About Us
Our Founding
After enduring several consecutive years of budget cutbacks for their children's school, a group of parent volunteers decided to take action in 2001 to form the German Immersion Foundation. This independent, non-profit entity was created to raise funds to support two Milwaukee education treasures - Milwaukee German Immersion School and Milwaukee School of Languages.
​
Our Impact
The financial support provided by the foundation is not used for school operations and is directed specifically to ensure the high quality of these two Milwaukee Public Schools, where students test scores rival those of students from the top performing school districts and private schools.
​​
The foundation has been instrumental in funding crucial professional development for teachers, much needed equipment in classrooms, curriculum translation into German, and the signature Intern Program that brings native German speakers to the classrooms as teaching assistants.
​​
These initiatives enable the school to maintain their high quality, and focus their budgets on employing high-caliber staff. The foundation is led by a board composed of parents of current and former students, staff members from both schools, alumni, and committed community partners.
​​
The German Immersion Foundation, Inc. is a separate federally recognized 501(c)(3) organization that is not affiliated with either school, their respective PTA or Governance Councils, or the Milwaukee Public Schools.
The German Immersion Foundation, Inc. (GIF) is a 501c3 organization that has raised over $400,000 over more than 25 years to further its mission of supporting German Immersion Schools in the Milwaukee area.
Our Vision
Our Vision is of a future where the unique, public, immersive German Language education programs available to Milwaukee-area students are highly sought after, supported for a sustainable future, and are consistently producing high caliber graduates ready to take on the next set of challenges.
Our Mission
We work to achieve that Vision through local and regional fundraising anchored by a strong network of supporters that leverage their own personal connections to benefits, cultural awareness, and the future.
​
Our organization advocates for policies within the Milwaukee Public School district to ensure that this educational treasure is supported for the future.
​
We connect with the community at various Events throughout the year and directly benefit the schools via the Intern Program and direct funding.