SVEF believes that every child deserves an inspiring education that challenges the mind and opens opportunities for the future.
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Our MissionSVEF strives to help every student find inspiration and success in the classroom and to graduate well prepared for college and a career.
The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation exists to cultivate community support and raise funds to benefit the Sonoma Valley Unified School District in enabling the potential of every student. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & InclusionAs a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the quality of life in our community, it is essential that we confront the effects of racism and discrimination, accept that we have work to do and recognize that we bear collective responsibility for dismantling systemic racism and injustice in our community. Therefore, we are committing to:
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Grants & FundingWhile we are an independent foundation, we work with the Sonoma Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) to determine where and how to implement programs that have a broad and measurable impact on student success. We also administer grants at the campus, classroom, and individual levels. Our funding is directed through these specific channels:
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Major Program Grants
Our largest grants support high-impact, multi-year programs throughout the school district. These grants address clear, measurable objectives with the potential for significant impact on student outcomes, along with strong support from district and program personnel. Examples: Preschool for All and Summer Literacy Academy. Classroom Grants One-time grants of up to $500 that support instruction, curriculum, or special projects. Teachers and staff are encouraged to apply to serve a need outside the normal operating budgets of the schools and and that will benefit a number of students, possibly across future years. Examples from 2019 include include materials for students at Creekside High School to participate in a “Budget Challenge” to simulate the real world of bills and financial responsibility; a collaboration between SVHS’s Agriculture and Culinary programs to teach “Whole Animal Butchery”; a set of Google cardboard virtual reality headsets for Geography students to take students on virtual field trips; and a green screen production and animation studio for middle schoolers. Principal Grants Grants of up to $1,500 per school to support school-specific initiatives not covered by program and classroom grants and are outside the normal operating budget of the school. PTO Grants Grants of up to $1,500 made to school PTOs organizing volunteers for SVEF’s Red & White Ball in August of each year. College Scholarships $1500 scholarships awarded to two college-bound students in the Engineering, Design and Technology pathway. Student Internships Paid summer internships at SVEF to support SVEF programming and event planning. Sponsorships SVEF provides sponsorship funding for the Student Films program at the SV International Film Festival, and the SV Authors Festival Student Day author presentations at SVHS and Adele and Altimira Middle Schools. Donor-Directed Grants Grants restricted by a donor for specific programs outside our regular programs or classroom grants. |
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Our HistorySVEF was founded in 1993 by five public school parents seeking to support and enhance their students’ educational opportunities. SVEF began by providing grants to teachers and administrators, and sponsoring community initiatives, such as family night at the local library branch and school orientations for Latino families. Throughout 26 years of providing support to SVUSD schools, SVEF has invested over $20 million dollars in Sonoma Valley public schools.
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Our Programs
Preschool for All
Children ages 3-5 participate in high-quality learning experiences focusing on all areas of learning: physical, cognitive, social, emotional, language, and literacy. Students learn the social and academic skills necessary to be successful students: how to listen well, share, participate, compromise, be respectful of others, and problem solve. Children who receive high-quality preschool education enter kindergarten with pre-reading skills, rich vocabularies, strong basic math skills, and are ready to learn.
For a more in-depth understanding of our preschool program, watch our video:
For a more in-depth understanding of our preschool program, watch our video:
Summer Literacy Academy
The Summer Literacy Academy serves 300 K-3rd-grade students from all five elementary schools who are performing below grade level in reading achievement and at risk of falling farther behind. The program includes evidence-based materials allowing targeted instruction of the earliest foundational reading skills of phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency. The instructional design assures for small group instruction of these skills. The leveled curricular materials allows each child to be instructed at their current reading level.
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