Good morning, Kristin,

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit several schools with Vivian Shannon, Executive Director of the Fulcrum Foundation. With the new school year underway, the fresh scent of paint still lingered in the hallways, and the floors gleamed with a fresh coat of wax—clear signs of the hard work that goes into preparing for a new academic year.

At one school, parents, staff, and students all shared the same observation about the summer improvements: night and day! This is an apt description of the transformation that occurs during the summer. Tired classrooms, hallways, walls, and floors are renewed. While some years bring larger changes than others, our schools always evolve, both in big and small ways.

It was fitting that the reading chosen to bless the school came from Matthew’s Gospel, reminding us: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” Like the transformation from night to day, Catholic schools become beacons of light, preparing our students to carry that light into the world as disciples.

With gratitude, 

NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent

Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle

Assign a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Coordinator Today

Please use this linked form to designate a TAP Coordinator as the main contact for all questions related to the Fulcrum's Tuition Assistance Program for the 24-25 school year. For inquiries, email Susan Ocoma or call 206.748.7988.

Fulcrum New Student Tuition Assistance Grant Program 2024-2025 – Deadline September 30th 

Fulcrum’s New Student Tuition Assistance Program, formerly known as Rolling Tuition Assistance Program (RTAP), is currently open. The deadline to submit grant requests for this program is September 30, 2024. This program is open to all schools that participate in the Fulcrum Foundation Tuition Assistance Grant Program, commonly known as TAP.

This program is different than TAP in that families do not apply for the program on their own. Schools administer this program at the local level and determine whether a family qualifies using a form provided by Fulcrum. In short, a family must: 

• be new to Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle for the 2024-2025 school year (transfer students from other Catholic schools in the Archdiocese are not eligible)
• not have been awarded a Fulcrum TAP grant for 2024-2025
• qualify for the Federal Reduced Lunch Program
• students awarded grants must be in grades K-8 

After a school has determined that a family qualifies, they will submit the form to Fulcrum via email. Grants in the amount of $1,000 each are then approved by Fulcrum on a first come, first served basis until a school has met its max number of grants (3) or program funding has been exhausted for the year ($70,000 total). We will accept grant requests from schools from March 25, 2024, through September 30, 2024.

LINK to Program Overview

LINK to Grant Request Form 

It’s important to note that these are one-time grants for students that are new to the school. They are not renewable. In future years, families are expected to apply to the Fulcrum Foundation Tuition Assistance Grant Program (TAP) via FACTS which they may or may not qualify for based on their current financial information in relation to the total pool of applicants. 

Questions? Contact Susan Ocoma at 206.748.7988 or susan.ocoma@fulcrumfoundation.org. 

The Staff and Board of the Fulcrum Foundation wish you a fantastic school year!

We look forward to partnering with you and your teachers throughout the year. We love hearing from you! Please share photos, stories, and testimonies from the many inspiring and innovative activities happening in your community. Send your photos or story ideas to Amy Hall, Senior Advancement Director at hall.amy@fulcrumfoundation.org and we will share your good work with our donors and friends. We are holding you in our prayers as you embark on the new year.