What is an EIE Fund?
Excellence in Education (EIE) funds are a means to strengthen our school communities with the use of private charitable resources. EIE funds are awarded for the benefit of school district students and staff. They encourage creative and innovative educational programs, recognize and reward outstanding achievement, and encourage local business, civic and community involvement and investment in schools. EIE funds are community-supported funds that operate independently of school board oversight. All EIE funds are components of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.
- The Mineral Point Excellence in Education Fund was formed in January 2017 and because numerous individuals, families, and organizations have made gifts to this endowment fund it has awarded more than $23,900 since it began.
Get To Know Us
Mission: The mission of the Mineral Point Community Foundation is to invest resources in Mineral Point and in its schools to meet changing charitable, educational, civic, historical, and cultural needs. For good. For ever.
The Mineral Point Excellence in Education (EIE) Endowment is an endowment fund established in 2016 that provides private resources for the support of the Mineral Point School District.
Grants from the Mineral Point EIE to the Mineral Point School District will support educational programming outside of the boundaries of the school district budget.
The Mineral Point EIE Endowment is led by an advisory board of local community volunteers who operate independently of the school district, and also advises the Mineral Point Community Endowment. The advisory board leads fundraising efforts and will determine the annual grant and scholarship awards.
Endowment Funds that are a part of the Mineral Point Excellence in Education Fund
The Burnell and Vivian Wang Excellence in Education Fund
This endowment fund was created in memory of Burnell and Vivian Wang in 2022 to support projects and the educational needs of the Mineral Point Unified School District which are not met through regular education budgets.
The Don Hawkins Community Oak Savannah Endowment
Each spring the Don Hawkins Community Oak Savannah Endowment provides grant for educational projects and programs that embellish the two oak savannas adjacent to the Mineral Point Elementary and High Schools, making them user-friendly outdoor classrooms, and encouraging the interaction of students and others with the natural spaces.
The Roger & Mary Ivey Excellence in Education Endowment Fund
This endowment fund was created in memory of Roger and Mary Ivey in 2019 to provide funding for STEM-related (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) educational projects and programs serving the students of the Mineral Point Unified School District.
Learn About Our EIE Grants
Gifts to Excellence in Education funds are an investment in quality education for today’s students and future generations. Private resources allow for educational programming not typically funded by tax dollars.
Your gift can be a lasting and meaningful way of recognizing a special person or event in the life of your family, organization or business, or as a statement that you value education today and into the future. Donations to any EIE Fund are welcome at any time of the year. All gifts are tax deductible.
The Impact of the Mineral Point Excellence in Education Fund
School District of Mineral Point was awarded the following grants:
- Raising the Anxious Generation
- Cool Kids Read Books!
- Livestreaming Equipment
- School Garden Accessibility Project
- Future Forward
- Music for ALL: Help to Make our Instruments Accessible
- Yellow Tulip Project
Total Excellence in Education Grants awarded in 2025: $7,100.38
Grant Guidelines
Tips and tools for you to use as you prepare your application. Print out this PDF as you prepare your grant for a quick checklist of your progress.
Give the Gift of Education
Donations to the Mineral Point Excellence in Education Fund are welcome at any time of the year. All gifts are tax deductible. Mail a check to this address, or click the button to donate online.
Mineral Point EIE
Gift Processing Center
PO Box 81
Platteville, WI 53818-0081
Gift Processing Center
PO Box 81
Platteville, WI 53818-0081
Donor Services Representative
Sarah Latimer
Phone: (608) 758-0883 ext. 7010
Email: [email protected]
Advisory Board Members
The Fund is advised by a committee of community volunteers who serve independently of the school district. The advisory board initiates fundraising activities and determines annual grant awards:
Kristin Mitchell, chairTracie Stracka, secretary
Wayne Banaszak
Molly Huie
Joni Martin
Leah McDonald
Christina Weitzel
Joelle Doye, MP School Communication Director, ex-officio
Mitch Wainwright, MP School Superintendent, ex-officio
