about us : mission

BHS Exterior
The 21st Century Fund is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 by a dedicated group of parents, alumni and Brookline residents to serve as a sustainable source of funding for new approaches to major challenges in public high school education. In short, the 21st Century Fund provides “venture capital for public education.”

Tax dollars finance the major operational and capital needs at Brookline High School, but they cannot be the sole source of funding. Private donations play a critical role in the success of public education by making it possible to try new ideas, new approaches for facing challenges, and for seizing opportunities.

The 21st Century Fund directs its support to programs from one or more of the following categories:
  • Fostering academic achievement for all students
  • Supporting a world-class faculty
  • Educating students to be leaders and citizens in a changing world.
  • Integrating technology into the curriculum.
Initiatives in these program areas are designed to serve as models for other public high schools in addressing similar challenges. Current national challenges the 21st Century Fund programs seek to address include narrowing the achievement gap and increasing the personalization of education.

Initiatives currently supported by the 21st Century Fund include Engineering by Design, Family Partnership, Freshman Center, and Social Justice Leadership. Our new programs for the 2008-2009 school year include Arts Infusion, Enhanced Tutorial, Political Literacy, and the Ithaka Project. Past programs funded by the 21st Century Fund include the African American Scholars Program, The Good Citizen in a Good Society Senior Seminar and Teachers Mentoring Teachers Program.

The 21st Century Fund receives tax-deductible contributions from the families of students, from BHS alumni, and from the broader Brookline community. The signature event to raise funds is the annual Gala held each fall. We are continuing to develop and add more community events and opportunities for participation as we explore ways to bring the community together in support of Brookline High School.