Available Grants

The Grant Portal is OPEN for the 2024-25 school year.

Tick tock! AEF’s next grant application deadline is Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

All grant applications must be submitted through the Grant Portal.

• AEF typically provides seed money for creative projects and should not be considered a resource for ongoing funding.
• AEF does not provide funding for staff salaries (including substitute teachers).
• AEF places low-priority on funding:
  • computer software,
  • classroom sets of books,
  • furniture,
  • and food.
• Any proposed software must go through AASD’s software approval process before the grant is submitted.
• Only one of each type of grant (general, mini, professional development) may be awarded to the same educator in the same school year.
• AEF does not reimburse for previously incurred expenses.
• Grantees should carefully track expenses and save receipts for use of grant funds. Any unused grant funding ($20 or more) should be returned to the AEF.
• Grant recipients will be required to submit a final report to help the AEF ensure effective grant making and data collection.
• Submitting a final report is necessary to remain eligible for future grants.

Where does the grant $$$ come from?

AEF stewards more than 90 charitable funds established by donors who wish to make a difference for education in our Appleton schools. Some funds are partners in the Appleton Education Foundation’s competitive grant programs.

All AEF grant applications are reviewed by as many AEF funders as possible. These funds include (but are not limited to):

• Appleton Education Foundation Fund (Unrestricted grant making, guided by above guidelines)
• SAACC Fund (Supports the education and training of AASD student or coach participants in co-curricular activities.)
• Gruner Family Community Mental Wellness Fund (Supports educational programs and projects addressing the mental health and well-being of children and families in the AASD and those who may be served in the district’s Birth-Five programs.)
• Bob and Gerri Heffron Family Endowment Fund (Supports programs and projects that enhance the educational experience for AASD students who have special education needs or who are English Language Learners, or for continuing education opportunities for staff members and parents who work with these children.)
• Jeanne Klatt Stilp Memorial Endowment Fund (Enhances the educational experience of AASD students by supporting projects and program suggestions from LMC Specialists to help them empower students to be effective users of ideas and information.)
• Ellen Kort Endowment Fund (Supports programs or projects that enhance education in the community, especially through the media of poetry and writing.)
• Dianne Catlin Lang STEM Innovators & Girls Leadership Fund (Supports STEM-related opportunities for elementary-age students in AASD and leadership opportunities for AASD girls at any grade level. Opportunities may be offered by AASD or youth-serving nonprofit organizations – during the school day, before or after school, or during the summer.)
• Betsy Melzer Endowment Fund (Supports exceptional education needs students of the AASD.)
• Ann Moe Art Appreciation Fund (Enhances the educational experience of AASD elementary students by supporting projects and programs involving the visual arts.)
• John Mielke and Salley Morey Mielke Education Fund (Supports early childhood-related projects and programs, birth to 3rd grade, with special consideration for efforts involving two or more nonprofit organizations working collaboratively to enhance learning in the early years.)
• Mile of Music Fund (Supports teacher-driven ideas to enhance musical opportunities for AASD students.)
• Connie Pitt Memorial Endowment Fund (Supports projects that benefit AASD students with special needs – students with disabilities that fall within the autism spectrum or emotional and behavioral disorders; organizations that help parents understand their child’s disability; projects that help children learn practical, lifelong skills; and those that help children learn social skills to encourage positive interactions with others.)
• Scheuerman Family Fund (Supports educational programs and projects initiated by educators in the AASD.)
• Vira and Alan Stoner Education Fund (Supports innovative learning opportunities for AASD middle and high school students; programs or projects that encourage students to learn from “real life” experiences, to increase their understanding and acceptance of others, and to challenge their thinking about the world around them.  In keeping with Al Stoner’s teaching practices, funds should not support the purchase of text books or classroom sets of books.)
• Stan and Phyllis Thatcher Family Fund for STEM (Supports innovative learning opportunities for AASD students, at the elementary and middle school levels, especially creative programs or projects that spark students’ long-term interest in STEM classes and fields.)

Technology Notice

The Appleton Education Foundation believes in outfitting classrooms with new technology as it advances learning for all students. Grants from the Appleton Education Foundation Fund and other funds within the AEF have supported technology since AEF’s founding in 1997. As technology continues to evolve, AEF appreciates receiving grant requests for new, creative programming opportunities using the newest technology. The AEF grants committee and board favor requests that use technology in new ways and/or as a means to pilot a technology that has not yet been used within AASD.