Make an Impact Today

Please support TOPS with a donation.

Why do we need your support?

At Friends of TOPS (FOT), our primary mission is to support curriculum enrichment and community-building initiatives. In recent years, FOT has also voted to allocate funds toward teacher salaries to cover the gap in the district budget.

Every March, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) distributes budgets to schools for the upcoming academic year. These budgets are determined by projected student enrollment, which directly impacts funding for school staffing.

TOPS has traditionally enrolled ~490 students. However, over the past few years, the district has capped our enrollment at lower numbers. For the upcoming year, our budget is based on an enrollment of just 460 students—even though we continue to have long waitlists. This reduction in projected enrollment means less funding for the teachers who are the heart of our community.

We are actively advocating for increased and more stable public school funding from the state legislature. We are also advocating for transparency and renewed support for Open Enrollment for Option Schools with the Seattle Public School Board. In the meantime, without additional funding, we risk losing a valued teacher—someone who has built meaningful relationships with our students—and face potential impacts to key programs such as art, music, and counseling.

Friends of TOPS (FOT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising organization composed of family members and caregivers of TOPS students. It is administered by the TOPS Site Council, which serves as the Board of Directors. The EIN: 94-3142402.

Please consider supporting our community so that we can continue to support enrichment, community events, and our students and teachers.

You can donate in multiple ways - via PayPal or by mailing us a check (details below):

1) Where? Annual Fund, Equity Fund - or both

2) How Often? Recurring or One-time payments

3) Don’t forget…matching employer donations

4) Payments? Via PayPal or by mailing us a check

5) Join us for key fundraising events!

For more information: Friends of TOPS 2024-25 Budget & Fundraising Frequently Asked Questions