At Northern Lights, every laugh in the classroom, every “aha!” moment, every new friendship on the playground—it all comes together because of one thing: our amazing community.
This year, we’re inviting our families and friends to be part of the team that makes it all possible. When we receive a donation, it’s not just giving funds—it’s fueling art projects, science experiments, outdoor exploration, playground adventures, and all the little moments that add up to a big, joyful education.
The theme for our fundraising campaign is “Shine Bright”. We are going to spend the next 6 weeks celebrating this idea, highlighting all the ways that Northern Lights helps students shine bright.
Our goal is to involve everyone in our community in making this campaign succeed. For many, that will be with a financial contribution. Click the link below to give. But ALL support is still valuable. See below for opportunities to support Northern Lights.
Let’s cheer each other on, celebrate what we’re building together, and make this the best year yet.
Thank you for being an important part of our story. We couldn’t do it without you!
As a public charter school, St. Paul School of Northern Lights receives both federal and state funding for operation. However, unlike public school districts, charter schools are unable to benefit from local property taxes or levies; this difference has significant budgetary impact. Northern Lights receives approximately $8500 less per pupil (39%) than St. Paul Public Schools.
Fundraising is necessary to maintain a balanced budget for our school. We need our community to show their support by investing in what we are doing at Northern Lights.
You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring donations
No donation is too small—any amount will help us reach our goal
Consider asking your employer if they have a donation matching program
Donations can also be made via cash, check, or stock
We don’t expect everyone to make a monetary donation. Students come from households that look different in many ways, including financially. But, we hope you will think deeply about a meaningful, generous contribution to help sustain and improve our facilities and educational offerings for all students.
A donation is only one of many meaningful ways to contribute to Northern Lights. These are other meaningful ways to support the school:
Tell people about the school! Enrollment is our most significant source of funding.
Get involved with the Parent & Family Group, our school's version of a PTA, and work on staff appreciation, fun events, and/or fundraisers to support our school community.
Ask friends and family to donate.
You are a valued member of this school community, and we look forward to your continued involvement and contribution to Help Northern Lights Shine Bright!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this going to happen every year?
Yes!
Do I have to donate?
Absolutely not. Donations are not required.
Will the funds always go into the general fund?
Probably not. This year, we would like to build our general fund back up to support the overall financial wellness of the school, but future campaigns may have different goals.
Do other schools have to fundraise?
Many schools choose to fundraise, and most other charter schools have similar annual fundraising campaigns. Even public school districts often have fundraisers.
What’s the difference between donating to Help Northern Lights Shine Bright and donating to the Parent & Family Group?
St. Paul School of Northern Lights and the Parent & Family Group are separate entities with separate financial structures and goals. The school educates our children, and this fall fundraiser will strengthen the school’s general fund. The PFG supports our community of students, staff, and families, and donations to them go towards fun events, staff appreciation, and building connections within our school community.
Where did you get the data for funding per pupil?
St. Paul Public School Fiscal Data
St. Paul School of Northern Lights Fiscal Data
Who can I contact with questions, comments, and feedback?
Feel free to reach out to Northern Lights school board chair Steve Voerding at steve.v@schoolofnorthernlights.org.