NPEF Strategic Framework 2026-2031

Mission

The Newport Public Education Foundation focuses on supporting public education and expanding opportunity for every student in the Newport community. To accomplish this, we fund educational projects that offer equitable and impactful learning, invest in educators, elevate student voice, and build strong partnerships with families and the community.

Values

  • Show equity and inclusion by being culturally aware, appreciative, and responsive.
  • Be open-minded and respectful.
  • Center the voices closest to the work.
  • Act with integrity and transparency.
  • Support deep, meaningful learning and growth.
  • Work from a mindset of possibility and abundance, not scarcity.

Goal 1: Equitable Access to Innovative and Impactful Learning

NPEF will expand access to engaging, high-quality learning experiences that promote creativity, critical thinking, and real-world application. Recognizing that students need different supports to thrive, the Foundation will use an equity-centered approach to funding, with particular attention to students and groups who have historically had less access to enrichment and opportunity. Investments will strengthen educator capacity and support programs and resources that can reach more students over time.

Strategic initiatives

  • Secure multi-year and collaborative funding for innovative, high-impact projects.
  • Apply clear equity criteria to grantmaking and regularly examine who benefits from NPEF-funded opportunities.
  • Fund professional learning that helps educators design and implement experiential, culturally responsive instruction.
  • Invest in scalable, reusable resources and programs that extend impact across classrooms, schools, and years.

Goal 2: Strong and Sustained Donor Engagement and Stewardship

The Newport Public Education Foundation’s success is driven by the generosity of its donors. Building and sustaining a strong donor base is essential to supporting NPEF’s grantmaking and the success of students in the Newport Public Schools. We aim to ensure that donors clearly understand the impact of their contributions. Through thoughtful stewardship—including donor events, ongoing communications, and our Annual Report—we will deepen donors’ connection to NPEF and inspire them to become active ambassadors for its work.

Strategic initiatives

  • Expand and diversify NPEF’s donor base through targeted, inclusive outreach.
  • Strengthen fundraising capacity by expanding and diversifying the Development Committee and equipping board members and volunteers with clear messages, materials, and outreach tools.
  • Deepen donor relationships through meaningful events, regular communication, opportunities for feedback, and ongoing engagement.
  • Clearly communicate how funds are raised, allocated, and used—and the outcomes they support—through an annual report and other donor communications.

Goal 3: Meaningful Engagement with Multilingual Learners and Families

The linguistic and cultural diversity of Newport Public Schools is a strength that enriches the entire community. NPEF will work with multilingual learners and their families as essential partners, ensuring that their perspectives shape decisions and that communication and participation are accessible. Through culturally responsive programs, educator learning, and strong community partnerships, the Foundation will help create conditions in which multilingual students and families can fully participate and thrive.

Strategic initiatives

  • Expand access to culturally responsive, experiential learning opportunities for multilingual learners.
  • Establish consistent, accessible systems for multilingual families to provide input and feedback.
  • Provide bilingual or multilingual communications and materials whenever appropriate.
  • Strengthen partnerships with organizations trusted by and serving multilingual communities.

Goal 4: Authentic and Sustained Student Voice and Leadership

Students are the experts on their educational experiences and should help shape the opportunities intended for them. NPEF will create consistent, meaningful ways for students to contribute ideas, inform priorities, and evaluate Foundation-supported work. By treating students as partners rather than occasional participants, NPEF will ensure that its investments respond to students’ interests, strengths, and needs.

Strategic initiatives

  • Engage students as partners in shaping and leading NPEF-funded educational experiences.
  • Create feedback systems that solicit student perspectives on the impact of NPEF-funded learning experiences.
  • Share student experiences and accomplishments in NPEF communications with their consent and active participation.

Goal 5: Community Awareness, Engagement, and Visibility

The Newport Public Education Foundation will strengthen community awareness of its mission, programs, and impact through intentional, inclusive communication and engagement. NPEF will share stories of funded programs and grants that reflect the full diversity of Newport’s community, with particular attention to historically underserved populations. Central to this effort will be hearing directly from students and families and sharing, in their own words, how these opportunities have shaped their educational experiences.

Strategic initiatives

  • Strengthen relationships with educators, families, community organizations, businesses, and other key constituencies.
  • Expand inclusive storytelling and use clear, accessible communication channels to keep the community informed and engaged.
  • Develop compelling, accessible informational materials that clearly communicate NPEF’s mission and impact.
  • Participate in community events and educational dialogues to raise awareness of NPEF’s mission and impact.