The mission of the Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation is to provide FPS students with enriched and enhanced learning opportunities that would otherwise not be possible. The Foundation does not fund projects or programs that are deemed the responsibility of the school district. The Foundation operates with one full-time staff.

Description:
The FPS Development Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which operates independently from the school district and the Board of Education. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors representative of the community and receives annual gifts and endowment donations from alumni, parents, district staff, businesses, foundations, service clubs and the general community. The primary Foundation programs are:

• providing grants to FPS teachers and schools for innovative learning projects.
  
  
• coordination of the Adopt-A-School program, which brings business employees and community organization members into the schools to assist with meaningful activities that are beneficial to students and staff, and rewarding for the volunteers.
  
  
• distribution of special need funds (clothing, school supplies, fees, and other basic needs) to schools with a high percentage of low income students and families. The Foundation also coordinates the "Got No Milk" annual fundraiser to buy morning snack time milk for low-income elementary school students who would otherwise not receive it.
  
  
• development and maintenance of an FPS alumni database to assistance with class reunions and other alumni events, and for regular communications with alumni.
  
  
• administration of scholarships funded with annual gifts or endowed funds for the benefit of deserving students.



History:
The Foundation was officially formed in 2000. Since that time we have awarded 599 grants, totaling $344,865 for innovative learning projects in schools throughout the district. The Adopt-A-School program is now includes 25 partnerships and is being expanded into additional secondary schools. The alumni database includes nearly 20,000 FPS graduates and a quarterly newspaper is now being mailed to subscribers.


Contact person: Steve Backsen, Executive Director, (701) 446-1041, (email)
Office fax number: (701) 446-1200

Address:


415 N. 4th St. Fargo, ND 58102 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.fargoschoolsfoundation.org

Directions:

The Foundation office is located on the second floor of the district administration building at 415 N. 4th St. in Fargo. The district administration building is about 2 blocks north of the downdown Civic Center.

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