Grant Program

Fueling Innovation in Every Classroom: The Foundation Grant Program

Money raised through our annual gala (VIVI) and the community-driven W Club Annual Appeal goes right back into the heart of District 66—our classrooms.

Through the Foundation Grant Program, we empower Westside Community Schools’ student-serving faculty and staff to dream big and bring bold ideas to life. Each October and January, the Foundation invites applications for grant funding to support creative solutions that:

• Spark innovation in teaching and learning

• Elevate student engagement and outcomes

• Address specific educational challenges

• Strengthen school programs and classroom experiences

These grants aren’t just support—they’re springboards. Every awarded project is considered a pilot program, with the potential to scale across the district and inspire systemic change.

Why Foundation Grants Matter

Education foundations like ours play a unique role in bridging the gap between traditional school funding and the evolving needs of 21st-century learning. While district budgets often cover the essentials, our grants fund the extraordinary—robotics kits, flexible learning spaces, mental wellness programs, arts integration, and beyond.

Grant funding is aligned with current district priorities, and funding requests should reflect the number of students served. Whether it’s a single classroom or the entire district, we believe innovative ideas should have the opportunity to shine.

For more information on the Foundation Grant Program, please reach out to Erika Conces (conces.erika@westside66.net).

Foundation Grant Highlights

Foundation Grant Highlights

Adaptive PE Materials
Alphabet Letters and trays
Arts for Me!
Attendance Incentives
CNA and Business Outreach
Composting in the Classroom
Decodables For Kindergarten and EL Students
District Clothing Closet & Food Pantry
Engagement in Math
Family Resource Center
Field Trips
Language for Learning
Laundry Lessons for Life Skills
Literacy Team’s One School, One Book Initiative
Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair Grant
Robotics Club
Scooters BREW CREW
Solar Eclipse glasses
Special Olympics
Student IT Help Desk
Title 1 School Support
Virtual Reality Headsets
Walking Field Trip – Geography Class
WE-SIDE Multicultural Fair
Westside Middle School Bee Club seed money
Westside Middle School Introduction to keyboard/piano
Westside Middle School Science Olympiad Team
Westside Unified fall day trip

To learn more about the grants we support or to become a community partner and help fund initiatives like the grants above, please reach out to Erika Conces. Your involvement makes a real difference in the lives of our students and helps create hands-on, impactful learning experiences. Together, we can continue to grow and nurture innovative programs that inspire the next generation of leaders, scientists, and environmental stewards.

Thank you for your support! We look forward to connecting with you.