The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia Unveils Innovative Tool to Make it Easier to Support Public Schools

Philly FUNDamentals, a new web-based platform, allows donors to give directly to a school and project of their choice

PHILADELPHIA—The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia (the Fund) is proud to launch Philly FUNDamentals, an innovative web-based giving platform that seeks to strengthen all Philadelphia public schools. The School District of Philadelphia is one of the first in the nation to use such an approach to help individual schools raise money to meet their specific needs.

“Each school community is unique, with its own set of needs and challenges,” said Dr. William R. Hite, Superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia. “Philly FUNDamentals will allow us to help tackle the inequity we see in education today by ensuring students have the targeted resources they need to succeed, no matter where they live or what their background may be. We are excited about giving the alumni of Philadelphia schools and all others the opportunity to contribute to our schools as an important part of our overall effort to improve educational experiences all across the District.”

“Alongside the business community, local philanthropic sector, and Philadelphia’s public-school administrators, teachers and students, the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia is thrilled to announce this new way to contribute to our city’s public schools,” said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, President and CEO of the Fund.

Philly FUNDamentals allows each public school in Philadelphia to raise money for a project or purchase of its choice. The schools are plotted out on a map, and donors can search the site to find profile of each one. School profiles include a message from the principal, a description of the need, school performance information, plus demographics of the student body and their families. After learning more about the school, donors can give directly toward the cost of the project or purchase.

“We listened to our donors’ requests for greater transparency and quicker return on investment, and we believe Philly FUNDamentals delivers both,” said Frisby-Greenwood. “Not only does it foster a sense of comfort among donors, but it also gives our schools a larger stake in the fundraising process.”

While fundraising through the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia has traditionally been focused on district-wide initiatives, FUNDamentals is a school-level solution to address school-wide needs. FUNDamentals gives donors a chance to connect directly to a school and to know how their contributions will be used, which our stakeholder research show is what they want.

“Philly FUNDamentals offers an innovative way to further success in our schools,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Donors can easily adopt a particular school or project. This new tool is valuable to our city because it promotes meaningful engagement with schools, and, most importantly, gives students more opportunities and resources to learn.”

“From the perspective of Philadelphia’s business community, Philly FUNDamentals is an outstanding opportunity to sponsor schools in the neighborhoods we serve as well as City-wide,” said David Feldman, executive director, The Development Workshop. “Companies large and small can use the site to find a school or initiative that fits their own mission and priorities, and lend support to deserving students in Philadelphia.”

“We are so energized by this new invitation for all prospective donors to make a connection with a school or project,” said Sidney R. Hargro, executive director of the Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia. “Philly FUNDamentals is leading the way in engaging the community and creating long-lasting, personalized support of the School District of Philadelphia.”

Visit Philly FUNDamentals online at thefundsdp.org.