Because donations can be unpredictable, especially during a recession, the Carlsbad Educational Foundation is working to expand its fee-based services as a way to keep a steady cash flow.

The nonprofit group runs a program before and after school that costs between $110 and $385 a month per student and last year started offering summer enrichment classes, also for a fee. Now, they're considering adding similar enrichment lessons after school and preschool classes.

When the foundation formed in 1983 to raise money for the Carlsbad Unified School District, it was a grass-roots ordeal, with volunteers organizing bake sales and garage sales, executive director Valin Brown said. Since then, the foundation has grown to employ more than 50 people and to organize much more elaborate fundraisers and programs.

Many districts have an education foundation, but most of those rely on donations for income.

By branching out and running these services more as a for-profit company would do, the Carlsbad Educational Foundation is able to ensure a more steady cash flow to pay for art and science programs at local schools.

This is especially important when the economy is struggling and people aren't as inclined to donate money, Brown said.

"If we were solely reliant on contributed revenue, then the economic downturn could have been devastating," he said.

The foundation has operated the Kids' Care program before and after school at the district's elementary campuses for the last six years, after 14 years of collaborating with an outside child-care company.

The program now serves more than 600 students a year and brings in between $200,000 and $350,000 for the foundation annually, Brown said. That money goes back into the schools, he said.

Because the program happens at each school, it's convenient for parents, said Keith Badiner, whose son attends the program at Calavera Hills Elementary School. Badiner said he's happy with the program also because it's more than just baby-sitting.

"It's not just a playground," he said. "It's like an augment to education, and I love that."

As a nonprofit group that promotes education, the foundation is in a unique position to run the program in a way that other organizations might not, said Shari Passen, who directs the after-school program at Calavera Hills.

"They're always focused on what's going to make it better for the children, not what's going to make money," she said.

Last year, the foundation started offering summer school enrichment classes, including art and science classes. They've expanded the offering this year to 27 different choices. This program is expected to bring in between $20,000 and $30,000, Brown said.

Call staff writer Stacy Brandt at 760-901-4009.