Spring Branch Education Foundation Ranked No. 1 in the Nation by Recent Annual Study

Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) was ranked number one in the nation among education foundations with $1 million to $1,999,999 in revenues by “Stepping Up: The Top K-12 Education Foundations in the Nation,” the nation’s only annual study that ranks foundations serving kindergarten through 12th-grade (K-12) students.

Though Spring Branch Independent School District is the 193rd largest school district in the study, its education foundation is one of the best, the study revealed. It ranked SBEF 17th in the nation, among all education foundations by size and revenues.

"For our Spring Branch Education Foundation to be recognized as one of the top education foundations in the United States, as well as the lone Texas recipient in the top 25, is an incredible honor,” said Lisa Schwartz, chair of SBEF’s board of Directors. “Our tireless volunteers and Foundation staff are passionate about helping Spring Branch ISD achieve an outstanding educational experience for every student in every classroom in every SBISD school. This award is a true inspiration for all of us."

In the last school year, SBEF awarded more than $1 million to SBISD for education-enhancing projects and scholarships for its students and teachers.

The Stepping Up study includes education foundations in the top 200 largest school districts by student population, as well as other top-performing foundations in smaller districts. The study looks at eight key performance categories to determine the ranking: annual revenues, revenues per student, total assets, assets per student, investment income, total program expenses, expenses per student and human capital (volunteers).

The purpose of the study is to advocate the importance of K-12 education foundations while recognizing those that do it best. “Education foundations are innovating and enhancing public education,” said Dewey Caruthers, president of dewey & associates and study author. “More people should know what their local education foundation is doing to dramatically improve the student learning experience.”

The report describes K-12 education foundations as “a vital, and mostly unrecognized, enhancer of public education—providing programs and scholarships that otherwise would not exist.”

“Stepping Up” was released by dewey & associates, a national management and strategy consulting practice with expertise in youth education issues.

Read story in Education Week >>
Press release >>

About Spring Branch Education Foundation:
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $9 million to the district and received the Houston Business Promise Award from the Greater Houston Partnership. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.