Lee's Summit Educational Foundation

What Lee's Summit Educational Foundation does

Lee's Summit Educational Foundation (LSEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization (EIN: 43-1615117) founded in 1993 and headquartered at 301 NE Tudor Road, Lee's Summit, Missouri. It exists to raise and deploy philanthropic capital for the Lee's Summit R-7 School District, a single K-12 public school system serving nearly 18,000 students across 26 schools. The foundation is the exclusive philanthropic partner of LSR7, operating with a three-person staff (Director, Programs & Development Specialist, Administrative Assistant) and managing more than 100 named endowed and donor-designated funds with a combined market value exceeding $10 million. Cumulative giving to the district since inception stands at over $8.4 million.

LSEF's core programmatic offerings are four-fold. PEAK Classroom Grants award $100–$5,000 annually to teachers across all 26 schools through a competitive process, totaling nearly $1.4 million across 1,334 grants to date. The Student-Led Grant Program, introduced in 2022–2023, awards $250–$1,000 directly to middle and high school students for self-initiated projects. The Scholarship Program has awarded $1.31 million to over 1,000 graduating seniors since 1998, with $98,850 disbursed to 76 students in 2026. A Technology Initiative has directed more than $1.5 million toward Chromebooks since 2012 and an additional $352,000 for teacher devices from 2021–2025. Sub-brands include Friends of the Foundation, a tiered corporate sponsorship program ($600 Scholar through $10,000 Ambassador), and Generations: Legacy Beyond Our Lifetime, a planned giving program.

LSEF's business model is a diversified community fundraising engine rather than a commercial revenue model. Revenue streams include individual donations (online, mail, phone, payroll deduction), tiered corporate sponsorship, signature events (Race for the Future 5K with 750+ participants and Taste of Lee's Summit culinary event), planned giving/legacy gifts, matching gifts, and the LSR7 Employee Annual Fund Drive. The foundation relies on a community-led, event-driven go-to-market approach targeting alumni, retirees, local businesses, parents, and civic supporters, and it invests its endowment through a partnership with the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. Its technology stack is entirely off-the-shelf SaaS (Bloomerang CRM for donations, Runsignup for event registration, GrantInterface for scholarship applications, Squarespace for web). The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Roxanne Evans, with an LSR7 Board of Education liaison seat.

Name

Lee's Summit Educational Foundation

Legal name

Lee's Summit Educational Foundation

Website

https://lsedfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Lee's Summit Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and deploys philanthropic funds exclusively for the Lee's Summit R-7 School District, awarding classroom grants, student-led grants, and continuing education scholarships to nearly 18,000 K-12 students via donations, events, corporate sponsorships, and planned giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Educational philanthropy
• Classroom grants
• Student scholarships
• Community fundraising
• Nonprofit foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Ozark

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals including alumni, parents, community members, and retirees. Donations may be made online, by mail, or through payroll deduction for LSR7 employees.
2. Sponsorship Program: Friends of the Foundation sponsorship program with multiple tiers (Scholar $600, Leader $1,500, Benefactor $3,500, Champion $5,500, Ambassador $10,000) providing various benefits including event registrations, website recognition, and event tickets.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue from signature events including Race for the Future 5K (registration fees, sponsorship) and Taste of Lee's Summit (ticket sales, restaurant participation, sponsorships).
4. Planned Giving: Legacy planned gifts including bequests through wills, gifts of life insurance, stocks, real estate, retirement assets, and charitable trusts. Recognized through Generations Donor Wall at Stansberry Leadership Center.
5. Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee donations to the foundation, amplifying individual contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Lee's Summit Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises philanthropic funds from individuals, businesses, and community partners and redistributes them to the Lee's Summit R-7 School District through competitive PEAK Classroom Grants, Student-Led Grants, continuing education scholarships, and targeted technology funding. It operates a tiered Friends of the Foundation sponsorship program and signature fundraising events (Race for the Future 5K and Taste of Lee's Summit) to support those programs.

Product overview

Lee's Summit Educational Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that operates as a unified grant-making and fundraising entity rather than a technology platform. The Foundation's core offerings consist of competitive PEAK Classroom Grants (ranging from $100-$5,000), a Student-Led Grant Program (awarding $250-$1,000 to middle and high school students), and a Scholarship Program (providing continuing education scholarships to LSR7 graduating seniors totaling $98,850 to 76 students in 2026). Supporting these programs is the Friends of the Foundation Sponsorship Program with five tiers from Scholar ($600) to Ambassador ($10,000). The Foundation also hosts fundraising events including the annual Race for the Future 5K, Taste of Lee's Summit culinary event, and Community Breakfast. Fundraising mechanisms include payroll deduction through the LSR7 Employee Annual Fund Drive and the Planned Giving Program (Generations: Legacy Beyond Our Lifetime). As of 2026, the Foundation has invested over $8.4 million in the Lee's Summit R-7 School District through these programs and manages funds with total market value exceeding $10 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PEAK Grants: Competitive classroom grants that Promote Excellence And Knowledge (PEAK), ranging from $100 to approximately $5,000 awarded to teachers annually.
• Student-Led Grant Program
• Friends of the Foundation
• Generations: Legacy Beyond Our Lifetime

Products and services

• PEAK Classroom Grants Competitive annual classroom grants (Promoting Excellence And Knowledge) awarded to teachers across all 26 Lee's Summit R-7 School District schools, ranging from $100 to approximately $5,000 and selected by a surprise squad of foundation board members called the PEAK Patrol. The foundation has awarded 1,334 PEAK Grants totaling nearly $1.4 million since the program's inception.
• Student-Led Grant Program Grant program that allows LSR7 middle and high school students to request $250-$1,000 to implement projects that enhance learning at their schools, with a staff Ambassador liaison required. Nearly $30,000 in student grants have been awarded since the 2022-2023 school year.
• Scholarship Program Continuing education scholarships awarded exclusively to Lee's Summit R-7 graduating seniors, with $98,850 awarded to 76 students in 2026 funded by contributions from community members, businesses, and organizations. Since 1998, the foundation has awarded $1.31 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students.
• Friends of the Foundation Sponsorship Program Annual corporate and individual sponsorship program with five tiers (Scholar $600, Leader $1,500, Benefactor $3,500, Champion $5,500, Ambassador $10,000) plus a Superintendent's Circle designation, providing event tickets, website and event recognition, donor wall listing, and a classroom grant presentation opportunity at the Benefactor level.
• Race for the Future 5K Annual 5K run/walk community event held in October that raises funds for Lee's Summit R-7 students and teachers, attracts over 750 community participants per year, and features a Kids Zone, breakfast, and anniversary activities. The 30th annual event is scheduled for October 10, 2026.
• Taste of Lee's Summit Annual culinary tasting event featuring local restaurants and businesses, with ticket sales, restaurant participation fees, sponsorships, and an auction generating revenue to benefit LSR7 students and teachers. The 2026 edition is scheduled for March 6, 2027.
• LSR7 Employee Annual Fund Drive Recurring giving program that enables Lee's Summit R-7 School District employees to make automatic monthly donations to the foundation through payroll deduction, with online enrollment through the district's employee systems and Google Forms.
• Planned Giving Program (Generations: Legacy Beyond Our Lifetime) Planned giving initiative offering bequests through wills and gifts of life insurance, stocks, real estate, retirement assets, and charitable trusts, with donor recognition through the Generations Donor Wall at the Stansberry Leadership Center.
• Community Breakfast & Real World Learning Showcase Annual morning event co-hosted with the LSR7 Career Education Department, showcasing student-led presentations on real-world learning journeys, internships, client-connected projects, and apprenticeships.

Quantifiable outcome

• $98,850 awarded to 76 students in 2025-26 scholarship season
• +3 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

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lee's Summit R-7 School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner organization. The foundation was established to support the school district and works closely with district leaders to ensure student needs are met. Includes LSR7 Board of Education liaison on foundation board and LSR7 Superintendent on Advisory Board.
• Greater Kansas City Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation invests funds through GKCGF to take advantage of pooled investments and retain expertise of their accountants, legal advisers, and planned giving specialists.
• Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists (Saint Luke's)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador-level sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program, supporting educational excellence in LSR7 schools.
• Dr. Dan & Nancy BlackwellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador-level sponsor through Friends of the Foundation program.
• Foundation Recovery SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSuperintendent's Circle sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• Liddle's SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Saver sponsor and Superintendent's Circle member of Friends of the Foundation program.
• Raymond JamesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSuperintendent's Circle sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• Jon & Juli EllisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSuperintendent's Circle sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• Dr. Larry & Trish FrevertminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSuperintendent's Circle sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• Bob & Marlese GourleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSuperintendent's Circle sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• Brain BalanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenefactor-level sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• CBIZminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenefactor-level sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• JE DunnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenefactor-level sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• Piper Sandler & CominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenefactor-level sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• Saint Luke's EastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenefactor-level sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• University of Central MissouriminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenefactor-level sponsor of Friends of the Foundation program.
• StrongBox WealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Taste of Lee's Summit 2026.
• All In Physical TherapyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAuction Sponsor for Taste of Lee's Summit 2026.
• BMO BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlate Sponsor for Taste of Lee's Summit 2026.
• Inspired HomesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGame Sponsor for Taste of Lee's Summit 2026.
• Custom Wood ProductsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Taste of Lee's Summit 2026.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• AdoptAClassroom: Aggregates donations and corporate sponsorships to fund classroom supplies and teacher needs. It compares through the same classroom-resource funding category and individual and corporate donor motion.
• Fund for Teachers: Provides grants to teachers for professional learning and classroom innovation. It overlaps LSEF's teacher-facing PEAK grant program but is more narrowly focused on educator development.

Direct peers

• DonorsChoose: Connects individual and corporate donors with classroom project requests from teachers across the United States. It directly overlaps LSEF's donor-to-classroom funding mission, although its technology-enabled national marketplace model is broader.
• Scholarship America: Administers scholarships and financial-aid pathways for students through corporations, foundations, and communities. It is comparable to LSEF's scholarship administration and donor-funded post-secondary access, but operates nationally.
• Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation: A nonprofit that supports Kansas City Public Schools through classroom resources, scholarships, and community fundraising. It directly parallels LSEF's district-specific grantmaking and scholarship model.

Regional players

• The Fund for Public Schools: Raises private funds for New York City public schools and directs them to programs, facilities, and student supports. It compares as a district education foundation with a similar bridge between philanthropy and public-school needs.
• Olathe Public Schools Foundation: Provides philanthropic support to Olathe Public Schools through grants, scholarships, and community campaigns. It has the same public-school district intermediary and local-business sponsorship model.
• Independence Educational Foundation: Supports Independence School District students and teachers through grants, scholarships, and community philanthropy. Its single-district education-funding model and local sponsor base make it a close regional comparator.
• Greater Kansas City Community Foundation: A regional community foundation that pools charitable assets and distributes grants through donor-advised and designated funds. It is comparable because it uses a multi-donor endowment and grant-administration model, and it is also a named investment partner of LSEF.
• Blue Valley Education Foundation: Raises and distributes funds for Blue Valley schools, including classroom grants, scholarships, and technology support. It is comparable in mission, district partnership, and donor-engagement model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LeesSummitEducationalFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lee-s-summit-educational-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Lee's Summit Educational Foundation