Foundation for Orange County Public Schools Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION FOR ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IDENTIFIES, DEVELOPS AND FOCUSES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND INVESTMENT TO LEAD STUDENTS TO SUCCESS. OUR PURPOSE IS INVESTING IN CHILDREN TODAY TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY TOMORROW. AS THE DESIGNATED DIRECT-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD OF ORANGE COUNTY, FL, WE SERVE AS THE PHILANTHROPIC ARM OF THE DISTRICT, FACILITATING A WIDE RANGE OF DONOR INTENT FROM INNOVATION FOR A SINGLE SCHOOL OR PROGRAM THROUGH SCALING TO DISTRICTWIDE INITIATIVES. WE FOCUS ON ENSURING LEARNING READINESS, INVESTING IN TEACHERS AND STAFF, ACCELERATING STUDENT SUCCESS, PROMOTING SUCCESS AFTER OCPS, AND DRIVING COMMUNITY COLABORATION.
- Income
- $7.0 million
- Spending
- $7.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 28
- Highest pay
- $30,000, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 62 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 61% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 28 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $869,607 spent. THE FOUNDATION TEAM MANAGED A LARGE GRANT FROM ORANGE COUNTY: $869,607 FOR ALGEBRA I LEARNING LOSS RECOVERY. THE GRANT PROVIDED SUPPORT BY LOWERING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN 19 ALGEBRA I CLASSROOMS AT 10 HIGH SCHOOLS DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, ALLOWING EACH STUDENT TO RECEIVE MORE DEDICATED INSTRUCTION.
- $815,334 spent. THE FOUNDATION TEAM IS MANAGING A LARGE GRANT FROM ORANGE COUNTY: $1,696,912 OVER THREE YEARS FOR STUDENT INTERNSHIPS IN CONCERT WITH CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (FY2025 WAS YEAR 2). THIS GRANT PROVIDES TRAINING, PREPARATION AND PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENTS, GIVING THEM HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN THE PRACTICAL WORK OF A HIGH-INTEREST CAREER AREA, AS WELL AS REAL-WORLD, REAL-TIME EXPERIENCE IN THE SOFT SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN ANY CAREER.
- $554,016 spent. TEACHER IMPACT GRANTSTHIS YEAR, TEACHERS WERE INVITED TO APPLY FOR MORE THAN $445,000 TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM PROJECTS IN THE FALL. GRANT AMOUNTS RANGE FROM $250 TO $15,000, AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR K-12 MATH, SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND OTHER STEM PROJECTS AS WELL AS VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS. JUDGING TOOK PLACE IN LATE SEPTEMBER. FUNDS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO WINNING PROJECTS IN EARLY OCTOBER.FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION OFFERED ANOTHER $100,000 IN TEACHER GRANTS FOR ARTS PROGRAMS THIS SPRING. THIS BRINGS THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION'S TWO-YEAR INVESTMENT IN TEACHER GRANTS FOR ARTS PROGRAMS ALONE TO $430,000. APPLICATIONS WERE SOLICITED FROM ARTS TEACHERS AND GUIDANCE ON WRITING A STRONG APPLICATION WAS OFFERED; WINNERS WERE SELECTED DURING SPRING BREAK, AND SURPRISE VISITS TO WINNING TEACHERS WERE COORDINATED FROM THE END OF MARCH THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL.
- $4.3 million spent. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION. THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST. FOR MORE DETAILS, PLEASE REFER TO THE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS IN THE FOUNDATION'S AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.READ2SUCCEED READ2SUCCEED IS AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS DEVELOP READING SKILLS REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND TO BE PREPARED FOR THE MODERN WORLD. THE PROGRAM OFFERED INDIVIDUALIZED READING INSTRUCTION TO 5,144 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND GRADE AT 120 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. OF THOSE FOR WHOM DATA WERE AVAILABLE, STUDENTS IMPROVED AS FOLLOWS: KINDERGARTEN: 88% GAINED MASTERY FROM BEGINNING TO END-OF-YEAR SIPPS ASSESSMENTS. FIRST GRADE: 99% SHOWED GROWTH FROM VOCABULARY PRE-TEST TO POST-TEST SCORES. SECOND GRADE: 95.6% SHOWED GROWTH FROM FLUENCY PRE-TEST TO POST-TEST SCORES.CITY YEAR ORLANDO CITY YEAR AMERICORPS MEMBERS PROVIDED ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ATTENDANCE MONITORING AND ACTIVITIES LIKE ASSEMBLIES AND CELEBRATIONS THAT IMPROVE THE OVERALL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AT EIGHT SCHOOLS: CATALINA AND ECCLESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS; MEADOWBROOK, MEMORIAL AND WALKER MIDDLE SCHOOLS; AND EVANS, JONES AND OAK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOLS. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM AT WALKER. ECO CLUBS THROUGH SINGLE- AND MULTI-YEAR GRANTS, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS ECO CLUB, AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR MILLENNIA GARDENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND LAKE GEORGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM IS LED BY DEDICATED TEACHERS WHO EMPOWER STUDENTS AND STAFF, EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY, AND MAKE STEWARDSHIP OF EARTH A PRIORITY THROUGH HANDS-ON PROJECTS AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. MANY STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING POVERTY OR HOMELESSNESS, OR LIVE IN HOTELS OR OTHER LOW-COST HOUSING; MOST DO NOT HAVE A BACKYARD TO EXPERIENCE NATURE. IN ECO CLUB, STUDENTS SEE FIRSTHAND RESULTS OF THEIR WORK, SUCH AS GROWING HYDROPONIC ROMAINE LETTUCE AND FEEDING IT TO RESCUED MANATEES AND SEA TURTLES AT SEAWORLD; HARVESTING HONEY FROM ON-CAMPUS APIARIES TO SHARE WITH SCHOOL FAMILIES AND HELP INJURED ANIMALS AT SEAWORLD; GROWING FOOD THEY TURN INTO DELICIOUS DISHES TO PROUDLY SERVE THEIR PARENTS; PLANTING GARDENS TO ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES; CARING FOR "FLASH", THEIR ADOPTED GOPHER TORTOISE (THREATENED STATUS); AND LEADING RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING INITIATIVES. EDUCATIONAL TRIPS TO EVERGLADES STATE PARK, SEAWORLD, AND WEKIWA STATE PARK EXPAND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN FLORIDA. ECO CLUB ESTABLISHES A CULTURE OF CONSERVATION AWARENESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP WITHIN THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.ASSESSMENT DATA CONSISTENTLY INDICATE THAT ECO CLUB PARTICIPATION INCREASES ON-GRADE-LEVEL PROFICIENCY FOR MATH IN ALL GRADE LEVELS AT HIGHER RATES THAN THOSE FOR ALL OTHER STUDENTS IN THE STATE, COUNTY AND SCHOOL, WITH SIMILARLY STRONG RESULTS FOR ELA PROFICIENCY.CHILL THE FOUNDATION SECURED MORE THAN $436,000 IN GRANT FUNDING FROM THE WINTER PARK HEALTH FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT THE CHILL (COMMUNITY HEALTH AND INTERVENTION IN LIFE'S LESSONS) PROGRAM. CHILL PROVIDED A LICENSED OR LICENSED-ELIGIBLE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR TO AUDUBON K8, GLENRIDGE AND MAITLAND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOL AND ITS NINTH GRADE CENTER. CHILL COUNSELORS OFFERED SERVICES IN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SESSIONS. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: APPROXIMATELY 400 STUDENTS WERE REFERRED FOR CHILL SERVICES 220 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY SERVICES IN INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS CHILL COUNSELORS HELD APPROXIMATELY 1,375 INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS 205 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GROUP SERVICES 254 GROUP SESSIONS PROVIDED DURING THE YEARRESILIENCY FUNDINGTHE FOUNDATION SECURED MORE THAN $358,000 IN GRANT FUNDING FOR STUDENT RESILIENCY PROJECTS, DIRECTLY IMPACTING 9,700 STUDENTS AND SUPPORTING STUDENT SERVICES, PARENT ACADEMY, ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY, AND ATHLETICS AND WELLNESS. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED INCLUDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAVEL, PRINTING OF RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS, GENWOW AND PEACE AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE TRAINING AND EVENTS, BOOKS, SUPPLIES FOR ZEN ZONES AT ALL 23 HIGH SCHOOLS, AND MORE.BOBBIE LYTLE OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARD AND ENDOWMENTA LIFELONG EDUCATOR, BOBBIE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AT DOMMERICH AND BROOKSHIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. HER INFECTIOUS SMILE AND LOVE OF LEARNING ENCOURAGED CHILDREN TO EXTEND THEIR CURIOSITY INTO ALL AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE. WHETHER IT WAS STORYTELLING, CREATING A HOLIDAY COOKBOOK FOR PARENTS, OR FABULOUS ART PROJECTS, SHE MADE SURE HER STUDENTS' ABILITIES SHONE BRIGHTLY. IN 2022, HER FAMILY ESTABLISHED THIS ENDOWMENT IN HER MEMORY, PROVIDING GENEROUS CASH AWARDS FOR A TEACHER AT EACH SCHOOL WHERE BOBBIE SPENT HER CAREER. ALL MEMBERS OF THE TWO SCHOOLS' COMMUNITIES FACULTY, STAFF, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND NEIGHBORS MAY NOMINATE TEACHERS. NEW SCHOLARSHIP FUNDSTHE FOUNDATION TEAM HELPED DEVELOP FIVE NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS:CHARLOTTE RATH SCHOLARSHIP FUND: IN COLLABORATION WITH ME & MYCOMMUNITY, THIS SCHOLARSHIP WILL PROVIDE $2,500 TO QUALIFYING OCPS GRADUATING SENIORS WHO COMPLETE THE ME & MYCOMMUNITY PROGRAM. QUALIFIED STUDENTS WILL DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, DRIVE, INTEGRITY AND WORK ETHIC.TOM MOORE UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND: THE MOORE FAMILY ESTABLISHED THIS SCHOLARSHIP IN LOVING MEMORY OF BELOVED TEACHER TOM MOORE, WHO LOST HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER AT AGE 55. QUALIFIED STUDENTS MUST BE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE SENIORS AT UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL WITH A PASSION FOR THE FINE ARTS, A STRONG WORK ETHIC, AND A SUPPORTIVE, COLLABORATIVE AND KIND MANNER TO OTHER STUDENTS.GEORGE WALTER BROWN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND: SCHOLARSHIPS ARE FOR JONES HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO HAVE OVERCOME SOCIOECONOMIC DISADVANTAGES TO BECOME RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR POTENTIAL TO GROW ACADEMICALLY AND MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE GREATER GOOD.HURD FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FUND: SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AWARDED TO WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO ENROLL FULL-TIME AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, DRIVE, IN
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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