Indian Prairie Education Foundation reports $400,000+ fundraising year, expands at-risk and student health programs

The Indian Prairie Education Foundation (IPEF) told the District 204 Board of Education Sept. 22 that it exceeded a $400,000 fundraising goal for fiscal 2025 and has provided more than $5.7 million in programming and support to the district since 1988. Trudy Ranson, IPEF executive director, presented the foundation's semiannual report to the board and outlined current programs, recent outcomes and upcoming events.

Ranson said the foundation's largest and fastest-growing category is at-risk funding, which supports low-income and homeless students through programs such as Kid Essentials and after-school programming. "We have provided more than $5,700,000 in funding programming and support, since we were founded in 1988," Ranson said.

She told the board that in the 2024-25 year IPEF returned more than $288,000 directly to the district and cited two major programs: RISE after-school programs (funded by an Illinois State Board of Education grant) and Young Hearts for Life cardiac screenings. Ranson said Young Hearts screened over 5,000 high school students free of charge during the last year and that the foundation hopes to run the screening again in the 2026-27 school year.

Ranson also described the foundation's role as title sponsor for the district's mental health and wellness symposium and support for robotics, fine arts festivals, teacher innovation grants and Team IPEF fundraising. Team IPEF is the foundation's long-running race fundraising effort; Ranson said the team has raised about $1.3 million over the last 11 years and must meet a minimum fundraising goal for charity runners.

Board members praised the foundation's fundraising recovery from pandemic-level lows and the breadth of services it supports, including $10,000 in fall teacher innovation grants and spring "quick grants." Board members encouraged community members to consider volunteering, serving on the IPEF board (Ranson said there were three openings), and donating to school-specific campaigns.

Why this matters: IPEF funding supports district programs that serve wide cross-sections of students, including low-income and medically vulnerable students. The foundation's fundraising and grant programs feed directly into classroom supports, after-school enrichment, health screenings and staff grants that district leaders said boost student opportunities.

Discussion vs. action: This was a presentation and report to the board; no formal board action was required at the meeting. The board responded with questions and thanks, and members encouraged outreach to families and community donors.