Education foundations in the Lake Travis and Westlake areas have raised hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in funding each school year to ensure their districts have the support they need, local education foundation directors said.
The overview
Lake Travis, Eanes and Leander ISDs each have their own education foundation—a nonprofit established by community members that exists to aid the district through fundraising, hosting events and other initiatives.
Some foundations—such as the Lake Travis Education Foundation and Leander Educational Excellence Foundations—award grants to teachers and other staff members, and fund student programs.
The Eanes Education Foundation focuses on funding staff positions that are not fully covered by the state of Texas, EEF Executive Director Dana DeLorenzo said. Since 2020, LEEF has funded some LISD therapist positions as the district requested assistance in providing students with mental health services, LEEF Executive Director Coleen Brighton said.
“Every dollar above our expenses goes to the district,” LTEF President Kyle Morgan said. “If parents and families and community members want to support Lake Travis [ISD], I feel like we're the most direct way and most efficient way to do that.”
The specifics
Eanes Education Foundation
Funds raised for fiscal year 2023-24: $2.5 million
Funds go toward:
- Staff positions, including gifted and talented teachers, nurses, counselors, and safety and security officers
- Year-end educator gifts
- A district endowment featuring a special education fund
Funds raised for FY 2023-24: over $925,000
Funds go toward:
- Grants for teachers and staff members
- Scholarships for graduating seniors
- High school entrepreneurial program, teacher mentorship program and mental health programs
- Curriculum, staff support and facility enhancements
- Summer enrichment opportunities
- Equipment and uniforms for the Lake Travis Special Olympics Teams
Funds raised for FY 2023-24: over $784,000
Funds go toward:
- Grants for teachers and professional development
- Mental health therapist positions
- Summer reading books and books for the Parents as Teachers program
- High school college and career coaches, Advanced Placement test fees and textbooks for dual-credit classes
- Student innovation programs
The role of education foundations has become increasingly important in Texas as school districts grapple with a lack of state funding and look to retain teachers, Brighton said.
“Education foundations are essential to public school districts to fill those funding gaps,” Brighton said. “[The community’s] support and contributions are essential to the success of education foundations to continue to thrive.”
LTEF helps ensure LTISD has adequate funding as it expects to send nearly $50 million in local property taxes back to the state through a process known as recapture, said Claire Kinnersley, LTISD executive director of corporate relations and LTEF.
“[Our work] helps make sure the classrooms are funded,” Kinnersley said. “Ultimately, there's nothing we can do about the recapture, but this is a way to combat the impact of the recapture and make sure that our teachers and classrooms have the support they need.”
In EISD, EEF funds staff positions that are essential to students’ educational experience, DeLorenzo said. The foundation helps make up for funding losses amid its projected $95 million recapture payment, she said.
“We definitely make a difference on every single campus, and we're excited to be part of that,” DeLorenzo said.
How it works
EEF, LTEF and LEEF fundraise for their districts each year through donations from community members, district employees and staff members.
In LISD, over 1,800 staff members contribute to LEEF through their monthly paychecks while the organization has nearly 180 monthly community member donors, Brighton said. EEF accepts district employee donations but does not actively seek them out, DeLorenzo said.
The foundations also fundraise by holding several annual events, including galas and golf tournaments.
EISD and LTISD each fund a portion of the executive director's salary for their education foundations, while LISD funds an administrative assistant for LEEF. In EISD, the education foundation’s $2 million in fundraising for staff positions is earmarked in the district’s budget, DeLorenzo said.
EEF and LTEF are working to build endowments for their districts. The Eanes Endowment, which currently sits at $1.75 million, could be used in the future for teacher raises and includes a fund allocated for special education support and programs, DeLorenzo said.
All foundations are operated by a volunteer-based board of directors who collaborate with district staff members to ensure the foundations meet their district’s needs, foundation directors said.
Get involved
Community members in LTISD, EISD and LISD are welcome to donate to, volunteer with and attend events for their respective education foundations.
Additionally, LISD community members can host book drives, donate gently used books or apply to serve on LEEF’s board, Brighton said.
Learn more by visiting the following education foundation websites:
