may 2024 update
grants help students, object soar!
A $2,000 Foundation grant allowed Olympia High School students in Andrew Woodbridge's class this year to design and construct a functional hot air balloon. Here it is taking flight at the Lacey STEM Fair earlier this month.
Staff encouraged to submit 24-25 requests before end of the school year
The Olympia Education Foundation this year approved approximately 90 grants -- totaling $113,000 -- that benefited students in every single school.
Our grants are intended to support educators seeking to enhance student learning, close opportunity gaps, and meet needs that the district and individual school buildings cannot. Grants are limited only by the applicant's creativity and the needs of their students*.
This year our grants funded everything from library books to musical instruments, field investigations of local watersheds, tours of local colleges, art studio supplies, LEGO kits for robotics clubs, accessible playground equipment, assemblies -- and so much more!
One grant that we found particularly "uplifting" allowed for Olympia High School students in Andrew Woodbridge's class to design and construct a functional hot air balloon.
Requests for the 2024-2025 school year are being accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, June 21. Applicants will be notified in mid-August about the status of their request; funds for approved requests will be available in early September.
Requests may be made in any amount up to $2,000. (Exception: Browsers Books Grant Requests may be made in any amount up to $500.)
A second application period for the 24-25 year will open Aug. 26, 2024, and close Oct. 24. Applicants will be notified by Nov. 15, with funds available for approved grants by Nov. 22.
Special thanks to our longstanding grants partners, WSECU and Browsers Bookshop, for helping fund opportunities made possible by these grants.
*Applicants must review our guidelines to learn about the few projects that the Foundation will not consider.
support students — one shot at a time!
Team registration now open; special discount for school staff
Join us Friday, July 12, for the annual Olympia Education Foundation Scramble. Your participation will support students -- one shot at a time.
This year's event will be held at Capitol City Golf Club, and we have no doubt it will be just as fun as ever!
Don't wait too long to round up a foursome! This event typically sells out.
Olympia School District staff are eligible for a special discount. (Contact Katy at events@olyedfoundation.org to learn more.)
Sponsorships are also available; most include a team of four.
Use one of the two buttons below to register or learn more.
We look 'fore'-ward to seeing you at Capitol City on July 12!
what a day for reading!
Hundreds of students were able to spend part of their day earlier this month with local author Christine Day (center of photo on the left and kneeling in photo on the right).
Local author helps foster love of reading during daylong community celebration
The inaugural Olympia Reads!! event brought the magic of literature to life earlier this month for nearly 600 students and community members.
Award-winning author Christine Day, whose works include "I Can Make This Promise," "The Sea in Winter," and "We Still Belong," captivated kids and adults alike during her daylong appearance at Capital High School's Performing Arts Center.
We were pleased to help make the inaugural Olympia Reads!! event a reality in partnership with Browsers Bookshop, Timberland Regional Library and the district.
sponsor spotlight
We are proud to welcome Olympia State Farm agent Rocco Turpin as a brand-new sponsor of the Olympia Education Foundation Scramble! We are grateful for your support of this event and your commitment to empowering students in Olympia's public schools.