D70 Foundation For Excellence
What is the D70 Foundation for Excellence?
The D70 Foundation for Excellence is a parent-run, non-profit organization dedicated to providing additional resources to support the students and staff in all D70 schools. As a 501c3 that collects tax-deductible donations, the Foundation operates as a private fundraising arm that assists the District where tax dollars stop short of meeting our expectations for our children.
The D70 Foundation is proud to serve as a partner in education to Adler Park, Butterfield, Copeland Manor, and Rockland elementary schools, as well as to Highland Middle School. Our mission is to engage our community as public school advocates and to raise funds and develop resources to support innovation and educational excellence in our schools by providing enriching, educational and cultural experiences that might not otherwise be available.
The goal of the District 70 Foundation for Excellence is to support, enrich, and enhance the education of all of our students and to provide them with the best opportunities to succeed in higher education, their career, and life.
While each of our D70 schools has its own amazing Family Association, the D70 Foundation has a separate goal and mission that supports ALL D70 schools.
D70 Foundation for Excellence Giving
There are multiple ways you can give to the D70 Foundation for Excellence. Donations go towards the Foundation Grant Program which awards grants to teachers, staff and/or administrators who write a grant on behalf of additional programs, enrichment or student centered activities they want to see in their classrooms or schools.
- Individual Giving - Did you know that if every family in the District donated just $70 annually, the Foundation would have $100,000 to give back to our schools each year? Can you imagine what a difference that would make?
Please consider donating for the 2024-2025 school year!
You can find all giving levels online.
- Company Match - Most large companies offer an employee match if you donate to a sponsored non-profit. The Foundation is already set up with Abbvie, so if you are an employee, all you need to do is set your giving to the D70 Foundation for Excellence and they will match it!
We would love to have other companies like Grainger, Uline, Abbott, etc be part of our matching program. Please email Holland at d70foundation@d70schools.org for assistance!
- Founding Members - Founding Members play a very important role in the D70 Foundation. Like any new company or organization, the D70 Foundation needs capital to operate. When called upon to assist in the capital campaign, our Founding Members have graciously offered their time, monetary resources, and ideas. Founding Members are part of the initial framework and establishment of the Foundation, and have a deep desire to see our schools be the best they can be. They are our advocates in the community and are thought leaders in shaping the organization. If you’re interested in becoming a Founding Member, please email Holland at d70foundation@d70schools.org.
Where Do My Dollars Go?
Your contributions go directly back into our schools. They go towards enhancing educational resources, creating enriching experiences and funding creative and innovative ideas for our students.
For example, in the 23-24 school year, the D70 Foundation for Excellence was able to fund all 20 mini grant proposals that were submitted across the district totaling approximately $10,000! This is more than double what has been done in the past few years for the program.
The grants went to:
- Adler Park received 6 grants totaling @ $2100
- Butterfield received 7 awards totaling @ $2,800
- Copeland Manor received 5 awards totaling @ $2,400
- Highland Middle received 4 grants totaling @ $1,700
- Rockland received 3 awards totaling @ $1,100
If you'd like to see the specific projects that were funded in the 23-24 school year, please click here.
With your generosity, we can ensure that our schools are equipped with the additional tools and opportunities necessary to inspire and educate our future leaders.
By investing in our children’s education, you are not just supporting their academic growth, but also their personal development and future success. Your donation helps us build a stronger, more vibrant community where every child has the chance to excel.
Foundation Board Member News
This year, we welcome Elizabeth McGhee to the Board as the Vice President of Grants. Elizabeth is mom to three D70 children in 5th, 3rd and 1st grades at Butterfield School. When she isn’t working as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, you can often find her driving her kids to their sports and volunteering at their school! Elizabeth and her husband, Travis, who serves on the D70 School Board, are Founding Members of the D70 Foundation for Excellence.
Elizabeth and her team will lead the Foundation Grant Process for the 2024-2025 school year, which will kick off a bit later this fall.
The Foundation is looking for a Treasurer to join the Board for the 2024-2025 school year. If you are passionate about numbers, organized and looking to contribute, we want to talk to YOU! You do not need to be a CPA or necessarily have a background in this type of work - just be dedicated to what the Foundation is about, organized and want to give back to our kids and our schools. If you are interested please email Holland at d70foundation@d70schools.org.
We’d love to have your unique talents! If you’d like to volunteer your time to help the growing Foundation, please fill out this form:
