The Foundation raises private funds, develops community partnerships and advocates for Madison's public schools, students and teachers.
Madison Public Schools Foundation Inc’s recent giving is centered on one recurring recipient: Madison Metropolitan School District. The three largest grants on file all went to MMSD for educational programs for schools in the district, scholarships, and teacher supplies, including $1,918,006 in 2024 and $891,766 in 2025. That pattern matches the foundation’s role of raising private funds, building community partnerships, and advocating for Madison’s public schools, students, and teachers. Its active programs show how that work is organized in practice: general support for district-wide priorities, designated arts funding, school partnership programs, community resource support, full-service community schools, school-specific endowment grants, and teacher support initiatives. The foundation’s grantmaking is directed to Madison public schools and the broader Madison Metropolitan School District, with support flowing to schools, teachers, and district-level priorities rather than to individuals. Recent grants and program descriptions point to a funder that combines unrestricted district support with highly specified school and classroom funding, especially for materials, student needs, and school-based enrichment.
A major thread in the foundation’s funding is district-wide educational support. The largest recent grant, $1,918,006 to Madison Metropolitan School District, was for educational programs for schools in MMSD, scholarships, and teacher supplies. Another district grant of $891,766 supported the same purposes, showing repeated investment in core school operations and classroom needs. Arts education is also a clear focus through the Fine Arts Fund, which is designated for music, art, theatre, and other fine arts programming in Madison public schools. The Teacher Support Network addresses practical classroom needs with supplies, snacks, personal hygiene items, and recess equipment. Through the MMSD Community Resource Fund, the foundation also supports virtual learning materials, equitable Wi‑Fi access, school supply kits, and mental health resources tied to the COVID-19 response and recovery.
The typical grant size is large: the 25th percentile is $968,112, the median is $1,044,457, and the 75th percentile is $1,481,232. Recent awards also show repeat funding to the same district recipient across multiple years, with Madison Metropolitan School District appearing in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation is a school-district targeted grantmaker that uses program and project support, restricted-purpose grants, and direct service funding. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Several active funds are designated or unrestricted support vehicles rather than open application programs, and the listed programs do not accept unsolicited requests.
$892K
$13.9M
$2M
$2M
Most grants fall between $968K and $1.5M, with a median of $1M.
25th Percentile
$968K
Median
$1M
75th Percentile
$1.5M
MELINDA HEINRITZ
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Grantmaking is local and entirely in Wisconsin: 100% of grants in the recipient country distribution are in the US, and 100% of grants go to recipients in WI. Madison is the central location for both the foundation’s HQ and its giving. Recipient names in the recent grant list point to Madison Metropolitan School District as the primary destination for support, with funding directed to Madison public schools and district-level MMSD priorities.
Its core focus is Madison public schools and the Madison Metropolitan School District, with support for K-12 education, teacher support, student and staff support, arts and music, literacy and reading, science and math, technology, endowments, and advocacy. The recent grants also center on educational programs, scholarships, and teacher supplies for MMSD.
The foundation gives to schools and district-level programs within the Madison Metropolitan School District. Beneficiaries listed in the data are K-12 students in MMSD, teachers and classroom educators in MMSD, and schools within the district. The recent grant list names Madison Metropolitan School District as the recipient.
Yes. The active Fine Arts Fund supports music, art, theatre, and other fine arts programming in Madison public schools. The Teacher Support Network also provides supplies and other essentials for classrooms, and recent grants to Madison Metropolitan School District include teacher supplies as part of the stated purpose.
Typical grants are large and clustered around the million-dollar range. The 25th percentile is $968,112, the median is $1,044,457, and the 75th percentile is $1,481,232. Recent awards to Madison Metropolitan School District include $1,918,006 in 2024 and $891,766 in 2025.
They are local. All grants in the recipient country distribution are in the US, and 100% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin. The foundation’s active programs are also directed to Madison and the Madison Metropolitan School District.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Madison Public Schools Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: All MMSD schools and student programs; support is responsive to school-requested needs and district priorities.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT | MADISON, WI | $891,766 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS IN THE MMSD, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TEACHER SUPPLIES. |
| MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT | MADISON, WI | $1,918,006 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS IN THE MMSD, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TEACHER SUPPLIES. |
| MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT | MADISON, WI | $1,044,457 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS IN THE MMSD, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TEACHER SUPPLIES. |
MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
$891,766EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS IN THE MMSD, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TEACHER SUPPLIES.
MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
$1,918,006EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS IN THE MMSD, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TEACHER SUPPLIES.
MADISON METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
$1,044,457EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS IN THE MMSD, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TEACHER SUPPLIES.
