commerce merchandise store (HSF Alumni Gear) selling branded apparel and a publication arm producing The Heights Magazine and monthly E-News newsletter. The foundation reported awarding $465,000 in grants and scholarships, impacting 4,639 students through support, and providing 95 scholarships to seniors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarships Program Annual scholarships awarded to graduating seniors of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District to support their collegiate journeys. The program awarded $54,000 in scholarships in 2024 and $55,000 in 2022.
• Opportunity Grants Grants awarded to teachers and innovative programming to support educational enrichment in the CH-UH school district.
• Learning Programs Educational programming funded by the foundation to support student development and academic success within the CH-UH school district.
• Family Resource Center Resources and support services for families within the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school district.
• Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Annual recognition program honoring accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions in their fields. The Class of 2025 includes 10 inductees.
• HSF Alumni Gear (Merchandise) Official branded merchandise including Legacy Lives Here apparel, Heights All Schools T-Shirts, Heights Tiger Nation 1/4 Zip Sweatshirts, Heights Alumni T-Shirts, Heights Alumni Pennants, and Heights Proud Limited Edition T-Shirts. Price range $10 to $45.
• Lessons of the Holocaust Educational program including trips to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Holocaust and Humanity Center, Testimony Theater performances, and Holocaust survivor interactions with students.

Quantifiable outcome

• $465,000 awarded annually in grants and scholarships
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Travis Kelce's Eighty-Seven and Running FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019NFL player Travis Kelce ('08) partnered with HSF to host 'Walk the Walk' fundraising event that raised $80,000 for after school programs, enrichment, tutoring, and transportation for elementary and middle school students.
• The Wine SpotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal wine merchant at 2271 Lee Road hosting alumni events including watch parties during Homecoming celebrations and alumni cocktail gatherings. The venue has historical significance as former home to Bruder's Dairy and Seitz-Agin Hardware.
• Heights Athletic BoostersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization coordinating tailgate events during Homecoming celebrations, partnering with HSF to host alumni watch parties and community gatherings near football stadium.
• The Urban Wrap Co.minorOthersFood truck vendor participating in Homecoming Tiger Nation Tailgate events, providing food options for attendees.
• The Sweet Suite 216minorOthersFood vendor offering sandwiches and wraps at Homecoming tailgate events.
• Heights Tropical SnominorOthersSnow cone vendor serving at Homecoming tailgate celebrations.
• Boom CreativeminorOthersCreative agency serving as website developer for Heights Schools Foundation, credited for site design and digital presence.
• Lee Road LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic library branch providing family activities on front lawn during Homecoming parade, supporting community engagement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DonorsChoose: Nationwide crowdfunding platform that funds teacher classroom projects and school needs — broader incumbent addressing the same teacher-grant and school enrichment use case at scale.
• Cleveland Foundation: Large regional community foundation serving Greater Cleveland with grantmaking and education-focused funds — a broader incumbent operating at a much larger scale but addressing overlapping education-philanthropy needs in the same geography.
• AdoptAClassroom.org: National nonprofit connecting donors to teachers and classrooms for resource funding — addresses the same teacher-grant and classroom enrichment value proposition as HSF's Opportunity Grants, but at national scale.

Direct peers

• St. Edward High School Alumni Association: Cleveland-area private school alumni organization conducting alumni engagement, Hall of Fame-style recognition, and fundraising — comparable alumni-engagement and community-driven fundraising model.
• Beachwood Schools Foundation: Greater Cleveland-area K-12 education foundation providing scholarships and program funding for Beachwood City School District — operates a directly comparable district-aligned fundraising model.
• Shaker Heights Schools Foundation: Neighbor school district education foundation in the Greater Cleveland area that raises funds for scholarships, teacher grants, and enrichment programs at Shaker Heights schools — directly comparable K-12 district-aligned foundation model.
• Mandel Jewish Day School: Cleveland-area K-12 school development operation where Laura Schwartz Loebl previously served as Development Director — directly comparable K-12 private school fundraising role and donor-development model.
• Solon Community School District Foundation: Suburban Cleveland K-12 education foundation supporting Solon Schools with grants and scholarships — comparable district-aligned nonprofit fundraising model.

Others

• Rokkitwear: School-branded merchandise vendor linked from HSF's website that sells Cleveland Heights High School apparel — adjacent service provider operating the same alumni-merchandise distribution function for HSF and other schools.

Regional players

• Public School Foundation of Pittsburgh: Another Midwestern urban school district education foundation that funds scholarships, teacher grants, and enrichment for Pittsburgh Public Schools — comparable district-aligned fundraising model in a different region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HeightsSchoolsFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
• Facebookfacebook.com/HeightsFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heights-schools-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/heightsschoolsfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heights Schools Foundation