DONATE TO THE SHARK FUND TODAY
The Van Dyke ENdowment: Impact and updates
Impact and Management Update
This spring, The Shark Fund disbursed $5,541.33 to the Malibu Education Foundation to support Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) programming across Malibu public schools. These funds were distributed equally to existing arts programs—supporting visual arts at the elementary level and a performing arts accompanist at the secondary level.
In February 2024, The Shark Fund Board voted to transfer management of the Van Dyke Endowment for the Arts to the Malibu Education Foundation.
Established in 2024, the Malibu Education Foundation was created to ensure long-term, sustainable funding for staff and staffed programs across all Malibu public schools. Upon receiving its 501(c)(3) status on January 7, 2025, MEF became the natural home for the Van Dyke Endowment, aligning with its mission to serve the full Malibu public school community.
This transition allows The Shark Fund to focus entirely on supporting Malibu Middle and High School’s Arts and Athletics Booster Clubs and PTSA—organizations that provide vital, year-to-year enrichment for our students.
About Malibu Education Foundation
Every School. Every Grade. Every Student.
The Malibu Education Foundation (MEF) is a community-driven nonprofit dedicated to enriching the educational experience for all students in Malibu’s public schools.
Our fundraising efforts directly support essential staffing, academic resources, and enrichment programs—ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive intellectually, physically, and creatively.
Interest generated from the Van Dyke Endowment for the Arts helps sustain robust arts education across Malibu schools, giving students the lifelong gift of creative confidence.
MEF is proudly supported by local families, generous donors, the City of Malibu, SMMUSD, and our thriving business community.
About The VAN DYKE ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
Funding Arts Education in Malibu Public Schools
In June 2024, The Shark Fund, in partnership with Arlene and Dick Van Dyke, launched the Van Dyke Endowment for the Arts with the goal of raising a $3 million endowment to support arts education across Malibu’s four public schools.
The theater naming and endowment launch event raised $200,000, which has already been invested. Future contributions to the endowment will be added to the principal, with interest generated providing sustained funding for arts programs in Malibu public schools for generations to come.