Our schools are in crisis. To help meet the needs of educators and students, we’ve launched the Maps Education Fund under our charitable giving arm, Maps Community Foundation (MCF). This fund will help open doors to new opportunities for growth, impact, and change specifically related to schools, educators, and students. “Given the current school funding challenges and the rising cost of post-secondary education, Maps is committed to doing everything we can to provide support, says MCF Executive Director, Kim Hanson. “We can do this with more grants that help local teachers implement ideas that strengthen classrooms and schools. We can do it with more scholarships that allow local students to pursue their educational hopes and dreams.”
The Truth About Teacher Pay and School Funding
Teachers are some of the most educated in our nation’s workforce. Yet, statistically speaking, they earn less on average than most college-educated workers. In fact, it is not uncommon for educators to start the school year with a hefty credit card bill. According to the National Center for Education Statistics at the Institute of Education Sciences, 94% of teachers in traditional public schools and 88% of teachers in charter schools spend their own money on classroom supplies. “It’s frustratingly common for us to have a second job or side hustle just to make ends meet,” said one Salem-based elementary teacher. “We just want to show up and be good teachers, but we’re not well-equipped.”
Each year, the Maps Community Foundation provides grants (up to $1,000) to local teachers for innovative, impactful projects. Through these grants, we hope to empower teachers in Marion and Polk counties to help their students learn and grow. In 2023 alone, our Maps Community Foundation awarded a total of $35,000 in Teacher Grants across our Mid-Willamette Valley region. These awards go to K-12 teachers and can be used for classroom or school-wide projects, technology needs, field trips, and educational after-school clubs.
However, with recent layoffs and a “grim” 2024-2025 budget in store for Salem-Keizer schools and other local districts, additional funding is more crucial than ever.
The Skyrocketing Cost of Education
The cost of higher education is also on the rise and for many Oregonians, the price is simply too high. That’s why it’s more important than ever to plan ahead for tuition costs. According to College Board, the non-profit that develops and administers standardized tests and curricula, the average cost of in-state tuition at a 4-year Oregon college or university was $13,490 annually in 2023-2024. For out-of-state students nationwide, the cost is just over $29,000. Private universities averaged about $41,500 in 2023. Add books, room and board, and other incidentals and it’s no wonder that over 85% of students require financial aid. For many college-bound high school seniors, scholarships offer the only affordable path to higher education.
Each year, the Maps Community Foundation provides tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to Mid-Willamette Valley graduating seniors. We do this because we are invested in helping students in our community pursue their dreams and navigate through life’s defining moments. In the spring of 2024, the Maps Community Foundation awarded $58,000 in scholarships to 25 outstanding local students. That’s a record-breaking number, but we know we can do more.
What Your Donations Can Do
Maps Credit Union started as a teachers’ credit union and to this day, we are committed to supporting education in the communities we serve. The keystones of our effort are in our annual Teacher Grants and Scholarship programs. Each grant and scholarship we award has a positive impact that ripples out through the greater community. “Last year, we received more worthy and inspiring applications for grants and scholarships than ever, so we know that the need in our community is great,” says Hanson. “We hope you will join us in our goal to double our giving capacity for the coming school year.”
Our goal in the Maps Education Fund initiative is to leverage what Maps is giving and double the size of our education programs for 2025. It’s an ambitious goal, and we need your support to make it possible! So, please consider making a donation. Your support will ensure that the MCF’s educator-focused programming fills the glaring gaps in school funding and education access.
To incentivize you: When Maps members donate to our Education Fund between now and September 15, 2024, MCF will match every donation—dollar for dollar—up to $75,000. No amount is too small and every dollar makes a difference.
Maps members can donate in several ways:
- Online Banking. Members can go to our online system and fill out a transfer request.
- Send an Email. Members can email us at maps@mapscu.com and ask to have money directly transferred.
- Call the Maps Contact Center. You can call us at 503-588-0181 to request a transfer from your account to the Maps Education Fund.
For more information about the Maps Education Fund, please call Kim Hanson, Executive Director, Maps Community Foundation at 971-382-0177 or email khanson@mapscu.com.
FAQs
Why can’t Maps Credit Union just donate more?
To do the kind of work it wants to do, Maps Community Foundation must qualify as a 501(c)(3) public charity and pass the Internal Revenue Service “public support test”. This means that the charity must be supported by the general public and receive a significant amount of its revenue (at least 33%) from small donors and diverse sources that give less than 2% of the nonprofit’s overall receipts.
How much of the public-donated funds go to education initiatives?
100% of the money donated from the community to the MCF Education Fund goes to fund education initiatives like Teacher Grants and Scholarships.
Are my donations tax deductible?
Yes. The Maps Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so all monetary donations are tax-deductible. Every dollar counts and we are so grateful for your support.
Can I donate via check?
Yes. Donations can be made via checks or money orders made out to Maps Community Foundation. Please include a note that funds are for the Maps Education Fund. Mail check or money order donations to: Maps Education Fund, c/o Maps Community Foundation, P.O. Box 12398, Salem, Oregon, 97309.
Can I donate in person?
Yes! Stop by any Maps branch or deliver donations directly to our Professional Center at 465 Division Street NE in Salem or dropped off at any of our branches.