FAQs about FOJ

1What is Friends of Jefferson?
Friends of Jefferson, also known as FOJ, is the school foundation for Jefferson Elementary. A foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation that raises funds and support certain causes. In the case of FOJ, we pay for educational and enrichment activities at Jefferson Elementary. We also focus on community outreach, public relations, and volunteering to help out in any way we can for the school.
2How is FOJ different from the PTA?
Since we are not bound by all of the regulations and procedures of PTA, we can be more creative in how we raise money, and more flexible in how we spend it. Parents and teachers voted in 2021 to merge Friends of Jefferson and the PTA into a single parent teacher organization (PTO) for Jefferson Elementary.
3What has FOJ done for the school?
We have funded after-school clubs, organized the Jefferson Holiday Program at Observatory North Park, built planter boxes in the Literacy Garden, and funded the Gardening Program, to name just a few projects. We have also done quite a bit of public relations work to raise Jefferson’s profile, appearing on local TV, doing newspaper interviews, and writing articles for local newspapers and websites. Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, we funded art education for all students through ArtReach San Diego. In 2021-2022, we began funding dance classes and expanded our garden program by building an Outdoor Learning Center.
4What are FOJs goals for this year?
The 2021-2022 school year is our most ambitious to date. We expanded our budget by 50%, adding dance in addition to art and garden classes. We are also sponsoring after-school clubs and supporting the STEAM program.
5How much money does FOJ raise and spend each year?
The scope of our work has grown every year since we started in 2014. Our budget for the 2021-2022 school year is $75,000, a 50% increase from previous years. Our goal is to raise $60,000 through Jog-a-thon, $10,000 through our community outreach program, and $5,000 from grants.
6How can I get involved?
Sign up for our email list! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Come to our monthly meetings on the last Wednesday of each month! Email us at friendsofjeffersonnp@gmail.com!