The Wonderful Foundations Story
Wonderful Foundations seeks to change the way kids experience school. Even the most talented teachers cannot effectively educate kids if the learning environment is not sound, safe and supportive. We set out to purchase buildings that house charter schools, and then help them get what they need to become nourishing spaces for education. We offer schools funding to improve their buildings, buy equipment for learning and exploration, and to create spaces where every kid feels encouraged to receive and exchange ideas.
Our approach
We identified a problem with the way schools are funded. When governments pay for public school, they rarely pay 100% of what is needed to maintain the buildings and create opportunities for engaging, well-rounded learning. This forces schools to put energy and resources into fundraising endlessly, year after year. We saw a new, more efficient way for schools to gain the funding they need by creating a partnership between investors, the government and the generosity of the public.
We purchase schools through a unique structure that makes us one of the only publicly traded public charities in existence. With this structure we raise money, and purchase school buildings. We then, eliminate the landlords these schools once paid rent to, and turn the schools into owners with a real stake in their physical spaces. By transforming monthly rent payments into mortgage payments, we create equity for the schools, and generate cash savings. This money, combined with public donations from people like you, is used for essential upgrades that can transform the experiences of the kids who learn there.
Wonderful Foundations by the Numbers
1.3Bn
$ Raised
20
Charter Schools
10,104
Students
Since we raise all the money we need to purchase schools and fund the day-to-day operation of the foundation through our bond offerings, we’re able to use every single dollar we raise from the public to create better learning environments. Each tax-deductible charity donation will go directly towards improving the schools we partner with, impacting the lives of these students for the better.