Annual Campaign

The purpose of the Portola Valley Schools Foundations’ Annual Campaign is to raise money from District families, community members and Business Partners to supplement the General Fund.

Portola Valley is a “community funded” school district, which means our yearly costs are paid for almost entirely by local property and parcel taxes. In fact, the State of California contributes only ~8% to our operating budget.

Complicating matters, less than 25% of the property taxes we pay each year go to Ormondale and Corte Madera. And as a legacy of Proposition 13, passed by California voters in 1978, long-term homeowners only pay taxes on the amount their house was worth in 1976 or on the date of purchase, with a maximum appreciation of 2% annually. That significantly reduces the tax base for local schools.

At the same time, teacher pension costs are soaring and Portola Valley’s are no exception. The amount that districts pay into pensions statewide has dramatically increased in recent years.

That’s why your donations to the Annual Campaign are so important. Although Portola Valley is a relatively high-wealth area, the amount of taxes paid into the schools is not enough to cover the expense of a well-rounded education.

The Foundation’s goal each school year is to raise at least $1 million – with 100% participation among families with children in the schools – so we can recruit and retain excellent teachers, hire classroom aides and learning specialists, offer counseling services, and provide supplemental programs like music, physical education and foreign language instruction.

We can only maintain these programs, services and high standards because the Foundation supplements the General Fund each year with money raised during the Annual Campaign. Your donations go directly to the district, where they account for between 5-7% of the overall budget.

We sincerely appreciate donations of any amount that is appropriate for you, your family or your business. Your donation is tax-deductible. Our tax ID is 93-1012148.