As teachers spend the majority of their time working with their students, they often know what is best for them. However, teachers often cannot create and support valuable projects and resources that would benefit their classrooms as a result of insufficient funding. The Austin Education Fund, known as the Austin Ed Fund, is a non-profit organization that works with teachers and students to facilitate and foster significant projects or ideas to be funded and supported. These grants support teachers who want to make their classroom an easier learning space while being comfortable and safe for the students.
The Austin Ed Fund was established in 1993, and since then has supported the Austin Independent School District (AISD) through developing and stewarding significant public and private partnerships that promote innovation and support opportunities that prepare AISD students for college, career, and life. Since 1993, the Austin Ed Fund has supported AISD by raising public and private dollars for the district’s most innovative initiatives – often system-wide programs, impacting tens of thousands of students each day.
Their main mission was simple: disperse donations to passionate teachers across AISD who wanted to make a difference in their students’ lives. Since 2001, the organization has facilitated 46 million dollars toward meaningful partnerships, such as 3D printing technology to help those with motor skills difficulty, or fine arts and business classes, lowering the rate of dropouts. The Austin Ed Fund created a grant program for students and teachers in 2015, and since then, the program has overseen 400 projects by presenting almost two million dollars in funds. These grants work to aid economically disadvantaged students, allowing opportunities not previously available. The program has assisted in various topics, ranging from robotics to workshops, and even field trips.
Clifton High School, a school dedicated to giving their students a career in technical education, received a nine thousand dollar donation towards shipping containers that were converted into air-conditioned garden growing installations. The process of expanding the gardens has led to students making 50 to 75 pounds of mushrooms every week.
Donations are imperative for the Austin Ed Fund to continue supporting thousands of students and teachers across the Austin area. The Austin Ed Fund supports AISD’s development of partnerships, promoting creativity and innovation opportunities, which lay the groundwork for students beyond the classroom. The Austin Ed Fund is a powerful program that teachers and students can access and use to transform their futures. The Austin Ed Fund is an invaluable resource to both school teachers and students and continues to expand to support more people. This organization is an incredible way for teachers to aid their classrooms and students’ well-being. Donations are needed for this resource to continue to be supported and to continue helping thousands of students and faculty. For more information about the Austin Education Fund go to www.austinedfund.org.
LINK TO AUSTIN ED FUND: AUSTIN ED FUND HISTORY
