Targeted Grant Funds

The majority of funding for Gold Star grants is unrestricted, general funding. In addition, the following funds have been established to support grant projects in targeted subject areas. Grant applicants do not need to apply for a specific type of grant, but are encouraged to read through the targeted grant fund descriptions below before applying to learn about the types of funding available.

• Richard Swantz Grant – The Richard Swantz Endowment Fund fosters teacher excellence by funding grants for staff development. LPEF looks favorably on requests to bring speakers to the district to address a group of educators. Grant award amounts vary, with consideration of total number of staff affected and relevance to District or school goals. Swantz, the longest serving superintendent of schools in La Crosse history and a co-founder of LPEF, died Oct. 15, 2019 at the age of 84.
• Rachel Gundersen Arts & Humanities Grant – Grants are funded related to theater, dance, music and visual art forms, or to support projects in literature, languages, global studies, geography, history, law or a host of other topics in the humanities. The endowment fund was established by Rachel Gundersen, a retired school psychologist and former LPEF Board president, who passed away on June 15, 2022 at the age of 92.
• Randy and Lynn Nelson Grant – Provides grants in three areas: (1) Physical education or physical fitness; (2) Servant leadership, specifically programs that help students and/or school staff develop leadership skills focused on serving others, on inspiring and influencing people; or (3) Character development and teaching values, such as patience, kindness, humility, respectfulness, selflessness, forgiveness, honesty and commitment. The fund was established by Randy Nelson, who retired in 2020 after nine years as La Crosse superintendent, and his wife, Lynn, who retired in 2018 after 35 years as a physical education teacher, most recently in Rochester, Minn.
• Ross/Freedland Diversity Education Grant – With funding from the Heather and Stephen Ross and Maureen and Robert Freedland LPEF Fund for Diversity Education at the La Crosse Community Foundation, provides grants for diversity education that promotes empathy, reduces prejudice, and enriches students’ abilities to think critically and creatively as they engage in conversations across difference. Diversity education topics can include, but are not limited to, race and culture, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and physical and intellectual abilities. Priority for educational opportunities that teach students about groups who are historically excluded/underrepresented in education, and/or groups who are marginalized and oppressed.
• Freedland Shoah (Holocaust) Study Grants with funding from the Maureen and Robert Freedland LPEF Fund for Studies of the Shoah (Holocaust) of the La Crosse Community Foundation, provides grants to advance students’ understanding of the “Shoah,” the systematic genocide against the Jewish people and other “undesirable” groups targeted for destruction by the Nazi regime in World War II. Priority is given to educational activities concentrating on the Shoah (Holocaust) but related topics may be considered as long as a connection to the Holocaust is maintained.
• Tyser Power of Nature Grant – Provides grants for students within the School District of La Crosse to experience the benefits of being in nature, including: field trips, co-curricular or after-school activities; fees to hire speakers or guides; or costs for students exploring nature-oriented career experiences. Added weight for some level of cost-sharing by the district, or proposals involving collaboration with other local nonprofits. While intended for student experiences, grants may be considered for staff development, or parent education, where the impact can be clearly demonstrated. The endowment fund was established by Kathie and Rob Tyser. Kathie is a retired associate superintendent of La Crosse schools. Rob is a retired professor of biology at UW-La Crosse. See a short YouTube video here.
• Brauer IB Adventure Grant – Provides a $2,500 grant to be awarded twice annually, for staff training to build International Baccalaureate program knowledge, capacity, skills and competencies in order to support long-term sustainability of an IB World School program in the district. The grant is funded by Sandra Brauer, who retired in 2020 as principal of North Woods International School. She led the effort to gain IB certification at North Woods, which was accredited in 2021.