The Jefferson Foundation Funding Application
July 11, 2011: Jefferson Foundation announces continued suspension of general program grantmaking activities
On March 11, 2011, Jeffco Public Schools announced more than $39 million in cuts to schools in the 2011-2012 school year. This reduction is unprecedented in Jeffco’s recent history and will impact every single student, family and school in Jefferson County. Because of significant anticipated shortfalls in state and county K-12 education funding, this is also just the beginning of what will likely be three very difficult years of reductions in Jeffco Public Schools, with estimates of total cuts totaling more than $100 million by 2014.
Since the mission of The Jefferson Foundation is to support Jeffco Public Schools in preparing all students for a successful future, the Board of Directors and the staff of the Foundation believe we must respond to these cuts with strategic purpose. As a result, the Board of Directors has decided to temporarily suspend all general program grantmaking while we assess the needs of students and schools in Jefferson County and how our resources can be leveraged to help.
The Board of Directors of The Jefferson Foundation is working with representatives from Jeffco Public Schools to develop a strategic plan for The Jefferson Foundation that will determine where and how we dedicate our unrestricted resources for the coming years.
In the meantime, funding for literacy-focused projects is still available through the Salazar Literacy Initiative. A total of $100,000 will be awarded to schools and community-based organizations that seek to implement programs that will reduce achievement gaps in reading and writing. The literacy initiative funding application deadline is 5 p.m. on March 30. In addition, Lights On After School funding is still available. Please visit our Special Initiatives and Core Programs web pages to learn more about what we are able to support at this time.
Please contact Katie Tiernan, executive director of The Jefferson Foundation, at katietiernan@jeffersonfoundation.org with any questions.