A branding element from IPEI's logo. It look like sun rays, but is in fact pages of a book turning.

The Ithaca Public Education Initiative facilitates community connections and support for the Ithaca City School District through engagement, collaboration, gifts, and grants.

Since 1996, IPEI has provided over $2 million in grants and awards to district students and staff.

Grant Opportunities

  • Four young women with helmets and safety harnesses enjoying a team-building activity outdoors in a wooded area with fallen leaves and a wooden structure.

    Red & Gold Grants

    Red and Gold Grants are one-time awards of up to $750 to ICSD teachers and staff members for projects that strengthen and enrich curriculum.

  • Group of six young people wearing matching light blue T-shirts that say 'Equality Fun Run 2024,' standing behind a counter with ice cream containers and smiling, thumbs-up gestures.

    Student Leadership Grants

    Student Leadership Grants provide up to $500 to fund projects led by ICSD 9th-12th grade student that have a local community impact and build personal leadership skills.

  • Mural artist Margalo Guo paints a mural at Belle Sherman elementary funded by IPEI

    Teacher Grants

    Teacher Grants fund up to $1,750 for projects led by ICSD teachers in collaboration with a community partner to enhance student learning and engagement.

Apply for an IPEI Grant!

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We're excited for New York Times Bestselling author, scholar, and cultural organizer @eve.ewing to be in conversation with @drnianunn and @ithacacityschools Board President Sean Eversley-Bradwell on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 at 2:00PM as part of the 202
✨ Leadership in Action! Thanks to an IPEI Red & Gold Grant, teacher Kirsten Pike led a powerful day of team-building and reflection for her student council leaders at the Hoffman Challenge Course at Cornell University. 🌲 Swinging into leadersh
🎲🧠 Math, Laughter, and Learning Collide! Thanks to an IPEI Red & Gold Grant, Math Teacher Katharina Nichols brought hands-on, joyful math practice to hundreds of elementary students across Ithaca schools through her Fact Fluency Fun project. Fr
🍽️✨ From Ingredients to Identity: 4th Graders Explore Culture Through Food Thanks to an IPEI Teacher Grant, 4th grade students at the Treehouse Room at Belle Sherman Elementary explored U.S. history and immigration by tracing the journeys of food ac
Cover of IPEI's Annual Report titled 'The Ripple Effect' featuring two girls, one holding a bowl of leafy greens, in a classroom setting.

IPEI 2022-23 Annual Report

Through IPEI’s grant funding, students visited foreign countries and national museums, demonstrated their learning by creating model eco-villages and tourism posters, and ate hydroponically grown salad greens and more in their own classrooms!