Student Grantmaking
When our students have a voice, they thrive.
In early 2024, the DPS Foundation created its first ever Student Grantmaking Advisory Committee. This new grantmaking effort was created to better meet the needs of DPS students, help them effect change in their schools and communities, and return power to DPS students. Through direct funding for their ideas and projects, we can better understand what DPS students need in order to be successful both while they are in school and after graduation.
The Committee
The first committee was made up of six DPS students from four different high schools throughout the district.
I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity to have a say in the development of this new program and potentially get my own grant idea funded.
The Impact
With a committee of students gathering and sharing their valuable feedback, DPS Foundation awarded more than $13,000 to students and groups for either individual grants or student-led grants. This initial grant was made possible thanks to DPS Foundation board member Rebecca Grant Zarret and her husband Scott Zarret.
Type of work the fund supports
- Cruz from West High School; $3,000 to remove barriers and increase participation in the DPS Department of Technology Services student internship/apprenticeship program
- Sara from North High School; $730 to start their Northstar Ambassador Program, which is a program that provides new-to-country students with student ambassadors who have bilingual and community-building skills