The Foundation Board has set a goal of raising a permanent endowment of over a million dollars for the purpose of funding grants and scholarships for students in the Waukesha School District. The philosophy behind an endowment fund is that approximately half of the yearly investment earnings are distributed as grants and scholarships, leaving the principal investment untouched to grow and to continue to fund creative programs for years to come. A one million dollar endowment would allow us to award approximately $50,000 in grants and scholarships each year. So far, the Foundation has collected over $300,000 towards our endowment goal. All endowment funds are held and managed at the Waukesha County Community Foundation.

Most of us are products of public education and school districts that preceding generations helped to build and fund. You can show that same stewardship for future generations. While we have many available funds, our most general funds are listed on this page. If you would like more information about how to support a specific school, please contact us. Your charitable donation will impact the Waukesha public schools and the kids they serve for many years to come. There are many ways to “target” your gift according to your specific interests:

• Gifts and pledges to support the General Endowment Fund are used for the annual unrestricted grants program and are critically important as they have an impact throughout the school district, funding the most innovative proposals from the staff and teachers.
  

• Gift of any amount can be made to existing, named endowment funds that have been established within the WEF. These include funds for each of the WEF Targeted Funding Areas, funds for specific schools (ex. Hadfield Elementary) or programs (ex. Fine Arts, Academy of Health Professionals) or scholarships. Contact the Foundation for a complete list of existing funds. A new field of interest fund can be established with a gift of $10,000.
  

• Named fund - this allows for the recognition of the donor, or allows a donor to establish a fund in honor of a significant person (ex. parents, teacher, coach). All grants or scholarships from named funds are noted as such when they are awarded. A new named fund can be established with a gift of $10,000.
  

• Gifts can also be made to the WEF General Scholarship Fund that provides scholarships for seniors graduating from the district.
  

• Gifts and pledges to support the operations of the Foundation, principally the cost of printing and mailing informational and fundraising materials, are most appreciated.
  

• Gifts can also be made through a variety of planned giving vehicles, such as your will or listing the Foundation as the beneficiary of an insurance policy.