Questions about The Celia Fund
Learn about the planned lending program, current campaign, eligibility direction, emergency examples, donations, and what must happen before applications open.
The campaign is live. Applications are not open yet.
The Celia Fund is currently raising $75,000 to build a secure, functional lending platform and support the first rounds of emergency loans for qualifying public educators.
Eligibility rules, loan terms, documentation requirements, review procedures, and applicant safeguards will be finalized and published before applications open.
The website contact form and email address are for general questions and outreach. They are not loan applications.
About the planned program
The answers below reflect The Celia Fund’s current plans. Details that depend on final policies or lending terms are clearly identified as planned rather than currently available.
What is The Celia Fund?
The Celia Fund is building a transparent, low-interest emergency loan program for qualifying public educators facing unexpected financial hardship.
It is named for Celia Hudnall Ing, a lifelong public educator and avid gardener, and was founded by former public educator Sara Hudnall.
The lending program is still in development and is not currently accepting applications.
Why loans instead of grants?
The planned loan model allows donated dollars to work more than once. As loans are repaid, those dollars can return to the fund and help another qualifying public educator facing a future emergency.
This creates a revolving source of support rather than limiting each donation to a single use.
A limited grant program may be evaluated later, but there is no grant program currently open.
See the development plan
Who is expected to qualify?
Current planned eligibility is for qualifying public educators and is expected to include currently employed classroom teachers, counselors, librarians, and other certified public-school educators who meet the program’s income and emergency criteria.
Current planned eligibility does not include:
- Administrators, including assistant principals and above
- Paraprofessionals
- Office, food-service, custodial, and other non-certified school staff
Final eligibility requirements will be published before applications open.
How much could an educator borrow?
The current planned maximum is up to $6,500, depending on the nature and documented cost of the qualifying emergency.
The amount offered to an approved applicant would depend on the documented need and the program’s final eligibility and underwriting policies.
The $6,500 figure is a current program plan, not an open loan offer. Final limits, interest rates, repayment terms, and fees will be published before launch.
What may qualify as an emergency?
The planned program is intended for genuine, unexpected financial hardships. Current examples include:
- Sudden medical or dental expenses
- Essential vehicle repairs
- Emergency home repairs affecting safety or stability
- Necessary travel involving the illness or death of a family member
- Unexpected loss of income caused by necessary time away during the school year
Documentation will be required. Final eligible categories will be published before applications open.
How will applications be reviewed?
The current plan calls for a structured review process using documentation and clearly defined eligibility standards.
Applicants should expect to provide information such as:
- Proof of qualifying public-school employment
- Certification or role information
- Household-income documentation
- Documents showing the nature and cost of the emergency
Preset checks may be used where practical, with staff review when a decision requires additional context. Final procedures and privacy safeguards are still being developed.
How are donations used responsibly?
Donations are processed through Ribbon in partnership with The Givinga Foundation, The Celia Fund’s fiscal sponsor.
The $75,000 founding campaign is intended to support:
- The first emergency-loan rounds
- Secure lending-platform development
- Educator outreach
- Responsible administration and operations
- Fiscal-sponsorship and donation-administration costs
The percentages on the Transparency page are current planning targets, not a report of completed spending.
View the current allocation plan
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Donations made through the campaign under The Givinga Foundation’s fiscal sponsorship are intended to be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Donors should retain the official receipt or confirmation issued by the donation platform for their records.
Individual tax treatment can vary. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice about your circumstances.
Where will The Celia Fund operate?
The planned initial launch will focus on qualifying public educators in Central Texas.
Later expansion into additional Texas communities—and potentially other states—will depend on funding, program results, operational capacity, and lessons from the initial launch.
Applications are not open in Central Texas or any other location yet.
See the phased growth plan
How can I help beyond donating?
There are several ways to support the mission:
- Share the campaign with educators and community members
- Ask whether your employer offers donation matching
- Introduce The Celia Fund to schools, associations, and community partners
- Discuss sponsorship or partnership opportunities
- Share an educator story or useful community resource
Help turn the planned program into practical support.
Your contribution helps build the secure lending platform, responsible policies, applicant safeguards, and first loan rounds needed to launch The Celia Fund.