1. What is EdUCate!’s official name?
The University City Foundation for Public Schools (and yes, the exclamation point at the end of EdUCate! is part of the name we use in all communications).
2. Who does EdUCate! serve?
EdUCate! aims to serve the needs of ALL students in the University City public schools, their teachers, principals and school staff.
3. Where does EdUCate! receive its funding?
EdUCate! receives most funding from individual donors and community sponsors. Some funding is received from local county grants as well. EdUCate! is a non-profit foundation and is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and may engage in any and all forms of charitable activity within the meaning of said section.
According to EdUCate!’s by-laws, we receive funding from the public and seek “To involve the entire U.C. community and other interested persons in supporting the U.C. public schools.” EdUCate! is a non-religious and non-political organization. EdUCate!’s acceptance of a sponsorship or other donation is not an endorsement of the donor or their views.
Major sponsors for EdUCate! events are recognized by logos on our website and marketing material. EdUCate! does not accept major event sponsorships from religious and political organizations and candidates for office due to the perceived promotional nature of the recognition. Religious or political organizations and candidates for office are welcome to purchase booths, sponsor games, or donate funds, but recognition of those donations is limited to signage at the individual booth or game, and listing as a donor in appropriate settings.
4. How are donations to EdUCate! different from donations to PTSA/PTAs and the Centurion Foundation?
PTSA/PTAs, the Centurion Foundation and EdUCate! serve complementary functions. PTSA/PTAs support programs at the individual schools they serve, and the Centurion Foundation supports UCHS clubs and athletics departments. EdUCate! receives funding from the broader community, and so can fund larger programs on a consistent basis across all five public schools in University City. In addition, the Board of EdUCate! facilitates communication across schools through the Principals and serves the school’s supplemental needs individually as well as collectively. EdUCate! has also sponsored PTSA/PTA events – e.g. fun runs, etc.
5. How does EdUCate! distribute funds to the UC Cluster schools?
EdUCate! distributes funds to all five UC schools according to school population size and mainly through teacher and principal grants. Teacher grants are typically offered twice a year (once in the Fall and once in the Spring semesters), while Principal grants are provided annually. Teacher grant proposals are submitted to our allocations committee and are ranked according to several criteria, including the number of students served by the grant. EdUCate! seeks to serve the largest number of students each year, without discrimination based on the following actual or perceived characteristics: age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, immigration status, parental status, medical condition, nationality, national origin, actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
General donors and sponsors do not dictate how the funds are used or which students they will serve. Directed donations are accepted only when they fulfill the mission of EdUCate! and cannot be used in a discriminatory fashion (examples of directed donations would be donations for EdUCate!’s Math Academy or a Music Program).
The majority of EdUCate! funds are distributed to schools through teacher and principal grants. It is the front line educators who best know classroom and school needs that determine how EdUCate! funds are used.
6. Who runs EdUCate!?
EdUCate! is entirely run by volunteers. Its activities are overseen by an all-volunteer board of directors, composed of parents, local business owners and other members of the community. Contact us at information@uc-educate.org if you’d like to get involved!