The mission of the Fort Bend Education Foundation is to provide opportunities to enrich and enhance the quality of education for all Fort Bend ISD students through its grants to teachers and schools programs.
Established in 1992 to benefit the students of Fort Bend ISD, the Fort Bend Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is governed by a volunteer board of directors that includes local business, industry, and community leaders.
Endorsed by FBISD leaders, the Foundation offers the following opportunities for support:
Grants to Teachers Program — supports innovative classroom projects proposed by teachers for which conventional funding is not available. Awards range from $500 – $1500.
School Site Program — offers a maximum of (3) grants per campus ranging from $2,000 (elementary) to $5,000 (secondary) for campus-wide educational improvement opportunities.
Founders Grants — allows funding of larger needs up to $20,000 that are outside the funding limits of Teacher and School Site Grants.
New Teacher Gifts — the Foundation automatically provides teachers, just beginning their teaching career with zero years teaching experience, a tote bag full of supplies to help them outfit their classrooms.
Professional Development Grants — the Fort Bend Education Foundation liaises with FBISD’s Talent & Management Development department to fund nationally recognized speakers in range of educational fields on staff development days.
Who benefits from the fundraising?
Every school in Fort Bend ISD benefits from the Education Foundation grant programs that train teachers, provide equipment, and offer new instructional experiences to students of all ages. Each year, hundreds of grant proposals are submitted to the Education Foundation. Each proposal undergoes an extensive review process. The number of awarded grants depends upon the amount of money raised through the Education Foundation’s annual fundraisers.
With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting every aspect of our lives, the day-to-day functions of the Foundation were not spared. From virtual board meetings to reimagined fundraising events, every aspect had to be rethought. The pandemic changed the way the Foundation interacted with the community in fundraising and the way it communicated with schools and teachers.
In spite of these challenges, the Foundation continued to make significant progress by building the Fort Bend ISD Alumni Association. The Alumni Association is a way to stay connected and engaged in activities that strengthen Fort Bend ISD schools, while providing the Foundation the opportunity to provide meaningful ways to engage and support our alumni. To join the alumni, visit https://fortbendisdalumni.nationbuilder.com/
Through the generous support of our donors and the extraordinary volunteer efforts of our community, the Foundation continued to advance its mission by funding and awarding grants for teachers, school sites, staff development and district-wide programs and initiatives.
With the incredible vision and imagination of the Foundation staff and volunteers, their signature events were reimagined and exceeded fundraising expectations for the year. The 21st Annual Back to School Scramble, 6th Annual Sugar Shindig, 28th Annual Gala and 17th Annual Education Expedition bike ride allowed the Foundation to award a grand total of $650,770 to Fort Bend ISD teachers and schools through its grant programs. This is an incredible achievement given the challenges the past year brought.
Heading into its 29th year, FBEF has awarded nearly $36 million in grants to Fort Bend ISD teachers and schools. Through these grants, the Foundation makes a tangible and long-lasting impact on every student in Fort Bend ISD.
For more information or to donate, visit www.fortbendisd.com/foundation