About the parent organization
The Carlsbad Educational Foundation
The Foundation is the nonprofit behind Kids Are Worth A Million — and the steward of the money the campaign raises for Carlsbad classrooms.
Two organizations, one purpose
Kids Are Worth A Million is a fundraising campaign of the Carlsbad Educational Foundation. The Foundation raises and distributes the money; the campaign gives that work a public face, a single goal, and a calendar of events the whole city can join.
A public relations firm, sustained media coverage, and access to thousands of Carlsbad businesses and homes helped the campaign reach donors the Foundation could not have reached alone.
What the Foundation does
- Raises funds from corporations, service clubs, civic organizations, PTAs, local merchants, and individual benefactors.
- Reviews technology grant applications from Carlsbad Unified staff and schools, then sets the terms and conditions of each award.
- Funds school-wide infrastructure such as local area networks and computer labs, alongside smaller classroom projects.
- Documents and evaluates funded projects so the community can see what was built.
How decisions are made
Applications must be typed, clearly state the equipment needed, and explain how the technology will change what students can do. Each application requires the principal’s signature, and final funding decisions rest solely with the Foundation, which may also set conditions or limitations on an award.
The Foundation may partially fund a request, so applicants are asked to prioritise their needs.
Who governs the Foundation
A volunteer board of Carlsbad residents and school leaders governs the Foundation, with an executive director managing the campaign day to day. The 2000 board roster lists the officers and directors who served during the campaign year covered by this archive.
Working with the district
The campaign is built on a close relationship with the Carlsbad Unified School District: its superintendent and principals defined the technology need, its staff write the grant proposals, and its schools host the events. All ten Carlsbad Unified schools benefit.
Where to go next
- What the campaign funded — the classroom and school-wide results.
- Grant information — who could apply and what reviewers looked for.
- Sponsors and partners — how businesses took part.
- Ways to give — the channels the campaign used.