Purpose/Scope
Grant Initiatives for Today’s Students (GIFTS) is a Catholic school grant program of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee founded in 2019.
Funds raised at the annual Archbishop’s Catholic Schools Dinner support the GIFTS program.
The Office for Schools plans to award grants at the $5,000 and $10,000 levels in Spring/ Summer 2026 for use in the 2026-2027 School Year.
GIFT awards will be determined by archdiocesan representatives and retired educators. 191 grants have been awarded and over $1,425,000 to date.
Focus Areas
A school/system seeking a grant from the GIFTS grant program should align their project with one of the following four focus areas:
Grants will be awarded to support mission and faith formation and the creation of a visible Catholic identity. Examples include but are not limited to faculty faith formation, liturgical needs, environmental enhancements/artifacts, resource materials, etc.
- School Marketing and Enrollment
Grants will be awarded to support school marketing and enrollment initiatives. Examples include but are not limited to website improvement, brand development, promotional materials, advertising campaigns, recruitment initiatives, etc.
Grants will be awarded to encourage and facilitate innovative and creative instructional programs and ideas in education. Examples include but are not limited to new programs to enhance student learning, supplemental resources to advance existing programs, etc.
- Project Initiation: Seed Money
Grants will be awarded to provide kick-start funding for new long-term projects. Examples include but are not limited to: new programs, resources, positions, etc.
In awarding grants, the committee will value: