Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools

MISSION: The Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools (formerly the Dubuque Community School District Foundation) supports student achievement by promoting investment in the Dubuque Public Schools. FDPS is a nonprofit organization committed to providing resources for all students of the Dubuque Community School District.

WHAT WE DO

• We are creating a permanent funding source for Dubuque public schools by raising an endowment through major and planned gifts.
• We work with businesses, foundations, and private donors to build general, endowed and designated funds for educational programs in the district.
• We support the Dubuque Community School District's mission of developing world-class learners and citizens of character in a safe and inclusive learning community

End of Year Giving Letter and 2020 Annual Report

2020 has been an unprecedented year and funding for unexpected expenses saw a sharp increase in the past eight months. We invite you to celebrate the accomplishments we have had during 2020 and consider and end of year gift to continue enriching the lives of our students every day. Below is a link to the 2020 Annual Report and an end of year giving letter. Thank you to all of our donors who have invested in our students, your gifts empower so many!

Read Annual Letter and view Annual Report

 2021 FDPS Annual Fundraising Luncheon

The Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools (FDPS) 9th Annual In-Person Fundraising Luncheon has been canceled for 2021. A taped version will be available in October and will be shared here along with our social media accounts. We appreciate the community investment in our mission and hope to gather again in 2022.

Announcement of the 2020 HOMETOWN ALUMNI 

The Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools (FDPS) is happy to announce that Susan Farber is the 2020 Distinguished Hometown Alumni Award Recipient. The award recognizes Dubuque Community School District graduates who currently live in the Dubuque area and have made a significant impact in the community. Susan will be honored at the 2021 luncheon scheduled for Septembe 28.

With the award, FDPS aims to share real-life examples of Dubuque Senior High School, Hempstead High School and Alternative Learning Center alumni who have benefitted from Dubuque’s public education and have used their time, talent or resources for the betterment of others. Previous recipients include philanthropists and community leaders, such as Ann McDonough, Cheryl Falb,  Susan Butler Ritts, Tim Hodge and Jeffrey Mozena.

2021 "Dine Out/Take Out" for Dubuque Public Schools

Save the date - Thursday, October 14 - to support projects and programs in the Dubuque Community School District. More information soon! - Restaurant List

2021 Judi Chandlee Tribute to Teachers Grant Announced

Who is eligible to apply for a grant?  All Dubuque Community School District certified staff are eligible to apply through our partner, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque's online grant management system.

Read about 2021 grant recipients

Give Back Fridays

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” ~Helen Keller

Starting in September the FDPS is implementing “Give Back Friday”. The first week of each month, the FDPS will highlight a local non-profit that makes a difference for our schools, students, and families. Information will be sent out about the mission of the local non-profit and how they support students and families in the DCSD. One of our FDPS funds will also be highlighted, along with the impact it has on the district. On the first Friday of each month, we ask the DCSD staff and FDPS donors to make a donation to support these causes. The donations will be collected and processed by the FDPS and will be split 50/50 between the two highlighted programs.

October “Give Back Friday” Recipients -  St. Mark Youth Enrichment and FDPS Grants and Gifts Fund

St Mark Youth Enrichment Mission Statement – to provide innovative programs and services that cultivate the educational and social-emotional growth of youth and families and our vision is to enrich the life of every child.

St Mark Youth Enrichment impacts the DCSD in the following ways: worked with School Counseling teams to provide school supplies for 3,000 students grades K-12; provided virtual out of school supplemental time while students were distant learning including social emotional grab and go bags; provided summer academic and social emotional programs for nearly 100 incoming K-5th graders; provide before and after school programming at 2 elementary schools, Marshall & Audubon and after school programming at Lincoln; partnering with principals, staff, and DCSD to meet the safety, academic and emotional needs of all students; provide environments filled with love, safety, and belonging.

The FDPS Grants and Gifts fund was created to provide funding for projects and programs that enhance student achievement in the Dubuque public schools.

The fund facilitates grants and gifts that the FDPS receives to support school and student initiatives and programs for school-sponsored and extracurricular activities. Since this fund was created in 2019 FDPS has invested in 60 different projects and programs in the Dubuque Community School District totaling $214,280 and paid $51,535 to vendors to support projects and programs for a total of $265,815.

Thank you for your September investment to our campaign. $842.00 was raised and split 50/50 between the Boys & Girls Club and the Judi Chandlee Tribute to Teachers Endowment.