NCSSM Foundation

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Empowering the Next Generation Through Philanthropy

The NCSSM Foundation was created in 1979 with the specific purpose of providing private, philanthropic support to the school. For more than four decades, the Foundation has advanced the academic aspirations of talented North Carolina students across our Residential program at Durham and Morganton, as well as our NCSSM Online and distance education programs.

Our Mission

The mission of the NCSSM Foundation, a philanthropic organization of broad-based business, community and education leaders, is to support the School in accomplishing its mission by:

Inspiring individuals, foundations, corporations and governmental entities to invest the financial resources necessary for the School to operate without constraint, and
Developing and leveraging strategic relationships and expertise to advance the School.

Meet the Foundation Board of Directors

1979: NCSSM Foundation established
1980: Durham campus opened
1980-1983: Threshold Campaign raised $7M, including $5M for renovating the Durham campus
2002-2009: Odyssey Campaign raised $10M, including advancements for campus technology, outreach programs, and endowments
2022: Morganton campus opened
2015-2025: Ignite+Transform Campaign raised $86M from 8,400 donors (the largest known campaign for a public high school in the United States)

I give because NCSSM was life changing for me. Not only did I receive a great education but also met lifetime friends.”
—Recent donor, Class of 2004

Working Together: Our Sources of Funding

NCSSM is supported by two main partners: the State of North Carolina and donors to the NCSSM Foundation.

State Funding: The Operational Base

State funding covers 90% of the essential operations of the school — things like salaries, utilities, and maintenance. While this keeps NCSSM running, it leaves little room for many of the experiences that make the school exceptional, such as lab supplies, enrichment programs, mentorship, and extracurricular opportunities. That’s where the NCSSM Foundation comes in.

NCSSM Foundation: The Margin of Excellence

Established even before the school opened, the Foundation exists to bridge the gap between what state funding provides and what students truly need to thrive, and it provides 10% of the school’s operational costs annually. As the school’s official 501(c)(3) partner, the Foundation is the only organization authorized to raise and manage private support for NCSSM — and the only way to make tax-deductible contributions.

Together, public funding and private philanthropy ensure NCSSM can deliver on its mission for students across North Carolina.