august 2025 update
last chance for 25-26 school year grants!
Last year McKenny Elementary teacher Sophie Bustetter was awarded a Browsers Books grant from the Foundation to purchase STEM books. She knew the books would enhance her classroom and delight her students. She could not have predicted what a game-changer the books would be for one student in particular. "One of my students was absent a lot last year and did not complete many of the school projects and assignments because of it," Bustetter shared. "We did a science project on an element of our local environment to present to families at STEM Night and this student found a book, which was funded from the grant, that he really enjoyed about Orca whales. He used it to complete a report and made a clay replica of an Orca. His family came the night of the presentation and took pictures. They were very proud and he was too. It was a very special moment." Pictured are some of the projects that students presented at STEM Night last year.
School staff: Let us support you, your students this year!
Attention Olympia School District staff who work directly with students: The second of two opportunities to submit grant requests to the Foundation for the upcoming school year opened this week.
If you are an educator looking to enhance student learning, address opportunity gaps, or meet needs that the district cannot, consult our website to review our grant guidelines, be inspired by applicants who were awarded funds for their projects last year, and access the application. Requests are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. Applicants will know the status of their request by mid-November; funds will be accessible by the end of November.
Thanks to WSECU, Browsers Bookshop and donors, we were able to award nearly $125,000 in grants last year to district staff who work directly with students.
Read the cutline above to learn how a grant awarded to a McKenny Elementary teacher last year supported her classroom -- and helped one student feel more engaged in school and learning.
planned giving
August is 'Make a Will Month'
We know it can feel uncomfortable to think and have conversations about end of life, which likely contributes to the fact that two-thirds of Americans do not have a will. Yet it's the only way to guarantee that the people you love the most are taken care of when you're gone. And having a will in place can provide peace of mind during a difficult time.
A will can also allow you to leave a legacy in your community. By making arrangements to leave a planned gift to a nonprofit that is meaningful to you, you can help ensure that organization's work continues for generations to come.
We are proud to be a Leave 10 South Sound nonprofit champion and encourage you to review their resources if you need help getting started creating a will.
If you have been considering making a will, but aren't sure where to get started, utilize the button below to download a free planned giving guide from our website.
Should you wish to leave a planned gift to the Olympia Education Foundation, you can consult our website for more information.
If you have already included the Foundation in your will, please consider letting us know by contacting Executive Director Katy Johansson at 360.596.6110.
join us oct. 3!
Reserve your seat for our annual breakfast
Our biggest fundraiser of the year, Rise & Shine for Students!, is only about one month away.
The event will begin with a short program, during which you'll hear how your support of our Principal's Emergency Fund, Opportunity Grants and Student & Community Well-Being efforts is helping cultivate student potential in every one of Olympia's public schools.
Stick around after to mingle and enjoy to Ember Goods coffee and Left Bank pastries -- or take yours to go if you need to get on with your day!
We hope to see you at this FREE event on Friday, Oct. 3, which is a non-student day in the district (no school). Donations appreciated.
Interested in volunteering at this event, or know a student who would like to help? Please reach out to us at events@olyedfoundation.org.
ready to volunteer?
Love our mission? Join our Board!
We are looking for new members to join our volunteer Board of Trustees.
Just as we are dedicated to our mission to cultivate student potential, we are committed to including all voices from our community as we work to improve and enrich the programs and services we offer -- and to make the community more aware of them.
If you have a keen interest in the work we do and are ready to roll up your sleeves and help out, we encourage you to apply today! Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions have been filled.
If you have questions, or need access to the application in an alternative format, contact Executive Director Katy Johansson at info@olyedfoundation.org.
sponsor spotlight
Generous donors and sponsors make our work to cultivate student potential possible. We are grateful for our partnership with WSECU, which has provided consistent support to school staff and students -- including the Opportunity Grants mentioned above -- throughout the years.