SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
Directors
The Foundation is led by an independent, volunteer Board of Directors. Our Board members are drawn from the community, provide diverse representation, and share a deep commitment to public education in Springfield. The Foundation employs no paid staff. District employees, through our partnership with District 186, provide administrative support.
2024-2025 Directors | ||
|---|---|---|
Kendra Newman, President | Lindsay Record, Vice President | Brent Borah, Treasurer |
Susie Cross | Susan Hingle | Whitney Rosen |
Sheila Feipel | Bridget Ingebrigtsen | Paula Stadecker |
Dan Fultz | Bryen Johnson | Jamie Stout |
Ruchi Gupta | Charles Pirrera | Dominic Watson |
Bree Hankins | Emily Wright | |
Ex Officio | ||
Rachel Dyas | Jennifer Gill | Julie Hammers |
Fundraising
The Foundation hosts two major fundraisers each year, The Breakfast Club and the Annual Dinner and Art Auction. The Board of Directors encourages individuals or corporate sponsors interested in supporting the Foundation's mission to join them for either of these events.
The Breakfast Club, which encourages local businesses and community leaders to "begin each day by making a difference in a classroom," is held in the fall each year. More information about this year's event will be added to this page once available.
The Annual Dinner and Art Auction is the Foundation's major fundraiser and is held annually in March. This year's event will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Erin's Pavilion. More information on sponsorships and reservations will be added to this page in the late fall.
The Foundation sends out a big thank you to the 2024 Annual Dinner sponsors:
In addition to the Breakfast Club and Annual Dinner events, donors may also support the Foundation through the "Donate Here" link below, through one of the links from the Memorial Scholarship section of this page, by contacting the Foundation's administrative support, Julie Hammers at 217/525-4406/jhammers@sps186.org, or through any of the following:
The Foundation's Endowment Fund, held by The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln
Corporate Sponsorships
Voluntary $10 student billing donation
Memorial contributions
Honorariums
Federal Combined Campaign
Workplace giving programs
Corporate matching gifts
The Mike Zimmers Teacher Professional Development Fund, held by The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln
Your donation to the Springfield Public Schools Foundation qualifies as a charitable tax deduction as allowed by law. We will send an acknowledgment/receipt to confirm your gift. Please click on the "Donate Here" link below for more information about making a donation.
Policy Statement
Springfield Public Schools Foundation Policy Statement
The Springfield Public Schools Foundation is a community-based, not-for-profit [501(c)(3)], foundation designed to solicit, receive and disburse funds in support of the Springfield Public Schools and all students who attend District 186.
Funds received by the Foundation will be used solely to supplement or enhance educational, extra-curricular and inter-scholastic programs and to strengthen the relationship between the public schools and the Springfield community.
The Foundation Board of Directors will make final selection of programs to be funded from proposals consistent with standards set by the District 186 Board of Education.
Membership
The Springfield Public Schools Foundation is a small, working Board whose mission is to champion the strengths of District 186, to raise community support, and fund innovation to address the changing needs of educators and students. This is accomplished through the contributions and dedication of each member of the Board of Directors. Individuals interested in helping to further this mission by serving on the Board of Directors are encouraged to complete a membership application.
Vacancies are typically filled in June for available three-year terms. Applications are due annually on June 1st but may be considered throughout the year if vacancies occur. Members are expected to attend monthly meetings, currently held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:15 a.m. Additionally, members are expected to serve on at least one committee and support the Breakfast Club and Annual Dinner Celebration and Art Auction events. For further information regarding Foundation membership, please contact Julie Hammers at 217/525-4406 or jhammers@sps186.org.
Grants
SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION GRANTS
Mission The Springfield Public Schools Foundation (SPSF) is a community-based volunteer organization, serving Springfield District 186 public schools for more than 40 years with the mission to champion the strengths of District 186, to raise community support, and fund innovation to address the changing needs of educators and students. We carry out our mission in partnership with Springfield Public School District 186 (SPSD186) and the Springfield Community.
Grant Information Each school year, the Foundation makes available grants to staff of SPSD186. Interested SPSD186 employees are encouraged to thoroughly review the information below before making application for a Foundation grant. Applications are to be submitted electronically through Googleforms. To aid applicants in the grant writing process, copies of the individual grant application questions and additional application information can be found on the Grant Reference document. Please review this document carefully before starting an application.
2024-2025 Grants: The Springfield Public Schools Foundation’s Board of Directors is excited to share information about the grant offerings available to District teachers. During the 2024-2025 school year, seven types of grants will be offered: Cornerstone Grant, Classroom Library Grant, Extracurricular Grant, Special Education Life Skills Grant, Student-Led Grant, the O'Shea Builders' LHS Designated Grant, and the Mike Zimmers' Teacher Professional Development Fund Grant.
The 2024-2025 Grant Applications can be found here. The Mike Zimmers Teacher Professional Development Fund Application can be found here.
The following will not be considered for funding:
• Applications containing multiple spelling, punctuation, and/or grammatical errors
• Applications including funding for students outside of SPSD186
• Applications to fund salaries (including substitute teachers); field trips only, or for the sole purpose of purchasing hardware such as computers, cameras, etc.
• Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Julie Hammers at 217/525-4406/81202.
Grant Name | Description | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
Cornerstone Grants and O'Shea Lanphier High School Designated Classroom Grants | This year’s Cornerstone Grant applicants and O'Shea Lanphier High School Designated classroom applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that are creative, innovative, and address an important need focusing on one or more of the following: - Enhance Classroom Learning $1,500 in total funding per year, per teacher. Can be divided between two total applications per year, one per semester. | First semester: 12:00 p.m. noon on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, and 12:00 p.m. noon on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. Second semester: To be determined Award notification: Second semester - To be determined. |
Classroom Library Grants | Open to Pre-K through 8th-grade teachers. Applicants may submit one request per year with funding capped at $750 per teacher. | First semester: 12:00 p.m. noon on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Second semester: 12:00 p.m. noon on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Award notification: First semester applications - late September; Second semester applications - late January. |
Extracurricular Grants and O'Shea Lanphier High School Designated Athletic, Activity or Club Grants | Maximum $500 award. Extracurricular Grants provide a supplement for District 186:
O'Shea Lanphier High School Designated Grants, provided through the generosity of O'Shea builders, provide a supplement for IHSA-recognized sports, activities, and school-sponsored clubs. Funding is available for both of these grants to help ensure students are able to compete or participate at the highest level of competition available. Requests for items that will be reused each year are encouraged, including requests for uniforms and other items that ensure equitability amongst school teams across the District. Requests that include funding for travel will not be considered. | Due at 12 noon on the first Friday of each month. Applications will be accepted until all available funding has been awarded. |
Special Education Life Skills Grants | These grants, funded by the generosity of the Donnelly Family Trust, have no maximum award. They are designed to enhance the school experiences of special needs life skills students by providing resources, which might otherwise not be available to those students and teachers. Applicants must be SPSD186 employees. | First semester: 12:00 p.m. noon on the first Friday of each month. Funding decisions for Special Education Life Skills grants can take up to 2 months. |
Mike Zimmers Teacher Professional Development Grant | The Mike Zimmers Teacher Professional Development Fund was formally established in 2023 with the Springfield Public Schools Foundation. Mike was a long-time supporter of the Foundation and its work. His wish was to establish a fund to support, through an application process, Springfield Public School teachers who wish to attend a professional development meeting, webinar, seminar, or conference that requires financial support not available through District 186 or by personal means. The application can be found here. | First semester: 12:00 p.m. noon on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 and 12:00 p.m. noon on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Second semester applications are to be determined. |
Memorial Scholarships
Current Scholarships and Memorial Donations
In addition to the General Fund which supports the variety of grants offered by the Foundation to teachers and students, the Foundation manages the following funds and routinely accepts memorial donations. Donations can be made by mailing a check to Springfield Public Schools Foundation, 3063 Fiat Avenue, Springfield, Illinois 62703, or electronically through Paypal by clicking on the fund's title, below. If mailing a check, please indicate the fund or purpose on the memo line.
The Fenner Memorial Scholarship for academics and the arts was established in 1996 to honor the life of Christina Fenner, a teacher at Lincoln Fifth and Sixth Grade Center. This scholarship fund was made possible by a very generous gift of remembrance from Christina's family and many other gifts from her friends and colleagues. Interest income from the scholarship fund is used to provide enrichment experiences in academics and the arts to Springfield Public Schools students who would not otherwise be able to participate in those activities. Please click on the title, above, to access the Fenner Scholarship application and for additional information including guidelines.
Kellsey B. Proctor Twesme Scholarship Fund was established in 2013 by the parents of SSHS alumna, Kellsey Proctor Twesme. This fund annually provides a scholarship to a female Southeast High School senior entering an engineering or scientific field.
Springfield Southeast High School Legacy Fund was established by alumni from the SSHS Class of 1980. It is designated to meet a specific need, identified by SSHS administration. Legacy Fund awards will support deserving seniors who might not qualify for academic or athletic scholarships. With a goal to raise $10,000 in 2021 to establish the fund, at least one $1,000 award will be given each spring, in perpetuity. The first Legacy Fund awards were made in the Spring of 2022. No gift is too small or too large.
The Mike Zimmers Teacher Professional Development Fund was formally established in 2023 with the Springfield Public Schools Foundation. Mike was a long-time supporter of the Foundation and its work. His wish was to establish a fund to support, through an application process, Springfield Public School teachers who wish to attend a professional development meeting, webinar, seminar, or conference that requires financial support not available through District 186 or by personal means. For well over 40 years, Mike was involved with the Springfield Public Schools as a much loved and respected teacher, coach, principal, district-level administrator, and upon his retirement, Board of Education member.
Additional information and questions may be directed to Julie Hammers, 217-525-4406 or jhammers@sps186.org.
Thank you for considering the Foundation for your giving!
Donate
How to Donate
Would you like to make a donation to support the Foundation's mission?
Donations can be made electronically through the "Donate" link below or mailed to:
Springfield Public Schools Foundation
Attn: Julie Hammers
3063 Fiat Avenue
Springfield, IL 62703
If donating via check, please include the donation form below with your check donation. If donating electronically, please use the drop-down menu that appears after clicking the "Donate" button below to direct your electronic donation.
Donations to the Foundation's general fund are used to further our mission through a variety of innovative teacher and student-led grants, as well as Foundation initiatives. Additional information regarding the types of grants and initiatives funded through the grants' process can be found in the "Grants" and "Foundation News" links on this page. Thank you in advance for making a difference in our schools!