223 Mill Creek Road
Jacksonville, FL 32211
phone: 904-724-8323
fax: 904-724-8325

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Ways to Donate

There are so many ways in which you can have a positive and meaningful impact on the students with mild to moderate disabilities attending North Florida School of Special Education. Your contributions help make NFSSE Jacksonville’s leader in providing academic programs, vocational training, job placement services, independent living instruction and therapeutic resources to students with special needs. Your gift is appreciated and truly makes a difference for our students’ futures. If you'd like to help out in any of the ways mentioned below, please contact Melanie Jensen, Director of Development (904) 724-8326 or mjensen@northfloridaschool.org

• Monetary Contributions
  Whether for a specific need or as an unrestricted gift, your generosity makes a difference in the programs which we provide to our students. Your gift is tax-deductible and helps us to improve the academic and therapeutic services offered to students attending NFSSE.
• Annual Fund Contributions
  Each school year, funding requests are made through our Annual Fund Campaign which enable NFSSE to enhance our many areas of need. Through the Annual Fund Campaign, you are able to designate your monetary gift to one of the following areas of giving:
  • Academic Fund – NFSSE offers students a safe and nurturing learning environment. Students are individually assessed to provide a unique education plan that meets his/her academic needs and realistic goals. Each student’s educational program is based on the child’s strengths, areas for improvement and needs.
  • Operations Fund – Our beautiful facility, housing 65-68 students per school year, requires funding to operate both safely and efficiently. Typical costs of operating include ongoing expenses such as building and grounds maintenance, utilities, staff salaries, maintaining school equipment, computer software/hardware support, office and classroom supplies, special classroom needs, and printing costs.
  • Enrichment Fund – Teachers strive to expose students to the many cultural and educational opportunities in our community. Class field trips are designed to enhance and stimulate the learning experience, as well as coincide with current curriculum studies. Enrichment studies also include “life skills training” which might include grocery shopping or a ride on the JTA Skyway. All help to familiarize students to “real” life, thus helping to create a more independent future. Funding assists in related costs, such as transportation, admittance fees, and other special project related costs.
  • Transition/Vocational Fund – Students ranging in age from 18-22 years participate in a two-track program. This program is designed to provide real life work experience at local businesses, organizations, and community service agencies. The Transition Program at NFSSE stresses job training, independent living and social skills, and provides a strong support system to help graduates obtain and maintain employment.
  • Resource Therapy Fund – Our therapists focus on integrating therapeutic approaches not only individually, but within the classroom. The Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists assist in setting up the classroom and academic presentations which take into consideration the visual, auditory, and sensory processing needs of our students. Gifts would provide: Individual therapy services; Specialized sensory materials; and/or Replenish and enrich therapy program materials.
• Matching Gifts
  Many companies offer employees a Matching Gift Program. This allows an employee to designate a portion of their income to the non-profit of their choice. Companies match your designated monetary gift, which doubles the value to the school. Please contact your employer about its Matching Gift Program. We appreciate you choosing NFSSE as the recipient of your donation!
• Special Events Underwriter & Donor
  Throughout the year, NFSSE hosts fundraisers benefiting North Florida School of Special Education. These include the Annual RiverHops dinner, a gourmet pairing dinner; 1 Mile Fun Walk/5K Run; Women’s Auxiliary Cookbook; Love My School Dinner & Auction; Fall Wine Dinner; and many other planned projects and events. Information for fundraising projects and special events are available through Melanie Jensen, Director of Development (904) 724-8326 or mjensen@northfloridaschool.org.
• Gifts In-Kind
  Donations of your time, equipment, furniture, new kitchen appliances for our teaching kitchen, technology, silent and live auction items, catering and more. The donor, through appraisal, market comparisons or record of purchase, determines the value of the gift. If the Gift In-Kind is of direct or immediate need to the school in fulfilling its mission (i.e., new computer equipment for instructional use), the donor may deduct the full fair market value. Please see our Wish List for items that we are currently seeking.
• Classroom Adoption Program
  A wonderful opportunity for a business, civic organization, or individual to make a difference in the lives of our student body. The Classroom Adoption Program allows you to select the educational level of most interest to you (Elementary, Middle, Junior High, Senior High, or one of our 2 Transition Programs) and underwrite a portion of the expenses associated to that program for the school-year. Your donation will assist with teaching materials, educational tools, books, computer software and many other important items used to enhance our academic programs. A plaque will highlight you as the organization or business adopting that grade level for the school year. Additionally, you will be invited to join students for your choice of a breakfast or lunch during the year, as well as, the opportunity to join students to visit your place of work or volunteer during a classroom special project or outing. It’s a very rewarding experience and directly impacts that group of students!
• Scholarship Fund
  In fulfilling our non-profit charter, NFSSE offers a number of students with financial assistance towards annual tuition. Ninety-eight percent of our students receive some kind of financial assistance. Your donation allows us to continue this important funding source and gives more children with developmental disabilities the opportunity to receive NFSSE’s outstanding academic programs, therapeutic resources, employment training, and social skills and life skills instruction.
• Planned Giving
  Deferred giving, often referred to as “planned giving”, allows most any individual to provide a gift to NFSSE while carrying out personal financial goals. Through planned giving, donors may find they are able to make a more generous gift while receiving financial benefits such as increased current income, tax savings, avoidance of capital-gains tax, and reduced estate settlement costs. Please notify the school if you have already included North Florida School of Special Education in your estate planning. Available planned giving includes: Charitable Trust Funds, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts, Life Insurance, and Charitable Trust Leads.  Please consult your financial planner when planning a gift to the school.

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