Local philanthropy in public education: the rise of school support organizations

Cadence Willse

Chapter 5 in Advancing Research in Philanthropy and Education, 2025, pp 84-99 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: School support organizations mobilize to provide funding to improve educational experiences and programming in the public school system. Revenues from school support organizations, including parent–teacher groups, school booster clubs, and local education foundations, “increased 347.7 percent—from about $197 million in 1995 to $880 million in 2010,” outpacing other nonprofit filings (Nelson & Gazley, 2014, p. 552). This chapter explores the causes and consequences of support nonprofit philanthropy. Local fundraising efforts mitigate the effects of budget cuts in districts with deep pockets: charitable donations allow schools to offer after-school activities, arts enrichment, and sports teams that would have otherwise been cut (Willse, 2019). The groups serve as a vehicle for parents to express preferences and shape public institutions through philanthropy (Cucchiara & Horvat, 2009; Cucchiara, 2013; Calarco, 2014, 2018; Lewis & Diamond, 2015). As income inequality deepens, school support organization philanthropy may intensify structural inequalities in public school finance.

Keywords: Philanthropy; School Support Organizations; Parent–Teacher Groups; Mobilization; Inequality; Interest Groups (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781789904093
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