Programs

The Forsyth County Education Foundation is an opportunity for the community to partner with Forsyth County Schools (FCS) to foster innovation for increased student achievement by unifying resources not ordinarily provided by the district’s operating budget. As the fifth-largest district in Georgia, FCS serves over 55,300 students representing 129 countries and 69 languages. Since 2010, FCS has grown by 43% and is home to 42 schools – 23 elementary, 11 middle, seven high, and one college and career high school. 

• Grants

All schools and district departments are eligible to apply annually, each fall, for a grant. They are awarded Publisher Clearing House Style on #FoundationFriYAY!  We have funded programs in various areas, including STEM/STEAM, Social-Emotional Learning, literacy, fine arts, mental health, and more.  The total impact since 2016: Over $500,000 in grants impacting 108,548 students!

• Students: Have a scholarship or want to establish a scholarship to make a difference in a student or staff member’s life? We take care of the application and marketing, and, if you so choose, even the selection and presentation. Scholarships are excellent ways to honor loved ones!
• Staff: Click here to learn more about the 2024-25 staff scholarship winners.
• Assistance for Students in Need: Dining with Dignity program 

Dining with Dignity was launched in 2019. Donations are placed in the school’s cafeteria house account to provide students with a hot meal of their choice instead of a complimentary meal. Any funds remaining in the house account will roll over to the next school year to assist additional students. In the 2025-26 school year, $13,243.20 was raised to ensure all students received a hot meal.

The Duck Dive for Education is an annual community event that raises funds by encouraging rubber duck adoptions. A lucky duck number is drawn, and the winner receives $10,000. Funding supports innovative school grants. In 2026, the Duck Dive had 35 sponsors who donated $59,750 and 7,225 ducks were adopted, helping make this year's event a success.

Funds raised from the Duck Dive are used to fund grants awarded to schools through Foundation friYaY in September of each year. These grants range from PBIS to wellness to STEAM to literacy. In 2025, 36 grants totaling $135,564.35 were awarded to schools across FCS, helping support programs that make a difference.

The Forsyth County Education Foundation, in partnership with Mark Heard Fuel Company, proudly presents Fueling the Future! First-Year Teacher Grants during New Educator Orientation. Each year, four $500 grants are awarded to new teachers in Forsyth County Schools—at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels—to support innovative classroom projects and programs for the upcoming school year.

The Dr. Jim and Peggie Morrow Glow Run for Educators continues the work the Morrows started with BYOT many years ago. The Foundation holds this 5K race and fun run each year to raise funds to help FCS staff further their education. In 2025, the Glow Run had 23 sponsors with $19,000 in sponsorship donations. There were 627 participants, bringing in a total of $19,942.

With funds raised from the Glow Run, the Foundation awards staff scholarships to teachers pursuing advanced degrees, recognizing the vital role of professional development in teacher retention. In 2025, 15 scholarships were given out for $2,500 each.

In 2025, the FoCAL Center was proud to work with the Forsyth County Education Foundation to launch an annual grant distribution process for fine arts programming in Forsyth County Schools. Thanks to community support for the Community Theater Series, the FoCAL Center is able to make this investment in our schools. Each year, the grant will award up to four $2,500 grants and two $5,000 grants.

In partnership with the FoCAL Center, the Foundation offers scholarships to seniors who serve as mentors during the annual Penguin Project show. The first Penguin Project Mentor Scholarships were awarded during the production of Finding Nemo Jr. in January 2024, and the second winners were awarded during The Lion King Jr. in January 2025.