About Us
We are the Northshore Schools Foundation
Since our founding in 1995, we are the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization proudly supporting the Northshore School District in Bothell, WA. Operating independently from the school district, our organization is fully funded through private donations. Northshore School District staff and faculty are under no obligation to contribute financially.
We are honored to have been voted the best local non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in the Best of Northshore! Additionally, we have received the Top-Rated Great Nonprofits Award, hold Gold Participant status on Guidestar, and are an active member of National Association of Education Foundations.
Mission
To raise funds and build community partnerships that enhance and inspire learning potential, remove barriers, and build skills for life, thereby amplifying District priorities for student and teacher education and excellence.
Vision
We envision a District where all students thrive.
Values
We believe in COLLABORATION because the sum is bigger than the whole.
We build PARTNERSHIPS with our District, teachers, students, and community.
We prioritize INNOVATION and SUSTAINABILITY as the two halves to any solution.
We INSPIRE everyone in the Northshore District to be “All In for Kids”.
We RESPECT and BUILD relationships with our donors.
Tax ID Number: 91-1680139
How we support students
The Foundation has three mission pillars of service work: Enhance & Inspire Learning through Classroom and District Grants, Removing Barriers in Education, and Building Skills for Life. Additionally, Care Teams was developed specifically for Northshore students in need.
We Enhance & Inspire Learning Grants
Our classroom and district grants support student learning through innovative educational programs and experiences. This includes learning and attention tools, field trips and hands-on activities where students practice creativity and critical thinking skills, engage in wellness and fitness activities, as well as music and arts programs.
We are Removing Barriers to Education
We fund programs designed to provide personalized support for students and address barriers to learning that cannot be covered by public funding. Our initiatives include:
- The Opportunity Fund: Offering critical resources to students facing economic hardships or life crises.
- School Supplies: Ensuring students have the tools they need to succeed.
- Homeless Student Services: Supporting students experiencing housing instability.
- Basic Needs Aid: Providing essential items for students and their families.
- School Lunch Support: Helping students access nutritious meals.
We Build Skills for Life
Our goal is to support all Northshore students on their unique paths to post graduation success, empowering them to become active citizens and future leaders in our community.
We invest in initiatives that ignite intellectual curiosity and prepares Northshore students for any career, profession, or industry. Funded programs include Hour of Code, Launch Day, and Career and Leadership Days. Additionally, we collaborate with local businesses and professionals, support district-wide career fairs, and recruit adult volunteers.
Care Teams
Since 2018, we’re proud to have a special relationship with the Northshore School District with our Care Teams.
Care Team Liaisons are designated Northshore staff members at all 36 Northshore schools and programs who nominate students in need for financial support.
2025-2026 Leadership
Board Officers
Dave Greek
President
Jeff More
Vice President
Theresa Optiz
Co-Treasurer
Jessica Lewis
Co-Treasurer
Jennifer Herrman
Secretary
Patsy Treece
Immediate Past President
Board Members
Alina Araujo
Katie Miller
Dr. Julie Miller
Jayapal Dodda
Kate Horn
Terry Ramsey
Laurie Rector
Staff
Cara Anderson-Ahrens
Executive Director
cara@nsdfoundation.org
Kimm Moore
Marketing Director
kimm@nsdfoundation.org
Fereshta Ullah
Donor Retention and Grants Manager
fereshta@nsdfoundation.org
Yuliya Pankiv
Marketing and Events Coordinator
yuliya@nsdfoundation.org
Rebecca Thomas
Accountant
beckyt@nsdfoundation.org
Northshore Schools Foundation – Our Community Guidelines
We welcome and encourage community engagement on our social media channels. Our goal is to create a positive and respectful space where students, families, educators, donors, and partners can connect and celebrate our shared commitment to Northshore students.
To maintain a safe and supportive environment, we may remove comments or block users if content includes:
- Hate speech, harassment, bullying, or personal attacks
- Profanity, obscene or sexually explicit language
- Spam, solicitation, or repetitive self-promotion
- False or misleading information
- Off-topic or disruptive content
- Threats or incitement of violence
Please note:
- Participation on our pages is voluntary, and comments posted by community members do not represent the views of the Foundation.
- We reserve the right to hide or delete comments and block accounts that consistently violate these guidelines.
- Concerns or questions are best addressed directly by emailing us at: info@nsdfoundation.org
We value open dialogue, but also have a responsibility to ensure our platforms remain safe, respectful, and mission-focused. Thank you for helping us keep this a welcoming community for all.