Helping Schools & Students Succeed
Our work is a multi-faceted tapestry with funds meticulously raised and thoughtfully distributed across a spectrum of vital areas
School Advised Funds
Grants Management
"Teacher's Pick" Supply Drive
Classroom Support Fund
School Advised Funds
Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation School-Advised Funds are dedicated funds established to support individual schools and strengthen each school community through locally driven fundraising. Each fund is connected to a specific school and is built through that school’s own fund development efforts, creating a flexible resource that can be used to meet the unique needs and priorities of students, educators, and families. By enabling schools to raise and direct philanthropic support for their own communities, School-Advised Funds help expand opportunities beyond what traditional funding streams alone can provide.
These funds can be used for a wide range of purposes that enhance the student learning experience and provide additional support to families. Depending on a school’s goals, School-Advised Funds may help cover classroom materials, enrichment activities, student supports, family engagement efforts, wellness needs, technology, special projects, and other priorities that contribute to a more vibrant and responsive school environment. The Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation serves as the district’s 501(c)(3) sponsor and houses each school’s fund at the Foundation, providing the charitable structure needed to receive and steward donations on behalf of individual schools. In this way, the Foundation helps schools convert community generosity into meaningful, school-based impact.
Grants Management
The Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation serves as a non-governmental 501(c)(3) organization that provides Milwaukee Public Schools district administration, departments, divisions, and individual school sites with avenues to pursue grants and other funding opportunities. The Foundation also offers essential grants management services, including support for grant applications, compliance monitoring, and required reporting when applicable. Once funding is awarded, the Foundation acts as the account holder for grant funds and coordinates the expenditure and disbursement of those funds on behalf of the grantee.
"Teachers Pick"
Supply Drive
The Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Teacher Classroom Supply Drive is a one- or two-day community event designed to directly support educators with the materials they need most for their classrooms. Built around actual teacher supply lists, the drive collects and organizes high-demand items so teachers can access essential resources without having to spend their own money out of pocket.
On the day of the event, participating teachers would be invited to select classroom supplies at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. Items could include notebooks, pencils, markers, folders, tissue, cleaning supplies, storage materials, and other classroom essentials identified through school and teacher input. By concentrating distribution into a dedicated one- or two-day event, the Foundation can create an efficient, high-energy experience that is both practical and encouraging for educators preparing for the school year.
This initiative would not only help relieve the financial burden many teachers face, but also strengthen classrooms across Milwaukee by ensuring students have access to the supplies that support learning from day one. It offers a tangible way for donors, partners, and volunteers to invest in teachers and students, while reinforcing the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation’s commitment to equity, educator support, and student success.
The Classroom Support Fund
The Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Classroom Support Fund is backed by investor-donors through an annual campaign that helps schools access both traditional classroom materials and other essentials that strengthen teaching, learning, and student well-being. The goal is to provide timely, practical support so educators can focus more fully on instruction and less on covering classroom needs through other resourcing systems.
Through partnerships and investor engagement, The Classroom Support Fund provides the Foundation a way to readily respond to various needs within classroom settings. It is also the fund that supports the Foundation’s “Teachers Pick” Supply Drive. By supporting this campaign each year, investor-donors help create stronger learning environments, reduce barriers for students, and demonstrate a shared commitment to Milwaukee’s public schools and the success of every child they serve.