10 Years of Nomad
On August 22nd, Nomad officially turned 10! We are so proud of all that we’ve built and accomplished in the past 10 years. We’ve supported nearly 400 individual student projects, we’ve completed approximately 250 excursions and 20 camping trips, and we have Nomad Alumni in high schools, colleges or workplaces all over the world. Every year we still hear from our current students, “I wish this school year didn’t have to end.” We’re in awe of how our program has evolved, how we’ve refined our model while maintaining an exciting and spontaneous edge, and how we’ve been able to maintain the integrity of the Nomad spirit—and stay true to our creative vision—a decade later.
We plan to spend this whole year celebrating with you, and for the first time in our history, kick off fundraising to help Nomad thrive for the next 10. We hope to reconnect with anyone and everyone from the Nomad community as we reflect on how far we’ve come and set the vision for the next decade.
Hold on to your pigeon pants. It’s going to be awesome.
With love & gratitude,
Christie & Lisa
Save the Date(s)!
Nomad's 10th Birthday Bash
October 10th, 2–4pm
Stop by the Depot to say hello, eat some cake & raise a glass! Help with a graffiti project and get your photo taken for our giant identity gallery while you’re at it — for anyone and everyone in the Nomad flock.
Alumni Gathering
Winter Break, January 3rd, 12–2pm
A reunion just for Nomad graduates. Come reconnect with us and fellow Nomadians who've been released into the wild. Parents of alumni — please forward this along to your grads, or send us their email so we can keep them in the loop.
Fancy Pigeon Gala
May 2027 (date TBD)
Flock together for an evening of fancy footwork, fundraising, and fun. We would love support in launching our first campaign – let us know if you have expertise to share in fundraising, development, or event-planning.
A Big Announcement
Let’s Build a Nest Egg!
After a lot of thoughtful conversation and planning, we're proud to share that Nomad has partnered with L.C. and Lillie Cox Haven of Hope as a fiscal sponsor.
This partnership allows Nomad to accept tax-deductible donations and apply for grants — something we've never been able to offer before. Haven of Hope is a Bay Area 501(c)(3) that supports emerging social enterprise leaders through fiscal sponsorship, mentorship, and community-based programs grounded in equity and dignity. We're honored to be part of their network of changemakers.
Nothing about how Nomad runs day-to-day is changing. This is simply a new channel for fundraising, development, and long-term sustainability as our program — and our community — keeps growing.
Our first fundraising priority is to establish an annual scholarship fund, so that more families can find their way to Nomad regardless of circumstance.
You can now make a tax-deductible donation to Nomad at anytime via Paypal, Venmo, Debit or Credit Card using the link below. For checks, please see FAQs below. (And yes! Many of you have asked in the past: we can accept employer donation matching! Check with your workplace to see if they'll match your gift.) *Nomad Education is a project of L.C. and Lillie Cox Haven of Hope, 501(c)(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
Fiscal Sponsorship & Fundraising at Nomad
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We looked for a partner who shared our values of community, reimagining systems to support people who are often underserved by traditional systems, and collaboration and care. Haven of Hope's mission to help individuals "cope, heal, and grow with dignity," regardless of circumstance, felt like a natural fit for the Nomad spirit.
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Fiscal sponsorship allows us to raise funds and offer tax-deductible donations without taking on the full administrative weight of running a separate 501(c)(3) — the filings, compliance, and overhead that come with it. Haven of Hope handles that infrastructure, so we can stay focused on what we do best: running an incredible school.
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Yes — Haven of Hope takes a 10% fee on funds raised through this partnership. That fee covers the logistics and overhead of managing charitable giving on our behalf, from compliance to financial administration.
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This year, our fundraising kicks off with growing our scholarship fund — helping us widen access to Nomad for more families and keep investing in the experiences, resources, and care that make this program what it is. In addition, we hope to build a “nest egg” to support Nomad’s sustainability into the future.
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We're at a milestone that's got us reflecting on what it takes to keep Nomad strong for another decade. Fundraising gives us a way to strengthen our program and support our community's long-term sustainability, without changing anything about how Nomad feels or runs day to day.
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We'd love that. Whether it's event planning, fundraising, development, or just an idea you want to share — fill out our interest form here or drop us a line. We welcome all ideas, leads, high fives, and words of wisdom.
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Absolutely! Please make your check payable to “L.C. and Lillie Cox Haven of Hope” and mail checks to Nomad Education, 2590 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA 94110. Donors must also include the words “FBO Nomad Education” in the check memo line, in order to designate the donation to Nomad. The letters “FBO” represent “For the Benefit Of.”
We're endlessly grateful for this community — for every family, student, and alum who's made Nomad what it is. Here's to honoring how far we've come and looking forward to everything still ahead.
