Lowndes Education Improvement Foundation (LEIF)

The Lowndes Education Improvement Foundation (LEIF) is a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to promoting excellence in education. LEIF’s goal is to aid our public school system by utilizing tax-deductible funds to provide improved educational opportunities for the students and teachers of the Lowndes County School Systems. LEIF is a private, third party, non-profit corporation dedicated to using community resources to achieve excellence in Lowndes County Schools. The foundation consists of 15 Board Members, plus ex-officio - the Superintendent of Lowndes County Schools and a designee of Lowndes County Board of Education.

The foundation's efforts are concentrated on improving all classroom performance, improving all administrative performance, increasing the quality and quantity of parent participation, and recognition of excellent performance by staff, students, and parents. Our goals focus on:

  1. broadening support constituency for Lowndes County Schools
  2. improving communication between Lowndes County Schools and public
  3. breaking down isolation of schools from the community
  4. building public confidence in schools
  5. catalyzing initiative for school improvement
  6. leveraging community resources on behalf of LCS

Our efforts and goals are implemented through the programs that we not only fund but also facilitate. These programs are:

  • Teacher Incentive Grants provide teachers with resources to explore new teaching techniques and develop creative classroom projects to enhance student learning. Mini-grants of up to $500 per project are awarded to teachers on a competitive basis. All teachers in LCS are eligible to apply.
  • Motivating, focusing, and promoting student achievement by recognizing high performing students at a banquet in the spring of each school year.
  • Increasing parent's involvement is important to their children's education. LEIF promotes volunteerism, parent-teacher partnerships, and sponsors the Parent University program offered to all parents in February.
  • Scholarships for graduating high school seniors - LEIF serves as the fiscal agent for eleven scholarship programs.
  • Special Projects which are added as needs arise.

LEIF's revenue consists of tax-deductible, corporate and individual contributions. Employees of the Lowndes County School District provide generous contributions to LEIF through an internal campaign at the facility. It is through these partnerships that we are able to improve educational opportunities and recognize outstanding performance from students, staff, and parents. All donations are welcomed!

Contributions of $250 or more earn a leaf in the Feazell Giving Tree. The Feazell Giving Tree is beautifully crafted by students in the LHS Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Department, and is displayed in the entrance of the Board of Education Office. Leaves on the tree represent annual gifts to the Foundation in the following categories:

  • Gold Oak LEIF $1,000 & Above
  • Silver Oak LEIF $500 - $999
  • Bronze Oak LEIF $250 - $499

These programs could not be possible without funds. LEIF seeks and accepts gifts of cash and negotiable securities, real property, deferred gifts (estate, insurance), and in-kind services.

For more information on how you can make a donation please contact Lauren Pope at 229.316.1810