Forming a Foundation
From $10,000 on Hold to a $350,000+ Scholarship Fund
The Challenge
A private Christian school wanted to expand financial aid, but had no mechanism in place to grow or manage donor funds.
Meanwhile, while students waited for support, $10,000 in designated gifts sat unused and uninvested in until 2017.
What We Did:
Hosted donor dinners to build relationships and momentum
Convene an organizing team of donors and leaders
Launched a foundation with legal and governance structure
Set up strategic investment systems to steward incoming gifts
The Takeaway:
Foundations don’t form by accident—but they can start with just a spark.
Grants go to groups with vision and a plan…not just a need.
True North helps organizations build for long-term impact, one gift at a time.
The Results:
$10,000 grew to $350,000+
$12,000+ awarded annually in need-based scholarships
Donor gifts and grants from $5K–$50K
A fully functional foundation now supports student success, mission-aligned access and equity
