A New Home for NVEF: Oxbow School Campus Donation

We’re thrilled to share transformational news: Napa Valley Education Foundation has been selected by The Oxbow School to receive its downtown Napa campus following the school’s closure. We’re honored to carry forward this extraordinary legacy and reimagine it as a vibrant hub for community-based learning in Napa Valley.

Originally home to an arts-focused boarding school, the campus will now serve as a center for hands-on programs in the arts, wellness, career exploration, and STEM—connecting students, educators, and partners through creativity, real-world learning, and shared purpose.

This gift marks a powerful next chapter for NVEF as we build upon the vision of The Oxbow School’s founders, Ann Hatch, Robert Mondavi, and Margrit Mondavi to create a learning space that is truly the heart of community learning.

What’s Next
We’ll begin facility improvements this summer and open a selection of programs shortly after. A formal ribbon-cutting and fall program offerings will follow. While the campus name and details are still in development, our vision is clear: to create a space where every student feels seen, supported, and inspired.

How You Can Support
We’re launching the Discovery Fund to support scholarships, classroom equipment, and critical upgrades. Visionary donors, sponsors, and community partners are invited to help bring this new chapter to life. Contact development@nvef.org to learn more about funding opportunities or click here to make a donation.

You’re also invited to an exclusive celebration—The Yountville Table—an evening of connection, food, and wine to support our mission. Early ticket access is available now. Reserve Your Seat.

Thank you for believing in the power of education and community. We can’t wait to welcome you onto our campus soon.

Share Your Idea

As we begin developing the Napa Valley Education Foundation’s new space—formerly the Oxbow School—we are committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive space centered around community learning and youth voice.


We’re gathering input on program ideas, potential partnerships, funding opportunities, and creative uses for the space. Your insights will help guide how this special place grows into a hub of connection, creativity, and opportunity for young people across Napa Valley.

Frequently Asked Questions

We were honored to be chosen by The Oxbow School to carry forward its legacy in Napa County. After a thoughtful and competitive process, they selected NVEF for our strong track record and shared commitment to creativity, education, and community. This opportunity reflects our value to Make Learning Matter. We know that a community that prioritizes learning is a hopeful community that takes care of itself.

This new campus will be the heart of community learning in Napa County. It will expand our ability to offer hands-on, future-focused programs in the arts, STEM, and wellness, and will serve as a place where young people, educators, and community partners can explore ideas, build confidence, and discover what’s possible.

We’re still exploring the best ways to bring each space to life for NVEF—but our goal is to ensure every part of the campus supports learning, creativity, and community.

From studios to dining hall, to shared gathering spaces, we’re thinking big about what’s possible. This is a unique opportunity to utilize the campus to reflect the needs and dreams of Napa’s students—and we’re taking the time to get it right.

What we do know is this: every square foot will be put to good use, and the entire campus will be a hub for hands-on learning, bold ideas, and meaningful connection.

Critical facility improvements are planned for early summer. We will be offering a selection of our existing programs on the new campus shortly thereafter to activate the space and gather feedback from students, teachers, and community members as we shape the future together.

This fall, we will host a formal ribbon-cutting celebration and announce a full slate of fall program offerings. While the new campus name and specific programming are still being developed, the vision is clear: to create a place where every student feels seen, supported, and inspired to explore their potential.

Yes—and in the best ways. Our core programs will stay true to what makes them impactful, but this new campus lets us go further. We’ll be able to serve more students, offer hands-on learning in creative new spaces, and collaborate more deeply with local artists, educators, and partners. Expect more direct services like camps, classes, and field trips, alongside the school-based programs we’ll always champion. Because “good enough” isn’t good enough—not when we can spark even more curiosity, confidence, and possibility.

Not all of them—but many will. The new campus will be a central hub for creative learning, but we’ll continue offering programs wherever they are needed. Some things—like school-based wellness centers or educator fellowships—will remain in their current locations. Our goal is always to meet students where they are, and give them what they need, when they need it.

Yes. The Oxbow School’s gift of the campus is a generous first step, but bringing the space to life will take community support. From art supplies to building upgrades, we’re launching a Discovery Fund to help shape the next chapter of learning in Napa. This isn’t just about a new space—it’s about creating more opportunities for our students, faster. And we want our neighbors to feel like they’re part of it.

Yes—absolutely. While the campus will have secure entry like any other youth-serving space, there will be plenty of ways for the community to engage. From hands-on classes and student showcases to open houses and community events, this campus is meant to be an active, welcoming place. We want our neighbors to feel connected to the new campus—and that means creating space for everyone to learn, connect, and celebrate together. Because when a community prioritizes and unites around learning, all outcomes—in academics and in life—improve.

We’re keeping that under wraps a little longer—but let’s just say it reflects what we hope this space will inspire: curiosity, creativity, and connection. We’ll share the official name this fall, and we can’t wait to welcome you in.


Join us at the Yountville Table

Saturday, July 19th, 2025 @ The Estate Yountville Pavilion
As one of our early supporters, you are invited to an exclusive evening of connection and celebration in the heart of Napa Valley’s world-renowned food and wine scene—at the inaugural Yountville Table, where we will raise funds to support this exciting new chapter.