School Endowment Grants

Program Overview:
The Foundation for Madison's Public Schools (FMPS) School Endowment initiative is the first of its kind in the country, established in 2003. Every Madison public school has its own endowment, and annual income from these endowments is distributed back to schools through a competitive grant process to support creative and innovative projects that are not funded within core school budgets.

Geographic Scope:

• Serves all 52 Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) schools in Madison, Wisconsin

Eligibility:

• Open to all MMSD schools
• Each school has its own endowment and designated grants committee

What Gets Funded:
Previous projects have included:

• Athletics programs (basketball, flag football)
• Student support initiatives (regulation rooms, peer support programs)
• Arts and cultural programs (contemporary musical ensembles, artist residencies)
• Technology and equipment (sound systems, microscopes, virtual reality glasses)
• Student wellness and mental health awareness programs
• Special education programs with real-world skill development
• Literacy curriculum materials and organization

Program History:

• Established through 2003 challenge gift from John and Leslie Taylor and the Madison-based Clay-Price Fund
• Since inception, invested nearly $1.2 million into Madison schools
• 2023-24 distribution: $123,704 across 52 schools
• Annual distributions have grown as endowments grow

Contact Information:

• Madison Public Schools Foundation
• 2005 West Beltline Highway, Suite 203, Madison, WI 53713
• Phone: (608) 210-6900
• Email: mpsf@schoolsmakemadison.org
• Website: schoolsmakemadison.org

Additional Notes:
Grants committees at each school (typically composed of staff, teachers, students, and parents) supervise fund disbursement and make decisions strategically based on longer-term school needs. As endowment funds grow through community donations, the interest available for grants also grows.

Application Process

Grants Committee Structure:

• Each school has a designated grants committee
• Committees typically include combination of staff, teachers, students, and parents
• Committees supervise disbursement of funds and make grant award decisions

Application Details:

• Annual application process conducted at each school
• Committees review applications from within their school community
• Decisions made strategically to support school's longer-term goals and unique community needs

Submission:

• Contact your individual school's grants committee for specific deadlines and application procedures
• Varies by school

Note: Specific application materials, narrative questions, and submission formats are not detailed in available documentation. Applicants should contact their school's grants committee or the Foundation directly for complete application requirements.