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
"Teachers 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 “Teachers Pick” Supply Drive is a one-day school-focused event, launched in August 2026, designed to directly support MPS educators with the materials they need most for their classrooms. Built around actual teacher supply lists, the Foundation procures and organizes fulfillment of high-demand items so teachers can access essential resources to reduce or eliminate them spending their own money out of pocket.
The Foundation ‘s goal is to strengthen classrooms across Milwaukee by giving teachers access to supplies that support learning from day one. It also offers a tangible way for investor-donors, partners, and volunteers to invest in teachers and students, while reinforcing our commitment to 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.