The Innovative Technology Education Fund (ITEF) is a private independent foundation based in Saint Louis, Missouri, established in 1986 and granted tax-exempt status in November 1995. ITEF is a 501(c)(3) organization classified under the Arts, Culture and Humanities / Media, Communications category. The foundation makes grants to teachers, schools, and districts with a focus on the innovative uses of technology in K-12 education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$392K
-22.1% YoY
Grant Count
14
-26.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+5.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
ITEF's mission is to accelerate learning in K-12 spaces by focusing on underserved schools and communities, introducing students to the spectrum of available technology to foster exploration, problem-solving, and creativity. The foundation empowers educators to embrace innovative learning projects that create these opportunities.
The foundation addresses education-related challenges in the K-12 school system in the Saint Louis metropolitan region and surrounding area, encompassing 144 zip codes. ITEF supports public, private, parochial, and charter school educators who are inspired to be innovative in their teaching practices.
Primary funding areas include:
- General support of technology in education
- Innovative ideas that use technology as the vehicle for learning
- Professional development to encourage educators to explore new knowledge or deepen existing expertise
- Funds for educators in classrooms/schools with no or limited technology tools such as laptops, cameras, servers, or connectivity
The foundation operates a program called "Lean into Learning Professional Development," which supports educators who choose a new area of study.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications and is open to new applicants.
Grant Range
$26,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ITEF primarily funds projects in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida, with a strong presence in the Saint Louis metropolitan region and surrounding areas. The foundation's service area encompasses 144 zip codes in the Saint Louis region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $9,576,724
- Total revenues: $1,470,943
- Total expenses: $1,052,588
- Total liabilities: $7,460
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Normandy Schools Collaborative ($70,515), Special School District of University City ($60,564), Maplewood Richmond Heights School District ($59,791).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AL-SALAM DAY SCHOOL MANCHESTER, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $16,500 |
| CONNECTED LEARNING ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $5,250 |
| FERGUSON FLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAZELWOOD, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $5,050 |
| HANCOCK PLACE SCHOOL DISTRICT ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $12,954 |
| HILLSBORO R-3 SCHOOL DISTRICT HILLSBORO, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $30,000 |
| LEBANON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEBANON, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $29,996 |
| MAPLEWOOD RICHMOND HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT MAPLEWOOD, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $59,791 |
| NEBSA CLEARMONT, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $1,500 |
| NORMANDY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $70,515 |
| SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OF UNIVERSITY CITY UNIVERSITY CITY, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. | $60,564 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Charmaine Smith: Executive Director (full-time, compensation of $120,397)
- Carl Reed: Director/Board Chair (serves without compensation)
The foundation employs 2 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARMAINE SMITH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $119,022 |
| JOSEPH P KOMOS | DIRECTOR/BOARD CHAIR | 2 | — |
| BILL KENT | DIRECTOR/VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| SHERITA HAIGLER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| RIKKI HENRY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JERE HOCHMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| GRACE LEE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| HEIDI LIM | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MAREN MELLEM | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CARL REED | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ADAM SCIMONE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KENDALL WARE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
ITEF awarded $164,000 in technology grants to seven area schools, providing new Chromebooks, laptops, and STEM tools (November 2024)
ITEF Awards $164K in Technology Grants to Seven Area Schools, Elevating K-12ITEF awarded $200,000 to Saint Louis area schools for innovative teacher development (July 2025)
ITEF Awards $200,000 to St. Louis Area Schools for Innovative Teacher DevelopmentITEF awarded $169,298 in 2025 Catapult Grants to Saint Louis area schools for technology and innovation (November 2025)
ITEF Awards $164K in Technology Grants to Seven Area Schools, Elevating K-12Contact Information
- Website: www.innovteched.com
- Address: 20 S Sarah St, Saint Louis, MO 63108-2819
- Telephone: 314-330-5621
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Innovative Technology Education Fund fund?
ITEF's mission is to accelerate learning in K-12 spaces by focusing on underserved schools and communities, introducing students to the spectrum of available technology to foster exploration, problem-solving, and creativity. The foundation empowers educators to embrace innovative learning projects that create these opportunities. The foundation addresses education-related challenges in the K-12 school system in the Saint Louis metropolitan region and surrounding area, encompassing 144 zip codes…
How do I apply for a grant from Innovative Technology Education Fund?
**Grant Activity (2023):** • Total giving: $503,269 • Number of grants: 19 • Median grant size: $26,000 • Grant range: $1,000 - $67,000 • Giving rate: 5.3% of assets **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • Crossroads College Preparatory School: $39,121 • City Academy: $29,700 • Lafayette Preparatory Academy: $25,764 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts applications and is open to new applicants.
Where does Innovative Technology Education Fund make grants?
ITEF primarily funds projects in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida, with a strong presence in the Saint Louis metropolitan region and surrounding areas. The foundation's service area encompasses 144 zip codes in the Saint Louis region.
What size grants does Innovative Technology Education Fund award?
In 2024, Innovative Technology Education Fund awarded 14 grants totaling $392K — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Innovative Technology Education Fund's EIN?
Innovative Technology Education Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1689900. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Innovative Technology Education Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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