MIFFLINTOWN — A new non-profit foundation is taking shape in Juniata County, one that organizers say could open the door to long-term fundraising, major project support and expanded opportunities for students across the school district.

The proposed Juniata County School District Endowment Foundation was introduced during a board of directors workshop meeting at the administration office in Mifflintown on Tuesday, June 9, where organizers outlined how the group could help the district pursue projects that fall outside the reach of traditional school funding.

The foundation is being developed by Simon Cameron, Jon Hart, Caleb Shertzer and Shanna Varner, who attended the workshop to explain how the organization would function once fully established. Varner, who has helped several local groups navigate the non-profit process, told the board that her experience began in 2019 when she assisted in forming the Juniata Elementary School PTO.

“Ever since then I’ve been approached by other non-profits locally to help them finish out their non-profit and so forth,” Varner said. “Most recently, I just helped the Mifflin (Central Juniata) pool transition from a shareholder to a non-profit.”

The new foundation is currently working toward obtaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Varner described the process as covered and detailed, but said she is confident she can help guide it based on her previous experience.

She told the board that once the foundation is fully established, it will be able to support a wide range of needs throughout the district. “It’s looking to incorporate everything that you want to support within the district,” Varner said. “It’s actually endless, the opportunities that they can establish and (use to) support the students of the district.

“Even if it’s not something that is established now, they can incorporate that into the bylaws so that any future programs that you decide to bring into the district (are) already covered in their bylaws,” she added.

A structure designed for flexibility

Director Gabby Fisher asked whether the school board would be involved with the foundation’s decision-making process. Varner explained that while the foundation will act independently, the board will still be able to weigh in on options and oversee how donations are handled. All donations, she emphasized, would still require school board approval.

Hart noted that the inspiration for the foundation came from a simple question: how do you fund major projects without relying on the school budget? He recalled learning that the football team hoped to build a new field house for equipment and operations.

“How do you get a field house started?” Hart said. “What does that look like? Donations coming in? Because that would be a very expensive project, something that we didn’t want to ask the school to fund. How can we get donation dollars to fund that type of project?”

Hart said the foundation would give families, alumni and businesses a clear path to support projects of all sizes.

“There are folks that do want to put funds into our community, and that’s what we’re looking to establish,” he said. “We want this thing to be lifelong, (involving) many, many generations. All colleges across America have endowments, and those endowments fund all different types of programs, if it’s sports, if it’s education, that’s what we want to create at Juniata County. This thing is for not just the generation here today, but for many generations forward, that people can continue to fund and let it grow.”

Donors choose where their money goes

Director Jackson Albert asked who would decide how donations are allocated. Varner explained that donors will have full control over where their contributions are directed.

“It will be structured that it will incorporate everybody, every group, no matter what that donation is,” Varner said. “It will be specified where they want to see that money go and spent.”

The foundation will operate independently from the school district, and organizers are in the process of forming a governing board. Varner said she will not hold a position once the board is established, allowing her to remain a neutral guide during the formation process.

Directors praise the effort

Directors expressed strong support for the foundation and the potential it holds for students. Vice president Terrance Shepler offered one of the most enthusiastic endorsements.

“I admire you guys taking the initiative to do it,” Shepler said. “I’ve seen what it provides for the students in our district, and it’s out of this world, and you’ve got local businesses that will be all about this.”

The foundation remains in development as organizers work through the final steps of securing nonprofit status. Once approved, it could become one of the most significant fundraising tools the district has ever had — a long-term investment in students, programs and opportunities yet to be imagined.