Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools

The mission of this fund is to provide direct, dedicated, and accessible funding for ongoing advancement of Dubuque Senior High Speech and Theatre.

The Dubuque Senior Drama Boosters was founded as a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation in 2023 for the purpose of supporting the Dubuque Senior Drama Department.

This fund is endowed, meaning that donations are invested permanently, and the earnings are used to provide resources for Dubuque Senior High Speech and Theatre. Donations to this fund are eligible for the Endow Iowa 25% State Tax Credit.

The Hempstead High School Foundation is working to ensure that all students have the opportunity to feel more connected to the Mustang Community by attending school-wide events such as athletics, musicals and plays, school concerts, homecoming and prom and more, through the purchase of activity passes for students.  This fund will also go towards classroom field trips that bring students out of the classroom to continue learning as well as introduce them to college campus and post-secondary planning.  Hempstead students, staff, families and community will be impacted by gifts made to this fund.

The mission of the DCSD Robotics Program is to motivate young people by creating an inclusive community where STEM is celebrated and values of confidence and excellence can grow! This fund covers costs of Robot materials, competition fees, travel expenses, community outreach materials and growth for more students in the following programs:

• First Lego League: 4th-6th grades
• First Tech Challenge: 7th-8th grades
• First Robotics Competition: 9th-12th grades

Established by retired Hempstead Assistant Principal Registrar Sandra L. Beisker to continue service to the school and its students who share her love of literature and theatre.  To be considered for this scholarship, students must be graduate of Hempstead High School, Dubuque, Iowa with a plan to enroll full-time in a degree program at a two- or four-year college or university. Preference given to student pursuing a career related to the study of English and/or theatre (examples: teacher, librarian, journalist, actor, costume designer, editor) as well as to a student who describes how any work of literature has impacted his/her own character or career choice. 

The Hempstead Class of ‘73 Scholarship has been established to give back to students at Stephen Hempstead High School. The purpose of the Hempstead Class of ’73 Scholarship is to support graduating seniors from Stephen Hempstead High School in Dubuque, IA who will pursue post-secondary education who are interested in pursuing a career in the trade field that requires specific training but not necessarily a college setting. Students planning to attend a junior college, trade school, or certificate program can qualify for this scholarship.

The purpose of the John W. Seier Memorial Fund is to impact students of Dubuque Community School District, by providing support to students that participate in Scouting. This fund may provide Scout uniforms for packs that have members/potential members that lack resources, maintenance products for Scout Camp at Edgewood, IA, material costs for Eagle Scout projects, and/or funding for scout trips for member/potential members that lack resources.

This fund supports teacher leaders in the Dubuque Community School District by providing funding for a conference focused on STEM education.  Through an application process, educators can apply for funding to use towards conference fees, travel, hotels, and transportation to allow for the opportunity to learn teaching strategies that can be then shared with other educators in the district.  This fund is set up to encourage educators to be peer leaders with “teachers teaching teachers”!  Past educators have attended National Science, Math, and Technology Conferences, as well as conferences that focus on student engagement, best practices around literacy instruction, and so much more.

FDPS Gifts and Grants funds go towards projects and programs that are not funded by general tax dollars. Some of these dollars go towards Building Grants, school principals apply for, while some go towards areas of interest for each of our partners/donors. Your gifts have funded new technology in the classroom, classroom sets of headphones to use for testing, literacy, and to create a quiet environment that may be needed, your gifts have made schools safer with the purchase of building-wide walkie-talkie’s, your gifts have motivated students to improve their attendance through individual attendance calendars, stickers, and student incentives, and your gifts have even helped plan school family engagement nights.  Every gift you give impacts students directly.

At A Glance

• In Memory of Daniel J. Miller
• Supports a Hempstead High School Art Student in Dubuque, IA
• Permanently Endowed Fund

About Us

Daniel J. Miller, a Hempstead High School Senior in 1992, was uncertain about his future. He didn’t think college was for him. The only thing he knew for sure was that he was an artist. He had a need to create. He felt the happiest when he was covered in paint, charcoal, clay or wood chips.

The Hempstead Art Teachers saw his potential and passion for art. They encouraged Dan to enter an art competition at The University of Northern Iowa. With only a few weeks to prepare, his art teachers spent hours after school helping Dan put together his portfolio.