Demopolis City Schools Foundation

Using $2,000 in seed money from the
Alabama Power Foundation, the local
education fund soon drew the financial
support of businesses and individuals
in the community

Demopolis residents vitally interested in the health and continued improvement of Demopolis City Schools formed The Demopolis City Schools Foundation, Inc. in the summer of 1993.

The non-profit, private Foundation was a natural offshoot of the organization formed to help raise money to complete the new Demopolis High School. Using $2,000 in seed money from the Alabama Power Foundation's Alabama Education Initiative, the local education fund soon drew the financial support of businesses and individuals in the community.

The Demopolis City Schools Foundation, Inc. is designed to foster and promote excellence within the Demopolis public school system. It is an active organization that provides the resources needed to effectively influence the success of all students in Demopolis City Schools.

Organizers believed their efforts toward educational enhancement should go directly into the classrooms. Within months of being formed, the Foundation was able to award its first mini-grants to teachers in the school system -- $3,096 worth of equipment and programs, which could not be funded through traditional means. Grant amounts through September 2010 total $806,000.

In addition, The Foundation has been the vehicle for contributions to special projects, including Dual Enrollment Scholarships with the Demopolis Higher Education Center, Bucks for Books for the DHS library and money earmarked for tennis courts and upgrades to the auditorium. The Foundation also has worked with the Demopolis City Schools system to back two Qualified Zone Academy Bonds worth $1.8 million.

Each year The Foundation sponsors Schoolfest at all four campuses, and all proceeds are used for grants. The Foundation holds other fund-raisers as needed. An ongoing source of income is Tiger Court, a courtyard of engraved pavers at the high school dedicated in October of 2006.

By far the greatest financial support for The Foundation comes from the hundreds of private donors and area businesses that realize the importance in investing in public education for the economic, social and cultural well being of the west Alabama.

Foundation members are honored each summer with an Appreciation Celebration, at which time major contributors are recognized with special awards.

Levels of giving include: Member, $30; Sustainer, $100; Partner, $500; Patron, $1,000; Executive, $5,000, and Chair, $25,000. Those contributing on a level of Patron or above are recognized permanently with their names engraved on plaques displayed on the Wall of Honor at DHS.

Foundation investors have the option of choosing any number of ways to take advantage of planned giving opportunities, including contributions of securities, personal property and real estate, as well as making The Foundation the beneficiary of insurance policies or in wills or trust arrangements.

To make sure The Foundation's mission continues, the Board of Directors established the Grant Endowment Fund, which now totals about $599,000. The Board of Directors has set a Grant Endowment "Hallelujah" Goal of $1 million. The principle in the Endowment is never touched. Interest on the funds is pooled with money from other projects to provide for grants.

Contributors of $5,000 or more may choose to honor someone with the creation of a named endowment, which becomes part of the Grant Endowment Fund but is recognized separately. Twenty-seven named endowments benefit the Foundation.

The Foundation is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors. A part-time executive director is hired to coordinate activities.

Tax dollars are used to pay for basic schooling.
The Demopolis City Schools Foundation offers the difference
between adequate and excellent.