The Portland Schools Foundation supports excellence, equity, and innovation in teaching and learning in Portland Public School District (PPS) schools through our School-based , Community-based , and First Octave grant programs.
PPS School-based Equity Grant – Up to $55,000 will be made available to eligible schools in the PPS District to significantly build the school’s capacity to raise student achievement and close the achievement gap in schools. School-based Equity Grants are particularly focused on empowering principals whose extensive knowledge of thier own schools allows them to distribute grant money in the most effective way possible. Contact Holly Weems at holly@thinkschools.org or 503.234.5404, ext. 13, for more information.
PPS Community-based Equity Grant – Up to $25,000 per applicant to support vital partnerships between schools and community organizations in order to strengthen the quality of public education for students in the PPS District. Community-based Equity Grants are particularly focused on supporting family and community involvement in the education of our children and youth with a goal of increasing success for underserved/underrepresented students and schools. Contact Holly Weems at holly@thinkschools.org or 503.234.5404, ext. 13, for more information.
The First Octave Fund for Arts & Music – Up to $1,000 to integrate arts and music into classrooms and support creative partnerships between schools, community arts and music groups. Contact Holly Weems at holly@thinkschools.org or 503.234.5404, ext. 13.
Please contact us if you have questions about any one of the grant programs for the coming year. We would be happy to discuss your initial concepts and ideas and assist you in any way we can.
Our PPS School-based and PPS Community-based Equity Grants are funded through the efforts of PPS District local school foundations. By Portland School Board policy, one-third of any funds over $10,000 raised through individual foundations are set aside in an Equity Fund to assist all schools in the district. Click here for a full listing of school foundations who have contributed to the fund.
The Boeing Company Ninth Grade Counts Teacher Inquiry Grant - Two eligible school districts will be selected to receive a one-year grant of $7,000 each.In partnership with The Boeing Company, the Portland Schools Foundation’s (PSF) Ninth Grade Counts Teacher Inquiry grant is designed to increase the success of off-track ninth-graders by providing funds to train, coach, and support teachers and school leaders to use data to track student success and design supports to keep students on-track for graduation. PSF’s Connected by 25 research highlighted the importance of the ninth grade year for students who struggle. PSF’s Ninth Grade Counts initiative has taken action on that data by engaging Portland-area school districts and other partners in efforts to identify at-risk eighth graders and support them through the summer transition into ninth grade. This grant is designed to take that work to another level by funding training, coaching, and the development and use of tools to support the teachers that work with off-track ninth graders. These grants are made possible through funding from The Boeing Company. Click here to download the full grant application. Contact Holly Weems at holly@thinkschools.org or 503.234.5404, ext. 13, for more information.