First Community Foundation
About the Foundation
Under Delaware law, charter schools, such as EastSide Charter, receive public funding for operating expenses essentially equal to the public funding provided for traditional school districts. However, charter schools do not receive any public funding with respect to capital costs. Therefore, charter schools must squeeze funds from their operating budget to meet capital costs, or raise substantial contributions to meet these capital costs or both. Moreover, in the case of EastSide, because many of our students come from very low-income neighborhoods and are at risk of failing in school, we must supplement the public funding for operating expenses to provide the additional educational programs required for our students to succeed.
The EastSide Board aspires to provide not only an outstanding K-8th grade educational experience during the regular school day but also act as a resource for our students, their families, and the neighborhood during the other hours of the day and week.
In connection with the School’s move to its present facility in 2005, the EastSide Board formed an affiliated corporation, First Community Foundation f/k/a East Side Community Learning Center Foundation, to be the owner of the new facilities, the manager of our broader community learning center activities and the vehicle for necessary fundraising. The Foundation is a separate IRS 501(c)(3) qualified non-profit tax-exempt corporation. The corporate officers and directors of the School are also the officers and directors of the Foundation. The Foundation’s federal taxpayer identification number is 20-4215109.
The current facility, donated in 2005, is a wonderfully sturdy former elementary school building erected in the 1960s containing not only classrooms but also a cafeteria, auditorium, gymnasium, and 3+ acres of recreational and athletic playing fields. However, the building came with an $8 million deferred maintenance price tag.
Since its creation, the foundation has funded major projects including a new library, improved information technology (school-wide), a new roof and mechanical equipment, new external security, new lighting, new boilers, a remodeled entrance, an upgraded teacher’s lounge, a remodeled gymnasium and locker rooms, and remodeled playing fields and playground. The most ambitious project is the state-of-the-art STEM Hub which is currently being constructed at a price tag of $26M. This facility will be a mainstay in the community servicing
The Foundation has raised about $350,000 per year to provide the unfunded supplemental educational programs that many of our students need. These programs include after-school tutorial programs, academic-based field trips, mentoring for more than 50 of our students, as well as music, athletic, and other extra-curricular activities.
Your contribution will be gratefully received, payable to “First Community Foundation”:
Eastside Charter School
3000 N. Claymont Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19802
For a more in-depth overview of the School’s current funding needs please read our Case For Support.