When someone searches "support local schools," the question behind it is usually personal. A parent who watched their child's teacher buy classroom supplies out of pocket. A business owner who grew up in Kent and wants to give back. A retiree with time to spare and a neighborhood school that needs reading volunteers. The instinct is real — but the path from wanting to help to actually making a difference is not always obvious.
In the Kent School District, that path runs through the Kent Schools Foundation. The Foundation is the nonprofit partner that channels community generosity into direct support for the 39 schools and roughly 26,000 students the district serves. This guide explains every way you can support local schools through the Foundation — and why each one matters.
If you have already read our broader guide on ways to support education in the Kent School District, this page goes deeper on the specific channels and how to get started today.
Make a Financial Donation
The most direct way to support local schools is a financial contribution to the Kent Schools Foundation. Every dollar goes toward classroom grants, teacher resources, and enrichment programs that the public school budget does not cover.
How to Donate
You can donate online through the Kent School District's secure payment portal using a debit or credit card. One-time gifts and recurring monthly donations are both welcome. For businesses considering a corporate sponsorship, our guide to companies that donate to schools explains how corporate giving works in the district — from cash sponsorships to in-kind donations and employee matching programs.
You can also mail or deliver a check to any school office within the district. Make checks payable to the school you wish to support.
What Donations Fund
In 2025, the Kent Schools Foundation awarded $98,000 in grants across 162 projects at 39 schools. That money went to:
- Classroom supplies that teachers would otherwise buy with their own money
- STEM equipment and robotics kits
- Books for classroom libraries
- Field trips and enrichment experiences
- College and career readiness programs
- A basic needs fund covering glasses, shoes, coats, and food for students whose families cannot afford them
Every dollar stays in Kent and reaches students directly. The Foundation operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with transparent financial reporting.
Volunteer Your Time
Money is not the only way to support local schools — time matters just as much. The Kent School District coordinates volunteers through the VIPS (Volunteers in Public Schools) program, and the need is constant: reading buddies, math tutors, classroom helpers, lunchroom monitors, event coordinators, and field trip chaperones.
To get started, complete the online VIPS application at volunteer.kent.k12.wa.us. You will need to provide identification, pass a background check, and complete a brief school-specific training. The process takes about 10 business days from application to approval. Once cleared, you volunteer at the school you selected during the application process.
For a full walkthrough of volunteer options, our volunteer opportunities guide covers every role available, the time commitment for each, and how to choose the right fit for your schedule.
Donate School Supplies
Every August, the Kent Schools Foundation runs Fill the Bus — a community-wide school supply drive that stocks classrooms across the district with notebooks, pencils, markers, backpacks, and the other materials students need on day one.
You can participate by dropping off supplies at designated collection points throughout Kent, or by making a financial contribution that the Foundation uses to purchase supplies in bulk at a lower cost per unit. The drive serves students whose families cannot afford the full supply list that comes home in the back-to-school packet.
If you are a business owner who wants to run a workplace supply drive, our back-to-school drive guide explains how to organize one and coordinate pickup with the Foundation.
Corporate and Business Giving
Local businesses are some of the most impactful supporters of Kent schools. Corporate giving takes several forms:
Cash sponsorships of specific events or programs — a back-to-school drive, a college-and-career fair, a STEM night, or the district-wide basic needs fund.
In-kind donations of goods or services — printing, catering for school events, technology, or professional services that the Foundation would otherwise have to purchase.
Employee matching gifts — many employers double the impact of an employee's donation through corporate matching programs. Check with your HR department to see if your company matches charitable contributions.
Corporate foundation grants — some companies operate separate foundations that award grants to education nonprofits. The Kent Schools Foundation is eligible for many of these programs.
If you own a Kent-area business and want to set up a corporate sponsorship, call 253-235-3172. The Foundation handles the allocation and reporting so you receive a single impact report covering whichever schools or programs you chose to support. Our corporate giving guide goes deeper on structuring a sponsorship that works for your business and your tax situation.
Spread the Word
Not every form of support involves money or time. Simply talking about the Kent Schools Foundation in your community networks — at work, in your neighborhood group, on social media, at the school board meeting — helps more families and businesses discover the resources available to them. Word of mouth is how most new donors and volunteers find the Foundation, and it costs nothing but a conversation.
Why It Matters
The Kent School District serves roughly 26,000 students across 39 schools. Public funding covers teachers, buildings, buses, and curriculum — but it does not cover the classroom supplies a first-year teacher buys with their own paycheck, the robotics kit that makes a science lesson click, or the pair of shoes a student needs to walk to school in November. Those gaps are where community support makes the difference between a school that gets by and a school that thrives.
The Kent Schools Foundation exists to close those gaps. If you are ready to support local schools — whether with a donation, your time, a corporate sponsorship, or simply spreading the word — call 253-235-3172 or reach out through the Foundation's contact page. Every form of support reaches a classroom in Kent.