Staff Grants
HSEF is rooted in innovation and the mission to bring the next best practices in education home to local students and teachers.
During the 2025-26 school year, Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation supported 45 grant proposals from HSE Schools staff and students. These projects totaled to nearly $110,000 and impacted students from elementary through high school buildings across Hamilton Southeastern Schools.
Visit the grant recipients page to see previously funded projects.
We are seeking the best new ideas in education in any number of disciplines including, but not limited to, STEM, literacy, mental health, fitness and wellness, civics education, special education, and physical space. HSEF funding supports all local schools, central office, and departments such as school nursing, school counseling, food services, and transportation. In general, high value criteria include innovation, creativity, educational value, and student impact. Thanks to the local community investing time and generosity in our annual fundraisers and events, HSEF supports these initiatives through three grant cycles.
2026-27 HSEF Grants
Sparking Innovation Grant
Innovation Grant
Funds creative, forward-thinking projects that enhance student achievement, engagement, and the overall educational experience. Projects may support any discipline and should demonstrate innovation, measurable impact, and potential for broader implementation. This grant encourages pilot ideas, creative solutions, and collaborative projects that can be replicated across classrooms, schools, or departments.
BEST FOR:
- Innovative instructional practices
- Pilot programs and new initiatives
- Cross-school collaboration
- Projects with scalable impact
TIMELINE:
Application opens: August 3, 2026
Application deadline: September 17, 2026
Awards Announced: Late October 2026
Spending Deadline: May 2027
Grant Report Due: July 2027
Fueling Student Success Grant
Academic Supports Grant
Funds instructional resources that directly improve student learning and support district curriculum priorities. Ideal for materials, manipulatives, and tools that help bridge achievement gaps and expand access to high-quality learning experiences. This grant focuses on resources that demonstrate a clear connection to student achievement and academic success.
BEST FOR:
- Curriculum-aligned instructional materials
- Academic intervention resources
- Manipulatives and learning supports
- Projects with measurable student outcomes
TIMELINE:
Application opens: August 3, 2026
Application deadline: September 17, 2026
Awards Announced: Late October 2026
Spending Deadline: May 2027
Grant Report Due: July 2027
Igniting Professional Development Grant
Professional Development Grant
Supports meaningful professional growth opportunities that enhance educator effectiveness and positively impact student learning. Preference is given to high-impact experiences that can be shared with colleagues and implemented across classrooms and schools. This grant is designed to help educators bring new learning back to their students, teams, and buildings.
BEST FOR:
- Conferences and workshops
- Instructional training programs
- Collaborative team learning
- Professional resources tied to implementation
TIMELINE:
Application opens: December 1, 2026
Application deadline: January 14, 2027
Awards Announced: February 2027
Spending Deadline: December 2027
Grant Report Due: July 2028
The grant committee uses a combination of objective and subjective criteria when evaluating grant applications including:
- Sustainability
- Student impact
- Educational value
- Innovation/Creativity
After each application deadline the selection committee, composed of teachers, district administrators, and community leaders, meets to determine recipients. This committee uses a combination of objective and subjective criteria when evaluating grant applications. Applications that clearly meet more criteria will generally be viewed more favorably during evaluation. In some instances, HSEF is not able to fund requests due to budgetary constraints. This does not mean that a rejected application is inappropriate or unsatisfactory.
Applicants must be an employee of Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Application requests need to correlate to a current learning standard, school improvement plan, or district initiative and directly benefit students.
Connect with Kristen Wolf for questions related to the application process or technical assistance. Follow HSEF on the below platforms for the latest information regarding our grant programs.
Community Grant Partners
Grant awards historically honored exemplary and innovative teaching. However, due to constraints in government funding for K-12 schools, the foundation has been called on to provide gap funding for basic educational needs as well.
HSEF is proud to partner with local organizations, businesses and private donors to leverage additional support for our schools that fall outside of our grant process. These partnerships demonstrate the enormous impact local philanthropy has on the community.
- Comprehensive Student Success Fund is dedicated to inspiring innovation specifically in comprehensive school counseling, equity and inclusion. School counseling encompasses a range of student success services including academic advising, college and career readiness, social emotional learning, and mental health support.
- Church Church Hittle & Antrim launched the annual Civics Education Fund in 2015. These funds are restricted to supporting education related to government, law, and citizenships. Examples include, but are not limited to, We the People and Mock Trial.
- Tri Kappa is a unique, local philanthropic organization that focuses on education. In 2015, the Fishers chapter began providing funding to HSEF. Each grant cycle, requests for support far exceed available funds. Tri Kappa has ensured far more of these proposals may be granted – ultimately impacting hundreds of local students.
- HSE Trustees Legacy Fund was created by current and past members of the Board of School Trustees for HSE Schools. These funds support a student led and student selected grant process. Criteria for the grant parameters would be based on the current year’s board district goals. Student awarded grants are typically under $500. Any faculty or staff member applying for these funds, but not selected, will automatically be considered for general Foundation funds.