Washington, D.C., became a magnet for philanthropy after 2007, when former mayor Adrian Fenty took control over the schools and appointed Michelle Rhee as chancellor.

In 2010, the District brought in more than $31 million from national foundations, according to an analysis from Michigan State University of grants by the 15 largest philanthropies funding kindergarten through 12th grade education that year. The total represented an extra $705 per student — far more than any other school district in the country.

More than two-thirds of the funds raised went to the D.C. Public Education Fund, which was created in 2007 to support reform efforts in the public school system. At least $ 7 million went to specific charter schools or to organizations, including the New Schools Venture Fund, that support charter schools.
Fundraising has picked up again, with about $11 million raised so far this year, said Jessica Rauch, executive director of the D.C. Education Fund. She said the mood among foundations remains “positive.” National foundations are enthusiastic about D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s leadership and progress in the city’s schools, she said, as well as in some new programs, including the chancellor’s Empowering Males of Color initiative that aims to invest $20 million in private funds for support programs for black and Latino male students and in an all-boys college prep high school scheduled to open in 2016-2017.

The fund also announced a $4 million investment by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation to support more rigorous lessons in all District classrooms tied to Common Core standards.

D.C. public schools also gets direct contributions — in-kind and cash — from individuals, businesses or community groups that often go directly to schools. For fiscal 2014, the schools received about $3.1 million in contributions on top of funds received through the DC Ed Fund, according to D.C. public schools officials. Such funds include dictionaries donated to every third-grader by the Rotary Club, or a library redesign sponsored by Heart of America and the Washington Redskins at Leckie Elementary School in Southwest Washington, which included about $52,000 in services and materials and technology.

Not included in the total is PTA funding, which brings a significant additional stream of funds to some schools in more affluent communities. The PTA at Maury Elementary School in Capitol Hill increased its fundraising dramatically in recent years. Its budget for this school year is $157,000, up from about $15,000 in 2009-2010.

The PTA asks families to make a contribution at the beginning of the year, and it hosts fundraisers, including a yard sale and an auction. The funds go toward school supplies and professional development. The largest share goes toward funding instructional aides, said PTA President Elsa Huxley. The school system provides extra staffing in the youngest grades, but the parents think it’s important for all grade levels, she said.