Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the links below to find answers to your questions in these areas:

What is the Hillsborough Schools Foundation?

The Hillsborough Schools Foundation (HSF) is a non-profit organization committed to raising funds to support quality education at the four public schools on the Hillsborough City School District (HCSD). HSF is supported by parents, community members and businesses. Over the past 30 years, HSF has allocated of $36 million to the District, bridging the gap between inadequate government funds and the amount needed to provide our children with the education we believe they deserve.

Why can’t HSF be more transparent? I don’t feel like I know how HSF is spending its money and how the district is allocating funds donated through HSF.

It is our goal to be completely transparent and we’d like to know what other information you need to be fully informed. Our philosophy is that the more transparency we provide, the more we can improve our efficiency and effectiveness. If you would like more financial data, our annual report outlines HSF Revenues and HSF Allocations within the School District. The Hillsborough City School Board of Trustees determines how to allocate the funds through their “yearly directions” which are available on the District website and based on the Needs Assessment completed by parents every five years. Additionally, we calculate our overhead to be 10-12%.

Who runs HSF?

HSF is governed and led by a 14 member Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is comprised of current parents in the HCSD and consists of the following: President or Co-Presidents, Chairs of Annual Giving, Events, Communications, Volunteer Development, Nominating, New Ventures, Governance, Strategic Planning, Technology, Endowment, and the Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Past HSF President and APG President. In addition, a member of the Board of Trustees, the Superintendent and the HSF Executive Director are non-voting members. The Board of Directors terms are for one year, commencing on July 1, and concluding on June 30. To reference this years' Board of Directors please click here.

What does HSF support?

For the 2009-2010 school year, HSF contributed over $3 million to the Hillsborough City School District, representing 15% of the District's operating budget. These funds are essential to augment State funding and deliver the educational excellence we expect. Without your support to HSF, our children would NOT have:

• Support of programs throughout the school curriculum, grades K-8
• Class Size Reduction, grades K-8
• Reading Specialists
• Math & Science Enrichment Teachers
• Technology Specialists and up-to-date technology
• Music Specialists
• Physical Education Specialists
• Art Specialist
• Foreign Language Program, grades K-8
• Counseling Services, grades K-8
• Professional Development
• Librarians
• SMART technology in every classroom
• HTV Program at Crocker

Does HSF tell the District how to spend its annual contribution?

No, HSF does not dictate where the funds are spent in the Hillsborough School District. The Hillsborough School Board decides how the funds are spent on an annual basis. HSF does a straight contribution to the School Board.

Why wasn’t HSF more visible during the budget crisis last year? Why didn’t HSF campaign to save certain programs such as the drama program? People might have donated more if they were better informed about what was going to be cut. We only received requests for unrestricted gifts with no opportunity to voice an opinion.

The budget cuts both last year and this year are not one-time events, they will be continuing for several years. Therefore, it is not feasible to “save” programs unless they are in the budget for several years. The district is conducting surveys to solicit parent input about their program priorities. This input is taken into account when determining program cuts.

What is the difference between Hillsborough Schools Foundation (HSF) and Associated Parent Group (APG)?

Both organizations provide important yet distinct support for our schools. HSF is the non-profit fundraising organization that raises money for the Hillsborough City School District through the Annual Giving Campaign and HSF Events. Each year, the financial support from HSF supplements state funding and enables the district to provide additional programs and teachers. Parent and community donors, as well as volunteers contribute to provide a high level of education in Hillsborough.

The Associated Parent Group (APG) is representative of the parent groups from all four schools and serves to facilitate communication, encourages participation among parents, teachers, and administrators, and establishes common guidelines for each school site. APG and the School Parent Groups are funded through parent group dues and supported by parent volunteers from each school. APG elects the Community Care Award and the Citizen of the Year recipients and hosts their reception.

I am new to the District and I want to do my part for HSF, how can I help?

Please join the ranks of supporters of HSF whose contributions have made and continue to make a significant impact on our public schools. First, by making donation to the Annual Giving Campaign as soon as you receive your HSF Annual Report. If you would like your gift to provide immediate impact, contribute to our Annual Fund. You can also make a lifetime gift to the Endowment Fund and help us provide ongoing support to the schools for years to come. Second, you can help by attending and volunteering for our HSF Events. There are four fantastic events held throughout the year. These events raise additional funds and build community spirit.

HCSD is a public district? Why do I have to donate private money? I feel like I’m paying for a private school?

The good news is that our district is able to provide the same education as many private schools and sometimes even more (for example, class sizes are often higher at private schools because they are not under a state mandate). In Hillsborough, we ask for a “student sponsor” tax deductible donation ($1500 per student). Most private schools require tuition, which is not tax deductible ($12-25K per student per year) as well as an annual appeal or gap donation ($1-3500).

Public school is supposed to be free. Why do we need to fund public schools in Hillsborough?

Public school finance in the State of California has changed dramatically over the last quarter century. Since California's public schools receive the majority of their funding on a per student basis from the state government, the State deficit has resulted in dramatically reduced allocations to education. As a result, school districts throughout our State have been forced to make major cuts to local budgets. Unprecedented community support has made it possible for our district to preserve outstanding academic programs and student support services long lost in other communities.

As citizens of Hillsborough, we are committed to educating our students to become active citizens and leaders of tomorrow. This takes the efforts of both our citizens and our schools, working together to provide our children a first rate educational experience. For over 30 years, HSF has worked with generations of Hillsborough families to do just this, providing millions of dollars in support of educational excellence.

Why should I donate to HSF when there are other charities that need the money more?

There are many charities that need our money and it is important to consider all priorities when determining charitable donations. The State of California is not currently supporting education at the per student capita level that we require for an excellent education. The foundation was started over 30 years ago by parents who wanted to provide funding to maintain excellence in our schools, especially due to inadequate state funding. Parents in Hillsborough have made the schools a priority for more than 30 years!

Why doesn’t HSF clarify what it is donating to the district on a per pupil basis each year?

Many families believe that their “student sponsor” donation is covering the cost of educating their child, when in fact it is not enough. We calculate our per student donation from HSF to the district by dividing our district allocation by the number of students in the district. For the 2009-2010 year, HSF allocated approximately $2032 per student in the district ($3,032,000/1491). In past years, it has been approximately $2300 per student. Every year we discuss the pros and cons of asking for a higher “student sponsor” level, and we have decided to revisit this issue this year. We are analyzing various options for raising the student sponsor level to the true “gap” cost of educating a student. Stay tuned for more information about this.

Why doesn’t my family get more recognition for donating for three children at the “student sponsor” level, participating in events, and donating in-kind goods? Shouldn’t we be at the Scholar’s Circle level?

We are now recognizing those who donate to the auction and other in-kind goods in a separate area of our Annual Report. The school district depends on our $3 million allocation and HSF depends on the consistency of cash donations to fulfill that promise as well as the dollars raised by fun, community-building events

Instead of being asked for donations throughout the year, can I make one lump-sum donation? Yes! Through Annual Giving! And thanks for your input as we are continually working to streamline our operations.

Why didn’t I immediately receive a donor acknowledgment letter suitable for the IRS for tax purposes?

You should always receive a donor acknowledgment letter right after your donation is received. Please let us know if you are missing anything.

What if I can't donate at the Student Sponsor Level?

An Annual Giving Campaign goal is to have 100% family participation and every dollar makes a difference. We appreciate your generosity during these challenging economic times with any amount you can give.

Can I donate stock or bonds?

Yes, HSF will gladly accept the donation of stock or bonds. Please refer to the Donate Now! page for instructions.

Why should I donate money to HSF when I am very displeased with my teacher/school/district/child’s experience?

If you are upset with any aspect of your child’s education, please communicate your concerns to your teacher, principal and/or superintendent. They are all very eager to make sure your child is getting the best education possible, and is enjoying their school experience. All of our teachers and administrators will work closely with you to solve your issues.

Withholding a donation to HSF will not do anything to change your child’s experience, except increase the risk that class sizes will go up, specialists will be laid off, and teachers will not receive professional development – all of which will greatly degrade the level of education your child is receiving. Additionally, withholding a donation doesn’t just negatively affect your child, but the other students as well.

Why does it cost so much to run and maintain a school? Can’t great education take place in a barn?

Our schools could do very well with much less money. Most of the expense of running a school goes to paying exceptionally well trained teachers. More than 50% of the HCSD budget goes towards paying our teachers, some of the highest paid teachers in the state. HSF funding also helps pay for programs and specialists that include, PE, Music, Library, Foreign Language, Math/Science and Reading. Public schools have lost many of these programs under the current state funding crisis.

What is Scholars' Circle?

Inaugurated in 1998, the monies donated by Scholars’ Circle donors are part of the regular Annual Giving Campaign and account for nearly half of the funds raised annually by HSF. Scholars’ Circle consists of parent and community members who contribute at levels of $10,000 and above, Last year, 98 Scholars’ Circle donors provided over $1.3 million in support of our schools. Once a year, there is a donor recognition event held in Hillsborough to honors these generous donors.

What is the Endowment Fund?

The Fred Schwartz Endowment Fund was established in 1980 to ensure long-term stability for the Hillsborough City School District. Named for the first Crocker School principal, Fred Schwartz, the endowment fund continues to flourish through the generous support of our many donors, who strongly believe that only an endowment can safeguard the future of our Hillsborough schools. All donors to HSF have the opportunity to designate all or part of their donation to the endowment fund.

How are funds allocated to build the endowment each year? What are your plans for the endowment? Shouldn’t the endowment be a revenue stream for HSF?

There are several ways that funds are allocated to the endowment. First, donors may request that their donation, or a portion of it, be directly allocated to the endowment; Secondly, the HSF Board of Directors allocates between 3% and 7% to the endowment each year, if there are enough funds to do so. Part of our strategic plan calls for growing the endowment to a level where it generates a certain amount of income for HSF, however, those plans were postponed due to the economic crisis in 2008. In 2010, we hope to revisit our ideas for growing the endowment.

Why do you have room parents take responsibility for HSF Communications or other tasks related to HSF? Shouldn’t there be someone else who does this?

We are always looking for the most efficient and effective ways to communicate our key messages to our primary donors, parents. This past year we started working with room parents as a communication channel because the ratio of HSF communicator to the audience is 1:20 and all other HSF communicators have a much bigger audience they are trying to reach. We also felt that room parents could build upon existing relationships with parents and therefore give HSF a much better idea of whether our parent donor population is pleased with our performance. (It’s difficult to get feedback otherwise.) In addition to room parents, we have an HSF Liaison and Annual Giving team that includes a New Parent Liaison at each school.

Why do the HSF Event tickets cost so much? 

Every year we evaluate the cost of our events and analyze the most cost efficient way of hosting events while maximizing our revenue. We determine how much we need to make in order for the event to be worth hosting. Last year we determined that we needed to make some per person profit and wanted to be able to host a nice dinner. We keep costs down whenever possible and donations from parents and the community help as well. Please come by the office for more information and a greater cost breakdown.

Why can’t we register for our events online?

We have just re-launched our website this year (2009) and are actively pursuing online registration for events. We are in the process of evaluating several different signup programs that also offer event registration. We hope to provide this capability in the 2010-2011 school year.

HSF is making so many changes right now, why are you getting rid of so many traditions?

It is our goal to stimulate progress, while preserving the “core” of what makes HSF successful. A few years ago, we heard from parents that they did not want to become involved with HSF Events because they couldn’t innovate and improve with new ideas. It seemed like events were “set in stone.” Additionally, we found that we were hosting 5 events when most other non-profit foundations were hosting 1-2 large fundraisers (and it was clear our volunteer resources were stretched too thin). We decided to look closely at how our events were performing and concluded that our Concours d’Elegance car show was not a profitable event for us any more. A new leadership organization is currently being formed to take over this event. The next Concours d’Elegance is scheduled to take place on September 12, 2010 at the Crystal Springs Golf Course.

We thought we’d try to combine the Carnival and Fun Run to see if those two were a better match than a Carnival and Car Show. The Carnival and Fun Run both target families, while the car show targeted car show enthusiasts which represented a very small percentage of our parent population. Last year was the first time we combined Carnival and Fun Run and we weren’t sure quite what to expect in terms of attendance. Our chairs worked tirelessly to create a fun family event and they are working hard again this year, armed with detailed feedback from last year, to make it a more successful event. We are constantly evaluating the best ways to host an affordable, family oriented, revenue-generating event that is pleasing to a wide age-range. We are looking for more volunteers to bring ideas to this committee, so please email us if you’re interested at familyfunday@hsf.org.

Why are you hosting events at the Sofitel and Marriott? I’d rather pay more and have a better location than go to one of those hotels.

Several years ago, the Dinner Dance was black tie and was hosted at City Hall. The feedback after that event was that it was too expensive, too stuffy and too inconvenient. People told us their husbands wanted a more casual, fun event. We decided to keep the locations more local to Hillsborough and to vary the themes to make them fun and light-hearted. Originally we were thinking we’d alternate locations each year, but since the economy is still struggling, we can’t justify hosting the events at more expensive locations (when some parents are still not pleased with the cost of the tickets).

Why is Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance being retired as an official fundraiser for the Hillsborough Schools Foundation?

In June 2009, the Hillsborough Schools Foundation Board of Directors made the difficult decision that it was no longer prudent, from a fiduciary perspective, for Concours to be a school fundraiser. The reality is that this event was not being supported at the necessary levels by our parent community. Meanwhile, revenue related to Concours has dropped each of the last three years. This is in no way a reflection on the talented and committed individuals who have worked so passionately over the years but rather changing demographics that we can no longer ignore.