The Indiana Area Education Foundation is a non-profit organization formed in 2005 that raises private dollars through tax-deductible contributions to enrich educational opportunities and to support innovation and excellence in the schools of the Indiana Area School District. This goal is accomplished by funding grants for teachers and by strengthening communication between the community and the schools.
The IAEF operates independently from the Indiana Area School District for the primary benefit of its students. Funds raised by the Foundation promote and enhance educational programs and activities that are not funded within the constraints of the school district’s operating budget.
Our Mission Statement:
The Foundation will ensure the highest level of education opportunity by supporting Indiana Area School District students, faculty and staff through a philanthropic partnership dedicated to supporting the academic, athletic, inclusive, extracurricular, and improvement initiatives of the IASD.
IAEF has made significant strides to fund our initiatives:
STEM: We fund programs that prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering and math! IAEF funded Created career acceleration kits for ICTC Machine Engineering students, funded a Science National Honor Society, as well as covered costs to ensure IASD students were able to participate in various competitions such as Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, Invention Convention, Combat Bots, and more!
Inclusivity: We invest in safe, welcome, and inclusive learning environments. Building off of the East Pike elementary inclusive playground project, we assisted students at the Senior High with fundraising and purchasing inclusive playground equipment to Ben Franklin elementary. We are currently assisting East Pike with fundraising for an amazing new addition to their Pre-K playground. Our annual 5K is proud to offer an inclusive fun run route each year. IAEF funded a classroom grant that provided students with lots of fun equipment, creating more opportunities for playing together! IAEF proudly helped fund the Senior High Green Bandana Project to protect students’ emotional health and well-being.
Athletics: IAEF is proud to support IASD athletics in various ways. Whether its sponsoring groups like the Indiana Youth Mat Club, helping the Dance Team compete at nationals out of state by covering expenditures, or purchasing equipment for the fitness center, IAEF is willing to help where we can! IAEF has created an advertising sponsorship program that provides a turnkey service where IASD boosters can raise funds easily! As part of this program, IAEF installed a new fence at the SH football stadium and is working on even more exciting improvements to the program!
Education: As part of our commitment to providing unique educational opportunities, twice a year IAEF grants IASD teachers funding for specific projects that will enhance their students’ experiences in the classroom. From helping students to pick out their own books at the Paper Garden local bookstore, a pen that helps ESL students with translations while reading, providing comforting and safe spaces for our elementary students, or a new auditory reading experience for third graders, IAEF is excited to support these fascinating projects that, at their core, improve school experiences that might have gone unrealized.
The Arts: We help make art, theatre, music, and extracurriculars more accessible to students of all backgrounds. IAEF is proud to support initiatives that are not always able to be funded by the school district, such as providing paint for student murals, covering costs for a national choir competition, helping bring theatre workshops to life, funding an exciting outdoor art adventure at Ben Franklin, and so much more!
We hope you will continue to support our mission in 2026 as we ensure that Indiana Area students are ALWAYS able to take advantage of opportunities to grow!
Senior High Green Bandana Students, 2025
Upcoming Events
STEP UP FOR STUDENTS 5K and Fun Run
Get ready for that foam cannon – our 2nd annual race is back!
This year we will be at Mack Park on Sunday, May 31st!
