Our Goal
Investing in our public schools means investing in the very heart of Milwaukee's future!
At the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, our unwavering mission centers around the pursuit of equitable opportunities for every student, teacher, school, support staff, and family within our vibrant community. It is with your invaluable support that we transform our schools into vibrant centers of learning where students thrive.
Helping Schools & Students Succeed
Our work is a multi-faceted tapestry, with funds meticulously raised and thoughtfully distributed across a spectrum of vital areas, including:
Classroom Support Fund
In response to over 90 percent of teachers paying for school supplies out of pocket, we have recognized the need for a transformative approach to classroom supply fundraising in Milwaukee.
In its pilot year, the fund, presented by Educators Credit Union, will provide 26 schools with dedicated funds that can be used throughout the 2023-2024 school year for traditional school supplies as well as out-of-the-box items like classroom equipment, personal supplies, technology, playground equipment, health and wellness materials, classroom grants, and more.
A partnership with EZ Office Products, the school district, and the MPS Foundation will allow teachers to shop online and order supplies to be delivered directly to their schools when they need them.
Learning Journeys Program
These educational field trips provide classroom instruction with real-world experiences at Wisconsin’s finest museums, cultural institutions, and more. Learning Journeys are provided at no charge to all students in grades K-8.
Each Learning Journey is designed by MPS subject area experts in collaboration with community partners. The goal of the program is two fold: to connect children to their communities through formative experiences, and to support and enhance classroom instruction with hands-on activities.
Learning Journeys are funded primarily by partnering organizations as well as through allocations from the Milwaukee Board of School Directors to MPSF, along with fundraising support.
2023-24 School Year Partnerships
Two other new Learning Journeys will be announced soon. Stay tuned!
UNSIL Instruction and World Fair
The United Nations Schools of International Learning, or UNSIL, program is implemented in grades 4 through 8 at 18 MPS’ most diverse schools, where more than 3,000 participating students speak 35 different languages. In the program, students learn about the United Nations and its 193 member countries throughout the world. They think critically about real-world problems, research solutions, and work together to develop a global perspective.
Each year culminates in a World Fair where students present their work to each other and to the community and enjoy cultural performances from fellow MPS students. Through this experience, students master critical academic skills such as research, writing, and presenting with a focus on world affairs and current events. Students gain skills in debate, negotiation, and conflict resolution, and they develop empathy and tolerance—all competencies that will serve them well in college and career.
The World Fair is made possible by visionary local philanthropists: the Annette J. Roberts & Joan R. Robertson Fund for World Peace, World Law, and Peace Education. Through the MPS Foundation and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the trustees of this fund established the United Nations Schools of International Learning curriculum in MPS.
STEAM Fair
Each year, the MPS STEAM Fair highlights the creativity, curiosity, and innovation of students from across the district. Showcasing top projects in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, the fair features student work that has advanced from school-level competitions.
Students from K4 through 12th grade present projects in three categories—Science Inquiry, Engineering Design, and Research Study (high school only)—demonstrating how academic concepts can solve real-world challenges.
In 2025, the event saw record participation, with over 700 students from 55 MPS schools making it the largest STEAM Fair in the district’s history.
New in 2025:
An Art component allowed students to collaboratively build a cardboard city using recycled materials- blending creativity with sustainability.
Agriculture tours of Vincent farm, offering hands-on learning in sustainability and food systems
This inspiring event is made possible through the support of the MPS Foundation and GE HealthCare.
Let Us Play
Let Us Play transforms outdated and deteriorating outdoor schoolyards into dynamic and functional green spaces for MPS students, athletes and neighborhood residents while increasing access to high-quality shared public spaces that improve quality of life and educational outcomes.
Under the umbrella of the MPS Foundation, the collaborative joins Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Recreation, and the Green Schools Consortium of Milwaukee led by ReFlo.
The goal is to deliver annual funding for the revitalization of schoolyards. This unified fundraising effort brings outdoor spaces back to life while leveraging existing funds for green infrastructure and building an endowment for programming and future maintenance.
To learn more about the process and how schools are selected visit Reflo's website.
