About Us
Rooted in community, the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation helps create a school experience that uplifts every student. Operating independently from Bellingham Public Schools, our work supports a shared commitment to expand opportunity and success for all.
Our Mission
We raise funds and steward community resources so every child feels healthy, engaged, supported and challenged.
Our Values
We believe every student deserves access to the resources and experiences that make learning meaningful. Guided by equity, collaboration, and community trust, we invest in what students need to learn, grow, and succeed.
Our Vision
We, as a community, make a collective commitment to Bellingham’s children. We will empower every child to discover and develop a passion, contribute to their community, and achieve a fulfilling and productive life.
Supporting the Bellingham Promise
The Bellingham Promise is the guiding vision of Bellingham Public Schools, reflecting our community’s shared commitment to ensuring every student is cared for, challenged, and inspired to lead a meaningful life. Centered around equity, whole-child development, and lifelong learning, the Promise outlines values and outcomes that go beyond academics—developing students as readers and writers, artists and scientists, leaders and compassionate community members.
The Bellingham Public Schools Foundation helps bring this vision to life by funding the “extras” that make public education exceptional. Our work supports the four key strategies outlined in the Promise:
- A One Schoolhouse Approach, ensuring equitable access to opportunities across all schools
- Innovation and Flexibility, fueling creative programs and new ideas in classrooms
- Early Childhood Education, giving the youngest learners a strong start
- Student, Family and Community Engagement, strengthening connections that support every child
Our History
The Bellingham Public Schools Foundation was founded in 1993 by community members who wanted to give local students opportunities beyond what public funding could provide. In its early years, it was managed entirely by volunteers, laying the groundwork for the support it offers today.
After a period of dormancy, the Foundation was revitalized when Superintendent Dr. Greg Baker joined the district in 2010. With renewed leadership, the first Executive Director was hired, and the Foundation began to grow—expanding its donor base, launching new initiatives, and steadily increasing its impact on students and schools across Bellingham.
Why Do We Need a Foundation?
Bellingham student success rests on the stability of four key partners in education: state funding, bonds and levies, PTA/PTO/PTSA groups, and the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation. Each plays a unique role in ensuring our students have what they need to thrive.
PTAs/PTOs/PTSAs focus on enriching individual schools and fostering community. Bonds and levies fund essential operations, maintenance, and capital projects. State funding provides the foundation of basic education. The Bellingham Public Schools Foundation complements these efforts, serving as a reliable source of funds and stability in times of need through annual giving and well-managed endowments. The Foundation can greatly augment the student experience by helping to fully deliver on the promise of an excellent education for all.
In concert with Bellingham Public Schools, the Foundation:
- Supports the community’s interest and investment in public schools by articulating giving opportunities that align with district priorities, and cultivating support for new and/or unmet needs.
- Acts as an agent for reducing the achievement gap by recognizing and addressing disparities between district schools and aligning funding with need.
- Creates functional partnerships with other community organizations with similar interests to increase cooperation and support, reducing redundancy and confusion.
So often in education, we have to say, “I’m so sorry, we can’t do that.” To be able to say “Yes, we can help you!” is a gift to us, as much as it is to the family we are able to support. On a personal note, it reminds me that there are still good people in the world, who are grateful for their own good fortune and choose to give back to others. Anything that renews my faith in humanity, especially in dark and uncertain times, gives me the strength and optimism to continue this difficult, often-heartbreaking work year after year.
Beth B., School Counselor