Invest in the Next Generation

Your generosity funds personalized education, real-world learning, robust student supports, and life-changing opportunities for students across Philadelphia and Wilmington.

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Your Support Transforms Lives

For the past two decades, Freire Schools has provided an exceptional and dynamic education to students from neighborhoods that have weathered historic and systemic hardship. Serving 2,000 students across four campuses in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Freire Schools is among the highest performing networks of public charter schools in the region, proving every day that all children can achieve when given access to a rigorous, creative and inspiring education.

Freire Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our EIN is 27-2568814.

Freire Foundation Mission

Freire Foundation advances Freire Schools’ mission, ensuring that our schools have the resources they need to best serve all students with a rigorous education in a safe, creative, and supportive environment.

Two Freire Charter Middle School students

Founded in 2010, the Freire Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Freire Schools, working to advance the network’s promising ideas and partnerships, bring creativity to the classroom, and engage the community in public education. Freire Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Foundation’s primary responsibility is to ensure that our schools have the resources they need to execute their missions and sustain their innovative programming. By investing in the Freire Foundation, our donors and partners help to empower young people, prepare them for college and career, and make the world a more creative and inclusive place.

Give Now

Make a secure one-time or monthly recurring gift below. Prefer another way to give? See ways to give or contact our Advancement team.

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Ways to Give

Donate Online

Give a one-time or monthly recurring gift via credit card through our secure form above. For donation via EFT, contact melanie@freireschools.org.

Donate by Mail

Please make checks payable to Freire Foundation and mail to our Network Office:

Freire Foundation
P.O. Box 59028
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Donate by Phone

Discuss your giving options and/or make a secure credit card contribution by phone by calling Melanie Reiser at 267-992-4346.

Give a Gift of Stock

We are happy to accept gifts of stock. Please contact Melanie Reiser at melanie@freireschools.org or 267-992-4346 for depository transfer check instructions.

Match Your Gift

Many companies or corporations will match employees’ philanthropic contributions, allowing you to double the impact of your gift. Ask your company (typically the personnel office) if they match charitable donations. If they do, fill out their matching gift form and turn it in. When you make your donation to Freire Foundation, please let Melanie Reiser (melanie@freireschools.org) know the contact information for your company’s matching gift program. We will follow up to make sure the matched gift is received.

Planned Giving

We hope you’ll consider including a gift to Freire Foundation in your will or living trust. For more information, email Melanie Reiser at melanie@freireschools.org or call 267-992-4346.

Additionally, the IRA Charitable Transfer is an excellent way to make gifts and receive tax benefits in return. As you plan your required minimum distributions for this year, consider using your IRA account to make the most of your charitable giving. You receive a tax benefit even if you take the standard deduction. It’s important to consider your tax situation before deciding whether to make a charitable contribution from your IRA. Be sure to share this gift plan with your financial advisor; Freire Schools cannot provide tax advice.

To qualify:

You must be age 70½ or older at the time of gift.
Transfers must be made directly from a traditional IRA account by your IRA administrator to Freire Foundation.
Gifts must be outright. Distributions to donor-advised funds or life-income arrangements such as charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities do not qualify.
Gifts from 401k, 403b, SEP, and other plans do not qualify. Ask your financial advisor if it would be right for you to create a traditional IRA account so you can benefit from the IRA Charitable Transfer.

Corporate Tax Credit (EITC)

If your business participates in the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, please consider designating a contribution to the Freire Foundation as an approved Educational Improvement Organization (EIO). EITC-EIO contributions fund programs at Freire Schools beyond our traditional academic programs. This includes arts programs like our Experienceship, robotics, and Broken Leg Players (drama), and our unique maker space education. EITC provides Pennsylvania companies with a tax credit up to 90% for contributions to non-profit scholarship or educational improvement organizations.

If you have any questions about Freire Foundation’s EITC programs, contact Melanie Reiser at melanie@freireschools.org or 267-992-4346. For further details on the corporate tax credit program, contact the PA EITC office at (717) 787-7120 or go to the PA EITC website.

For additional information on any of these giving opportunities, or to discuss your own ideas, please contact Melanie Reiser at melanie@freireschools.org or 267-992-4346.

Wall of Giving

We are proud to recognize the companies and foundations whose generosity fuels opportunity for Freire students across Philadelphia and Wilmington. Thank you for investing in the next generation.