FAQs

The DMSEF is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to provide resources to support and enhance educational programs and opportunities for the students in the Del Mar Union School District. The Foundation was founded to raise the necessary funds to provide Del Mar students with enrichment programs such as science, music, art, technology and physical education. The vision of the Foundation is that every student attending elementary school in the Del Mar Union School District will have the opportunity to receive a premier education. The Board of the Trustees of the Del Mar Union School District has designated the Foundation as the primary fundraising entity for the District.

February 2010 FAQs (PDF)

Who runs the Foundation?

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors that is comprised of parent volunteers from each of the elementary schools in the Del Mar Union School District, as well as members of the community. The nominating committee of the Board of Directors identifies volunteers each spring to serve for 1 or 2-year terms. The Board is responsible for all business of the Foundation, including communications, finances, and budgets, and the Foundation’s annual financial statements are audited each year by a firm of certified public accountants. The Board meets at regularly scheduled, monthly meetings that are open to all members of the community.

How does the Foundation raise money?

The Foundation seeks contributions from parents and corporate sponsors, and also raises funds through various special events. Each year the Foundation sends out an annual appeal letter in the first day packets. The Foundation will also sponsor and announce special events as they are organized.

What are the benefits to moving to a district-wide, fundraising model?

By restructuring to the district-wide model, the Del Mar Schools Education Foundation can consolidate fundraising at the district level and move to a more community-based fundraising effort. This will give the district a more consistent revenue stream in the future. In addition, it will allow us to build synergy among our fundraising efforts and target larger corporate donors. District-wide funding will also provide more equity among the schools which is key since most children in the district’s eight schools will all pool into the same two middle schools and then onto the same two high schools. District-wide funding allows for flexibility in disbursement, which, while ensuring equity among the schools can also provide for individual sites to maintain programs that are unique to the site. Finally, district-wide fundraising will help relieve the site PTAs from having to fundraise for salaries and the PTA can return to fundraising for assemblies, equipment and scholarship.

If we raise enough money, will we continue to have the same ESC teachers as this year?

Unfortunately, we can only raise funds for Programs (i.e. science, art, music, technology, PE) and not specific people because the district’s contract with the Del Mar teachers’ union requires that teachers be returned to positions based on seniority. In addition, some ESC teachers with multi-subject credentials can go back into the classroom, if their ESC program is eliminated, while others with single-subject credentials cannot. Teachers are District employees, not School employees, so these rules will mean that some ESC teachers might be moved among the eight schools in our district.

Do you see any impact of potential school closures on fundraising?

The school board has established a 7/11 committee to review five of the district sites to determine if school closure is an option to sustain a longer term solution to some of the budget issues. The number of students in the district doesn’t change if a school is closed, therefore the need for outside funding continues. By having a general fund, DMSEF is able to disburse funds for the districts’ needs equitably to help ensure that all children are able to receive the benefits of ESC regardless of which school they attend.

Why should I donate money to public schools? Isn't that why I pay taxes?

While it is true that property taxes are the primary revenue source for the Del Mar Union School District, these revenues are insufficient to provide the various enrichment programs that make our elementary schools among the best in the state and the nation. Since the passage of Proposition 13 approximately 30 years ago, California property taxes have been capped at 1%, while other state’s property taxes are 3% or more. This creates a revenue gap that can only be closed with your support.

With the massive budget crisis, the state government is considering several alternatives which would greatly impact our budget. Our fundraising allows us to offset these budget cuts and ensure the breadth of programs required to provide the quality education we all want for our children.

What percentage of donations is used for expenses?

Only 9.5% of donations to the Foundation will be used for overhead and reserve. That means 90.5% of donations go directly into funding programs for the DMSUD. That is far lower than the 12 to 13% national average expenses for nonprofit organizations. It is necessary for the DMSEF to set aside a percentage of donations to pay for operating expenses. The reality is that in order to raise money we must spend some money. The DMSEF board is committed to keeping expenses low.

What if I have more questions or need more information?

Call or email us! The Foundation offices are located at Sycamore Ridge Elementary School, and you can call us at 858-523-6199, or email us at delmarkids@gmail.com. Or, if you prefer, feel free to contact your school’s Foundation representative, or the current Foundation president, Chris Stevenson (parent at Ashley Falls), at cs7272@hotmail.com.