What is the Victoria ISD Education Foundation

The VISD Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves as a link between the school district and our community.  Led by a volunteer board of directors, the Foundation raises monies to fund projects that exceed state mandates to provide learning experiences that motivate our students and further their education.  The mission of the Foundation is to generate and distribute resources to VISD that enrich teaching, inspire learning and enhance opportunities for students to become contributing members of our society.

The Foundation does not replace lost state funding or take the place of the district's operating budget, but does provide monies for those projects and activities that go beyond the normal classroom experience.  Every one of VISD’s 27 campuses has received money from the Foundation.

The Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser is the benefit concert.  Past concerts include 1964: A Beatles Tribute, Three Dog Night, Creedence Clearwater Revisited and Night Ranger.  This year’s concert, featuring Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles, took place at the VISD Fine Arts Center in February 2019.

What does the Foundation fund?

The VISD Education Foundation uses proceeds raised through the Kids & Classrooms Concert to fund a variety of projects that benefit VISD students.

The Foundation underwrites Grants for Great Ideas, an innovative grant program specifically for VISD that funds classroom and school projects teachers create to enhance student learning.  Since the program’s inception in 2009, $365,439 has been awarded to over 136 projects impacting 64,270 students!  The Foundation is the only nonprofit organization in Victoria that has a significant influence in the academic lives of children.

In August 2018, the Foundation awarded $53,564 to a variety of project types that ranged from advanced technology such as iPads, electronic readers, calculators with navigation systems and wireless transmitters, and interactive touch screens to robotics kits, software, books for classroom libraries, and Drum Fit program for physical education.

In addition to grant funding, the VISD Education Foundation also awards scholarships to graduating seniors and sponsors a student leadership scholarship.  The Foundation has partnered with Victoria College and the Victoria College Foundation to expand postsecondary opportunities for VISD students by offering tuition costs for dual credit courses at a reduced rate.  Monies are also distributed to first-time teachers for supplies needed to create a stimulating learning environment in their classrooms.