Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF)?

MPAEF is a parent-led non-profit organization that, for the past 44 years, has raised critical funds to support quality education at the four public schools of the Menlo Park City School District: Encinal, Laurel, Oak Knoll, and Hillview. For the 2026-2027 school year, MPAEF granted the school district $3.9 million to allow the district to fund specialists for art, science, music, counseling, and library across the district, along with teacher professional development initiatives.   Since 2009, MPAEF has provided over $61 million to MPCSD from parent donations.

Why should I donate to MPAEF?

Everyone decides their own priorities when it comes to charitable giving to nonprofits, and MPAEF hopes donors will stay close to home. The simple fact is that the State of California does not currently support education at a level that will provide the education we expect for MPCSD students. Our community values education, believes in our students, and has made MPAEF a philanthropic priority for over four decades. An investment in MPAEF is an investment in Menlo Park-Atherton kids and our community.

Why do our public schools need financial support from our community?

The Menlo Park City School District is community-funded and therefore state and federal government funding makes up only 11% of its funding.  This amount covers only 20 days of school per year. 

Why is MPCSD community-funded?

We are community-funded due to California's unique tax laws.  This is primarily driven by the 1978 passing of Proposition 13, which decimated funding in California schools by reducing property taxes by nearly 60%. Virtually overnight, class sizes ballooned and critical programs and staff were cut across the board - California now ranks 31st in funding per student (adjusted for differences in labor costs).  Therefore, parents in our community created the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation to restore the quality in our local schools.

How do the MPAEF and School PTOs fit together?

MPAEF’s core mission is fundraising, while each school’s PTOs (Parent-Teacher Organization) core mission is community-building, child advocacy, parent education, and classroom and teacher support.  There are important differences in what MPAEF and each school’s PTO can support through fundraising efforts.  For example, only MPAEF dollars granted to MPCSD can fund accredited teacher salaries.  MPAEF’s district-wide grant benefits every TK-8th grade student, creates equality and consistency among school sites, and ensures equitable and effective allocation of programs, staff, and resources across the district. Each school’s PTO raises money to address site-specific needs such as community events, assemblies, classroom supplies, and STEM curriculum enrichment. Both organizations are important for your school to thrive.

What is the One Community Campaign (OCC)?

The One Community Campaign is the critical annual fundraiser for our schools, supporting staff and programs that provide Menlo Park City School District students with exceptional award-winning schools. The OCC combines the annual fall fundraising efforts of the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF) and all of the four school Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) across our district into one donation to make it simple for each family to support their children’s education. To learn more and make your donation, please visit www.supportmpcsd.org.

Does the Foundation tell the School District how to spend its annual grant?

No, the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation does not dictate where funds are spent in the Menlo Park City School District (MPCSD). The MPCSD School Board decides how the funds are spent on an annual basis. The MPAEF Board of Directors allocates an unrestricted grant to Menlo Park City School District each Fall based on the funds that were raised during the previous fiscal year ending on June 30th.

How are decisions made on what is funded?

Funding priorities are identified through input from MPCSD’s administration, School Board, and information collected through parent surveys and public comments at school board meetings. Final program and funding decisions rest with Menlo Park City School District’s administrators and our elected school board members who manage the district budget.

Can I earmark my MPAEF donation to a specific program?

No. The MPCSD Board and administration make the decisions about how to spend the district budget, and MPAEF’s grant gives them added flexibility. If you have input on district spending, it’s important for you to voice your opinions to your elected MPCSD Board Members and the Superintendent of schools. Board meetings are held the second Thursday of each month and are open to the public. Additional information including upcoming board meeting agendas and board/staff contact information is available via the MPCSD website.

What if I am displeased with my student’s experience?

For questions about your child, we encourage you to talk with your teacher. If the concern isn’t resolved, reach out to the school principal. In most cases, issues can be resolved at the school level.

For broader questions or feedback about programs and district decisions, contact your elected school Board members. They represent the community and work with the district administration to ensure schools meet the expectation of MPCSD families.

All MPCSD stakeholders are committed to providing every student an exceptional education and fostering a lifelong love of learning.

How is MPAEF governed?

MPAEF is governed by a 70+ member Board of Directors and supported by four paid staff members: one full-time Executive Director, one full-time Operations Manager, and two part-time Associates (events and data). The Board of Directors is composed of current parents in the school district, with representation from all schools. Directors’ terms are for two years, commencing on July 1 and concluding on June 30, and are staggered to ensure smooth leadership transitions. In addition to the Board of Directors, there are additional community volunteers who generously give their time to help ensure that our largest community events (Auction and Schoolhouse Rocks Run) are successful.

What do MPAEF finances look like? Is the organization fiscally responsible?

MPAEF accrues typical business expenses, such as insurance, office supplies, postage, and staff salaries. We work very hard to keep our expenses reasonable, managing them at 10% of revenues, which even includes expenses for our annual auction event and Schoolhouse Rocks Run & Festival.  Also, like any fiscally responsible non-profit organization, we maintain board restricted savings (reserve) to ensure stability in our budget planning from year-to-year. MPAEF is transparent about finances.  Our annual and financial reportsare always available to review on the Foundation’s website and you can learn more about our finances with our recent annual report. 

What happens if MPAEF does not meet its fundraising goal?

If MPAEF does not meet its annual fundraising goal, the Menlo Park City School District may have to reduce or eliminate programs that were historically made possibe by the MPAEF grant.

Are my contributions tax-deductible?

Yes! Your donations to the MPAEF are tax-deductible because it is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. MPAEF’s individual tax ID number is #94-2871701.

Will my employer match my contribution?

Many employers will match your contributions to non-profit organizations, doubling the impact of your contribution. Once you have donated, visit our Employer Matching page to find out how to submit your corporate match. In 2025–2026, families generated more than $630K in corporate matching contributions for MPAEF, greatly increasing the amount of funds granted to our schools.

Can I donate stock or bonds?

Yes, MPAEF will gladly accept the donation of stock or bonds. We encourage you to check with your financial advisor regarding the tax-deductibility of your gift. For more information please contact us at foundationoffice@mpaef.org.

Are my purchases at the Auction tax-deductible?

Auction items are almost never tax deductible. If you buy an item that is available generally in the marketplace for more than its face value, the difference might be deductible. The amount of the auction price in excess of the item’s fair market value may qualify as a charitable deduction.   Consult your tax advisor for specific details.

Why am I still getting emails? My family already donated to the One Community Campaign this year.

With thousands of households in the Menlo Park City School District, we need to reach out several times throughout the year. This means we sometimes communicate to families who have already donated. Please know that our goal is simply to ensure that we get enough family involvement and support to fund the programs that are so valuable to each child’s education.

How else can I help?

In addition to your annual donation to the One Community Campaign, there are a number of other ways to help support MPAEF: