FAQs

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the Helios Education Foundation. If you have question that is not addressed here, please email us at info@helios.org

1) What is Helios Education Foundation?
2) How was Helios Education Foundation started?
3) Why does the Foundation focus exclusively on education?
4) What areas within education does Helios Education Foundation invest?
5) How do you receive funding from Helios Education Foundation?
6) What are Helios Education Foundation's investment guidelines?
7) How much money does Helios invest in education each year?
8) Does Helios Education Foundation engage in fundraising to ensure the future of the endowment?
9) Will Helios fund education initiatives only in Arizona and Florida?
10) Who is Helios' leadership and governance team?
11) What kind of impact does Helios Education Foundation hope to have in education?

1) What is Helios Education Foundation?
Helios Education Foundation is one of the largest nonprofit organizations focused exclusively on education within Arizona and Florida. Established in 2004, the Foundation’s mission is to enrich the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation works to improve student success across the education continuum in the areas of: Early Childhood Education; the Transition Years (Grades 5 – 12); and Postsecondary Scholarships.

2) How was Helios Education Foundation started?
Helios Education Foundation was created in 2004 through the conversion, reorganization and ultimate sale of Southwest Student Services Corporation (Southwest), and its affiliates Arizona Educational Loan Marketing Corporation (AELMAC) and Florida Educational Loan Marketing Corporation (FELMAC). Southwest was a full-service provider of student loan products and services to students, families and schools in Arizona, Florida and nationally. At the time of the reorganization, Southwest was the eighth largest holder of federally insured student loans in the country. And upon its sale to SLM Corporation, the $500 million in net proceeds was used to create an endowment for the Helios Education Foundation to support its work in enriching lives by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education.

3) Why does the Foundation focus exclusively on education?
At Helios Education Foundation, we believe education is a catalyst to change lives and strengthen communities. Our vision is for every individual in Arizona and Florida to have the opportunity to attend and be prepared to succeed in postsecondary education. Because Helios’ endowment was created with the net proceeds from the sale of Southwest Student Services, a full-service student loan products and services provider, our roots are in education and in helping individuals gain access to postsecondary education opportunities. Thus, we wanted to stay focused on the area that made our work possible and where we believe we can have the greatest impact on individuals, communities and our nation.

4) What areas within education does Helios Education Foundation invest?
Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to enriching lives in Arizona and Florida. Through a thoughtful research and planning process, the Foundation has identified three areas within education to contribute its expertise, leadership and financial resources including Early Childhood Education; the Transition Years (Grades 5-12); and Postsecondary Scholarships. Within Early Childhood Education, Helios is focusing on improving teacher quality. Our efforts in the Transition Years are to improve teacher quality, curriculum rigor, student readiness, and parent and teacher involvement. Increasing access to and the successful completion of higher education and/or vocational training through financial and other support is our emphasis within Postsecondary Scholarships.

5) How do you receive funding from Helios Education Foundation?
Helios Education Foundation only accepts solicited requests for funding. As we build our team of experts, we plan to have staff actively engaged in the education arena within Arizona and Florida—seeking out best practices, innovative approaches and other opportunities. We want to strategically partner with organizations from both the public and private sectors to strengthen and transform the education system as well as increase student success. The Foundation will invite proposals from organization’s performing great work within our impact areas of Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (Grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships. Organizations receiving funding must meet the following criteria:

Be a qualified 501(c)(3) organization that has been in existence for at least 2 years or a public entity;
Provide services or programs within Arizona and/or Florida;
Be an educational organization that provides instruction, training or improvements to individual capabilities (e.g. school, college or university); or an education support organization (e.g. Local Education Fund, reform support organization or other education-related intermediary); or a group which provides instruction to the public on subjects useful and beneficial to the community (e.g. Cultural organization, zoo or community-based organization);
Have and be in compliance with an Equal Opportunity Employer policy;
Be in compliance with local, state and federal Anti-discrimination laws; and
Certify that you do not knowingly support, employ or do business with, directly or indirectly, individuals, entities, or groups that are subject to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions or those known to support terrorism or to have violated OFAC sanctions.

Helios does not provide scholarships directly to individuals but will partner with other organizations to provide the funding for scholarships and other education related programs.

6) What are Helios Education Foundation's investment guidelines?
Helios Education Foundation does not support capital campaigns, nor will it provide support to schools for general operating funds, teacher recruitment, professional development or classroom materials unless related to a specific program or initiative to be funded. Helios Education Foundation will provide funding for administrative expenses limited to 10% of the overall proposal, but will not support expenses that expand the organization’s mission in an attempt to secure funds, replace public funds or support ongoing operations.

7) How much money does Helios invest in education each year?
Helios anticipates investing up to $25 million in effective, innovative and results-oriented education programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida each year. Although there is no pre-determined amount for how much will be invested annually or within each state, the Foundation is steadily increasing its yearly investments. The Foundation's total investments since our inception exceed $44 million.

8) Does Helios Education Foundation engage in fundraising to ensure the future of the endowment?
Helios does not plan to engage in fundraising activities. It is anticipated that earnings on the existing endowment will ensure the Foundation’s endowment into the future.

9) Will Helios fund education initiatives only in Arizona and Florida?
Helios Education Foundation will focus its grant making activities on education initiatives in Arizona and Florida and on initiatives that assist individuals in Arizona and Florida.

10) Who is Helios' leadership and governance team?
Vince Roig, founder and former Chairman, President and CEO of Southwest, is Chairman of the Board of Helios Education Foundation. Paul J. Luna serves as President and CEO. The Foundation is governed by a seven member Board of Directors comprised of individuals with strong ties to Arizona and Florida. In addition to Mr. Roig and Mr. Luna, the Board includes: Don Aripoli, VP of Student Affairs of Missouri State University; Tom Herndon, retired Executive Director of the Florida State Board of Administration; William Jenkins, retired teacher; Dr. Ioanna Morfessis of IO.INC, and Camelback Community Bank Chairman, Barbara Ralston.

11) What kind of impact does Helios Education Foundation hope to have in education?
With the mission to enrich lives by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education, Helios hopes to explore, convene, educate, lead and inspire within education in Arizona and Florida. Focused on Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (Grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships, Helios strives to increase the number of children, ages 0-5, entering school ready to succeed; help youth stay in school, transition through the various stages of education and graduate academically prepared; and increase access to higher education and vocational opportunities through financial and other support so that individuals successfully complete a postsecondary program with the skills and knowledge to compete in a competitive, global economy.