august 2023 update
leave a legacy
August is 'Make a Will Month'
We know it can feel uncomfortable to think and have conversations about the end of one's life, which likely has something to do with the fact that only about one-third of Americans report having a will. Yet it's the only way to guarantee that the people you love the most are taken care of when you're gone. And having a will in place can provide them peace of mind during a difficult time.
A will can also allow you to leave a legacy in your community. By making arrangements to leave a planned gift to a nonprofit that is meaningful to you, you can help ensure that organization's work continues for generations to come.
If you need help getting started creating a will, please consider reviewing resources provided by Leave 10 South Sound.
And should you wish to leave a planned gift to the Olympia Education Foundation, you can consult our website for more information.
If you have already included the Foundation in your will, please consider letting us know at info@olyedfoundation.org.
join our board!
We are seeking new trustees!
We are looking for new members to join our volunteer Board of Trustees. This is an exciting time to come aboard, with many efforts under way intended to further strengthen our organization, programs and fundraising.
Just as we are committed to our mission to empower every student, we are committed to including all voices from our community to better inform, improve and enrich the programs and services we offer.
In particular, we are looking for people who, in addition to possessing a genuine interest in our nonprofit, have one or more of the following:
professional financial background
professional background in marketing and/or public relations
event planning experience (and a passion for it)
a professional background in mental health
experience in and/or a commitment to diversity, equity and belonging efforts
experience in education (in particular working for the Olympia School District)
community relations experience
lived experiences that will strengthen the work we do to empower every student
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions have been filled.
If you have questions, or need access to the application in an alternative format, contact Executive Director Katy Johansson at info@olyedfoundation.org.
our breakfast is back
Get your tickets!
Tickets are now available for our free annual breakfast, which will feature Left Bank pastries Ember Goods coffee, as well as a short program about the work we do to empower students. We'll also honor this year's Hecks' Hero, Students' Champion, and Friend of the Foundation.
Look for an email early next month with more details!
In the meantime, if you are interested in volunteering, sponsoring, attending or organizing a group to attend with you, contact events@olyedfoundation.org today!
apply today
Students at ORLA were excited to receive new library books last year -- thanks to a grant from the Foundation.
2023-2024 grants now available!
We are now accepting Grant Requests for the 23-24 school year from district staff who work directly with students.
Subject to available funds, there will be three application periods this year. Deadlines for each are as follows: Sept. 29, Nov. 21 and Feb. 16.
Guidelines, key dates, summaries of grants awarded in 22-23, and the application for all 23-24 Grant Requests can be found here.
Funding is available for:
Teaching & Learning Grants,* which support educators seeking to enhance student learning, close opportunity gaps, and meet needs that the district and individual school buildings cannot. Maximum amount granted per request: $2,000.
Browsers Books Grants, which support the establishment or expansion of classroom and school libraries. Maximum amount granted per request: $500. Funding is extremely limited; apply early! (All books must be purchased through downtown Oly's Browsers, which offers a generous discount to educators.)
Social Emotional Learning & Mental Health Grants, which support counselors, social workers, behavior techs, and restorative justice centers, and must specifically address SEL and mental health. Maximum amount granted: $2,000 (except sensory tools, which are a maximum of $500 per school per year).
Diversity Equity & Belonging (DEB) Grants, which support DEB opportunities that the district, individual school buildings, or parent organizations cannot. Funding is extremely limited; apply early!
To be considered during the first of three anticipated application periods:
Grant Requests must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. Applicants will be notified by no later than Friday, Oct. 20, of the status of their request. (Key dates for all application periods are posted on our website.)
If you were awarded funding in previous years, you must have submitted a complete Post-Grant Report before any new requests will be reviewed.
*Grants are limited only by the applicant's creativity and the needs of their students. However, the Foundation does NOT consider requests for the following: sports uniforms; leases (e.g., printers, copiers, etc.); school or science fair supplies to be distributed building-wide; professional development opportunities; technology and curriculum requests that have not received prior approval from appropriate district staff.
sponsor spotlight
Special thanks to TAGS Awards & Specialties for designing and donating awards for this year's Olympia Education Foundation Scramble. We appreciate you!