Removing Barriers

“We envision a District where all students can thrive, regardless of their family’s financial situation”
– Anthony Moran, Northshore Schools Foundation Board President 2019-21

We believe that all students deserve the opportunity to achieve academic growth regardless of their abilities, learning style, cultural background or economic circumstances. Personalized student support removes barriers to student learning that cannot be funded by public dollars. Needed resources are offered to students experiencing economic challenges and crises. Programs include Opportunity Fund, Basic Needs Aid, Homelessness Services, School Supply Kits, and Student Meals.

Opportunity Fund

“There are other students in our District who, like me, just need help to overcome financial barriers. Without you, I wouldn’t have had an opportunity to go to nationals.” – Diandre, 2020

The Foundation’s Opportunity Fund provides funding for programs, services, and fees that students need to reach their full potential. We believe that all students should have access to the opportunities that they earn regardless of financial resources. Our commitment to equity ensures that students can receive support for personal needs, classroom needs, activity fees, clothing and shoes, field trips, class activity fees, transportation, ASB cards, college in the high school credits, competition or conference participation, and more. Your donation helps more students reach their full potential.

Basic Needs Aid

When a family is in crisis, normal household activities are disrupted. Students experience distress that affects their attendance, coursework, and classroom behavior. Basic Needs Aid offers a small amount of financial support as a short-term solution to help restore normalcy to a student’s life during an immediate crisis. Families can buy basic supplies like groceries or fuel for the car and be able to direct energy where it is most needed: finding a permanent solution to their current situation.

Homelessness

“This family is struggling. They need help figuring out how to get their kids [the students] back into school. They’re living in their small car. They’re eating minimally, not sleeping well. The kids are helping mom with emotional support.”

Did you know that every year more than 200 Northshore students experience homelessness? With your help, funds can be made available to students who are experiencing homelessness in our District. Funds are administered by NSD’s homeless coordinator.

School Supply Kits

“It touched my heart to see the smile on those little kids’ faces and their relief that they wouldn’t have to go to school differently than any other child. It was a beautiful thing to watch.”  – Ilana, 2019 Backpacks for Kids

For many families, a new school year brings additional worries over how they will pay for essential school supplies. Whether working in the classroom or from home, students need essential supplies such as pencils, highlighters, paper, folders, color pencils or pens, and more. Your financial contributions provide these in-home supply kits for students in need.

The Northshore Schools Foundation is here to help you! If you are experiencing financial limitations, the Foundation would like to provide your Northshore student with a backpack and or school supply kit for the 2024-2025 school year.

Please email: info@nsdfoundation.org

Student Meals

“We can all agree that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, all children should have the basic nutrition they need to learn and grow and to pursue their dreams, because, in the end, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children.” – Michelle Obama

State funds provide subsidized school breakfast and lunches for students who cannot afford the full cost. However, when a family is in crisis, they often cannot afford the balance, resulting in debt and additional worries. Foundation supporters provide funds to bridge the gap, covering remaining balances in school breakfast and lunch accounts. Your donations ensure that all students get a healthy breakfast and lunch to help them focus on their studies.

Northshore Music Partners

The Foundation works in partnership with Northshore Music Partners to increase student participation in music by providing instruments for students in need and to assist in providing new instruments to classrooms.

You can help by making a donation to fund the repair and refurbishment of donated instruments and to support grant requests for music in our schools Funding musical instruments for class use with the support of the Foundation.

Or you can donate gently used instruments to be refurbished for student use.  Instrument donations are also tax deductible. Contact Patsy@Nsdfoundation.org to arrange pick up or sponsor a donation drive of your own.

You can support student music education!

View our 2019 Cloud Concert

Can’t find what you need? Please email us at info@nsdfoundation.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Books

In March of 2020, with school buildings and libraries closed, many students didn’t have access to the wide variety of books needed to build strong readers. A group of volunteers started a book drive and ultimately, they put 23,000 books in the hands of Northshore Kids

Even as libraries and schools opened back up, the demand for books has not gone away. The Foundation receives dozens of requests for books each year, so we are continuing our book drive to provide books for Northshore classrooms or student programs as needed.

Contact info@nsdfoundation.org to request donated books.

Thank you to our 2022 Funding Area Sponsors

Chick-fil-a Bothell Sponsor of Northshore Schools Foundation
PacMed Sponsor