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Bemidji 31 Foundation seeks volunteers and events to expand classroom grants
Summary
The Bemidji 31 Education Foundation told the school board it has funded 83 classroom projects since 2019 and seeks volunteers and four annual fundraisers to increase a current $14,000 annual grant budget.
Jeff Hack, president of the Bemidji 31 Education Foundation, presented the nonprofit’s work to the Bemidji Public School District board on Sept. 15 and asked for volunteers and community support to increase grant funding for classroom projects.
The foundation, a component fund of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, has funded 83 projects totaling more than $53,000 since launching in 2019, Hack said. The foundation’s current annual grant budget is about $14,000; organizers want to expand that by running four events a year and growing volunteer support.
"We are here to enhance the educational experiences for the children in our district, and we do that by giving out funds and resources to classroom educators throughout, ISD 31," Hack told the board. He said the group focuses solely on in-classroom academic needs and does not fund extracurriculars, scholarships or use tax dollars.
Hack described the foundation’s grant process: teachers apply after the first contract day, the window closes the Wednesday before the MEA break, and funds are intended to be in teachers’ hands by Nov. 1. Grants are one-year awards (funds must be spent in the year awarded) and can fully fund small projects, sustain existing programs or serve as a partner contribution to larger efforts.
Examples Hack cited included a third-grade rocketry program, teacher requests for 3D printers, and an outdoor-classroom accessibility contribution at Horace May where the foundation joined other partners to modify the space so students who use wheelchairs could participate.
To raise money, Hack said the foundation plans four annual events: a car show held in August, the second annual "EduPutt Classic" mini-golf fundraiser scheduled for the coming Saturday, a February dinner modeled on a "100 women for a cause" event, and a fourth event still being planned. Registration for EduPutt is $50 and includes a round of mini golf and pizza; QR codes and sign-up sheets were shared with the board.
Board members thanked Hack for the work and noted teachers frequently use personal funds for classroom supplies; Hack said some applicants report using their own money as matching funds for grant requests.
Hack also credited local community partners and individuals who help with in-kind support; he noted trophies for the EduPutt event were made by Gene Dillon and grant recipient/tradesperson Travis Whittington.
The foundation’s website is bemidjieducationfoundation.org and the group has a Facebook page; Hack encouraged board members and community members to participate in upcoming events or volunteer to support logistics.
