About 10 years after HSLDA’s founding
in 1983, we started to form an idea. What if
HSLDA could encourage and support the
greater homeschooling community by providing financial assistance to meet specific
needs? This idea resulted in the official formation of the Home School Foundation, which
began by offering grants to assist homeschooling organizations.
Then, in 2000, the foundation increased its
reach to individual homeschooling families
when a donor with a heart for widows offered
a sizeable gift to help bereaved children and
spouses. From there, the mission of offering
grants to assist families grew to include children with special needs (2002), single parents
and victims of disaster (2005), and military
families (2012).
The foundation then merged with HSLDA in
2018, enabling us to offer these grants directly. In fiscal year 2022, we were privileged to
give out nearly $1.9 million to homeschooling
groups and families across the US and our
territories.
For comparison, in 2002, that figure was
$224,000. In 20 years, we have realized an
848% increase in grant funding. This is only
possible because of caring donors and a loving
God who answers prayer.
Seeing the bigger picture
The history of HSLDA’s grants tells the
tenderhearted account of a small staff, a
handful of committed donors, and thousands
of children and parents. Through the generosity of HSLDA’s donors, we’ve had the honor of
placing more than $13 million into the hands
of homeschooling families in the past 40 years.
Like threads that weave together from behind
to form a grand picture, we don’t always see the
tapestry taking shape. But when parents email
us or call in and share the struggles that were
overcome when a grant check arrived in the
mail, we catch a glimpse of the beautiful front
side of their story taking its place in the tapestry.
One thread
Becky Joy, a 2007 grant recipient, recounted
the resonating impact the grant funds have had on her family—16 years later.
One day in 2007, Becky’s husband told her
he “didn’t feel well,” and went to lie down. But
Becky felt that something wasn’t right: “I had a
funny feeling and went to check on him just 15
minutes later.”
She found her husband slumped over on the
bed, passed away from a pulmonary embolism—and just like that, the family lost a godly
husband, a leader, and an adored father of
eight children.
“He was self-employed, and so the kids
would spend hours upon hours with him.
They went with him to job sites, listened and
learned from him, and developed a strong
work ethic,” Becky shared.
Grief overwhelmed the family—and tight
finances made the future of their homeschooling journey uncertain.
But Becky had great faith. She recalls finding
strength in Psalm 119: “God is good, in times
of despair and intense sorrow. I didn’t know
how, but I knew He would take care of us.”
After losing her husband, a friend told her
about a Widows Grant through the Home
School Foundation and encouraged her to
apply. Becky found new freedom in the learning materials she could offer her children
because of the flexibility afforded by the grant.
Up until that time, they couldn’t afford to
get creative with their curriculum. “We bought
one style and used it with all the kids because
that’s all we had to spend, even though it wasn’t the best curriculum for some of them.
HSLDA’s grant gave me the opportunity to try
options and find the best fit for my kids who
were dealing with the trauma of losing their
dad.”
The grant comforted Becky even beyond the
newfound curriculum options: “The scholarships made me feel less alone. It encouraged
me so much as a widow.”
Weaving it all together
Today, 16 years later, Becky is remarried and
continues to homeschool her last child, having
graduated the other seven who have gone
on to occupations of their own interest, and
who continue to uphold the strong faith and
work ethic instilled by their father. Because
they were granted funds that allowed them to
homeschool through tragedy, they were able to
withstand the storms and come through them
stronger.
Becky Joy's family at her daughter's wedding
Just as she is not alone, Becky’s story—her
thread in the tapestry—is not alone. For
decades, HSLDA has given homeschooling
families the confidence that someone has their
back. And when a parent like Becky needs it
the most, an HSLDA Compassion Grant has
given her something else: hope.
We’re so grateful to each of our faithful
donors who help us do this. Lord willing, we
will continue to offer encouragement, assistance, confidence, and hope throughout the
next 40 years!
