About Us

In 2008, an economic downturn started an alarming trend: more than half of the country’s school districts experienced permanent cuts to local and state funding. With little hope of government support returning, community leaders turned to local education foundations. In 2008, the National School Foundation Association went to work, actively connecting, supporting, and leading the education foundation movement. Our organization has trained hundreds of foundation executives on program management, successful fundraising and community engagement. We support seven state associations tailored to helping members solve those unique, local education funding problems - and we are just getting started. Every day, the local education foundation movement becomes more critical to sustaining and improving our schools, and at the National School Foundation Association, we are committed to making sure members like you lead the way.

Our Vision

Students in public schools across America have equitable access to outstanding educational opportunities through the work of our member education foundations.

Our Mission

NSFA is the industry's primary thought leader, convener and advocate, providing support to preK-12 public education foundations through professional development, evidence-based best practices and research in order to increase community investment in our nation’s students. 

Our Role

The NSFA fulfills its mission by:

• Being a thought leader and source of expertise to education foundations
• Providing industry-leading training to education foundation leaders, boards, staff, school boards, and district personnel
• Communicating benchmarks for successful education foundations
• Assisting districts in the creation and development of local education foundations
• Supporting the development of state associations and chapters of education foundations