The Hamilton Wenham Education Fund exists for one reason: to provide potent, often unexpected, competitive advantages to our public schools through carefully-vetted grants. The Edfund Board of Directors reviews grant applications from the schools on a monthly basis. Those applications that the Board agrees will provide a true competitive advantage to our kids, and that are not programs that should be funded within the normal school budget, are given the green light. Since its inception in 1990, the Edfund has funded more than $600,000 in grants to the Hamilton Wenham Regional School District.

How does the Edfund decide which grants to fund?

New to this year's grant making process is a mini-grant program for those applicants seeking grants of less than $1,000. Grants will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. In addition to the mini-grant program, the Edfund will review grant applications requesting $1,000 or more on a rolling basis. When funds are distributed may depend on the amount requested and available funds at the time of the application. The Edfund Board encourages teachers and administrators at all of the Hamilton-Wenham district schools to enhance the education provided to students in K-12 by taking advantage of the funding supported by the generosity of our community donors for this purpose.

What types of enrichment is generally funded?

Most recently, Edfund grants have supported programs and purchases of technology over and above current district budgets. Technology purchases have included items such as computer labs, computer stations and laptops, Smart Boards, LCD projectors and digital cameras. Our funding has also provided the latest training opportunities for teachers, supported classroom initiatives, and purchased technology and programs that support individual learning styles. With our new mini-grant program, we hope that individual teachers will request funding for smaller, short-term projects that will directly and immediately benefit their students. Edfund grants have affected all aspects and levels of the educational experience in our district.

Grant Applications & Criteria

Please feel free to contact Grants Committee Chair, Donna Gourdeau at: edfundgrants@gmail.com with any questions.