China Tomorrow Education Foundation “CTEF”, a Seattle-based non-profit 501(c)(3)charity operated primarily by non-paid volunteers in the US and China, was founded in 1999 by a small group of Chinese Americans who have a passionate commitment to promote education among children in poor rural areas of mainland China. CTEF’s team members share the following belief:

1. Every child should have access to basic education.
2. Education can help lift communities out of poverty.
3. Education can bridge cultural gaps and empower individuals to become responsible global citizens.
4. Education holds the key to China's sustained development.

During the nine years since its creation, CTEF has established a network of volunteers and partnerships with NGOs throughout 10 Chinese provinces that submit on-going reports documenting what educational assistance is needed and in which locations. These volunteers and trusted NGO partners also monitor each project CTEF funded to ensure appropriate usage of the fund. With this intelligence and through generous donations exceeding $700,000, CTEF has funded over 95 school projects that include constructing, renovating, and expanding school buildings, establishing libraries, and providing educational materials to compliment classroom curriculum. Realizing the importance of distributing books to children who have no access otherwise, CTEF has distributed over 38,000 books to various village schools as of June 2008.

Within the US, CTEF has grown with the support from various local communities in Seattle beyond the significant funding and volunteering help from employees at Microsoft Corporation. In addition, we’ve received help from employees at Amazon, ARM, Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Google, Honeywell, Merrill Lynch, and other companies.

With the re-launch of its website in late 2007, CTEF has further extended its reach beyond the Pacific Northwest and recruited volunteers throughout the US. A PayPal account was established at the same time to encourage donors beyond the region and provide ease of making donations electronically.

In an effort to raise public awareness of CTEF and gain access to leadership insights, CTEF formed an Advisory Board in spring of 2008. Our first three advisors include: Kai-Fu Lee, Vice President at Google and Founding President of Google Greater China, Melissa Milburn, Media Relations Manager at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Ya-Qin Zhang, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Corporation and Chairman of Microsoft China Company Ltd.

CTEF is honored to have the following distinguished advisors:

Our board members and volunteers come from a diverse background. with experience in leadership, finance, marketing and technology with some of the world’s most successful companies as well as non-profit organizations. A lot of us are Chinese expatriates who understand deeply and appreciate the educational opportunities given to us as children at a personal level.

You can email, phone or write to us. Would like to be a volunteer? Please click here. For other general inquiries, please email info@ctef.org.