Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel

FAQ

  1. What is the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel?
  2. What does EFKA do?
  3. What has EFKA accomplished to date?
  4. What are EFKA’s future goals?
  5. What are the differences and similarities between EFKA and our school PTAs?
  6. How is EFKA governed, staffed, and organized?
  7. What portion of donated funds go to EFKA programs and grants?
  8. What is the size of EFKA’s operating budget?
  9. Why do RSU#21 schools need additional resources?
  10. How does EFKA raise money?

  1. What is the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel?

    The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel— EFKA— is an independent, non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization founded in 2006 to enrich the public schools in the Kennebunks and Arundel. The Foundation helps foster innovation, creativity, and academic excellence by channeling private funds into areas that fall outside the school budget.

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  2. What does EFKA do?

    • brings new ideas, pilot programs, people, and opportunities into the schools.
    • funds enrichment programs for students that engage, challenge, inspire, and prepare them for the 21st century.
    • funds professional development for RSU#21 staff
    • builds community awareness of accomplishments occurring in the schools
    • supports innovative ideas by providing feedback, encouragement, networking assistance, and financial support to individuals submitting proposals
    • combines the ability to work within the school system with the capacity to raise public monies

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  3. What has EFKA accomplished to date?

    Since June 2006 the Foundation has invested more than $965,000 in the six schools of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel. Grant funds were provided for student enrichment and professional development. Click on program Highlights for examples of Foundation-sponsored projects.

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  4. What are EFKA’s future goals?

    EFKA’s mission is to enhance educational excellence. The Board and committees identified several priorities, including: 1) Fully integrate all three communities into the Foundation’s work; 2) Support the efforts of the RSU#21 School Board to build community awareness of accomplishments within the district; 3) Strengthen the organization by addressing long-term fundraising needs and enhancing the quality and relevance of proposals.

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  5. What are the differences and similarities between EFKA and our school PTAs/PTOs?

    Similarities

    • Both enrich local education, assist educators, and strengthen relationships among schools, parents, and the community.
    • Both are governed by volunteer boards and staffed by volunteer members.
    • Both raise funds for programs that could not otherwise be offered under the limited school budgets.

    Differences

    • EFKA’s mission is tightly focused on programs that strengthen educational excellence, and requests for EFKA grants are assessed using established criteria. The PTAs’/PTOs’ mandates enable them to fund not only academic programs but also non-academic items such as emergency communications equipment and playground structures. 
    • EFKA serves all six RSU#21 schools, whereas the schools are served by four separate PTAs/PTOs: Arundel PTA, Kennebunk Elementary PTA (serving KES and SRS), Kennebunk Consolidated PTA, and Middle School of the Kennebunks PTO.
    • EFKA raises funds from foundations, businesses, and individual donors. The PTAs/PTOs raise funds through membership dues and through social events designed to increase parent involvement in the public schools.

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  6. How is EFKA governed, staffed, and organized?

    The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors who meet monthly. We have no office space or paid staff. All work is conducted by volunteers. EFKA has four committees, which meet monthly. Interested volunteers may serve on a committee, work on special events, or contribute in another capacity.

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  7. What portion of donated funds go to EFKA programs and grants?

    86% of Foundation funds go directly to grants for educational programs and professional development. We remain committed to directing the maximum amount of our funds to programs. We have no paid staff or office space.

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  8. What is the size of the EFKA’s operating budget?

    The budget has grown each year. Funds raised in one year may be expended in the same or the next fiscal year. Generally, the Foundation makes $100,000 in grants each school year.

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  9. Why do RSU#21 schools need additional resources?

    Shrinking federal and state funding over the last fifteen years has posed significant challenges to public education, severely limiting the opportunities to fund innovative and creative programs. Although EFKA cannot fill all of the gaps, it can cushion the blow and help maintain quality in a difficult period.

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  10. How does EFKA raise money?

    Funds are raised from business sponsors, from private foundations and generous individuals, and from community members by direct appeals and through community-wide educational and social events.

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