Gorham Educational Foundation

Who We Are

Gorham Educational Foundation seeks to provide funding for programs and projects which go above and beyond the basic curriculum and which are not reasonably expected to be funded within the scope of the school budget. We look for projects and programs developed by our educators based on their ideas about enhancing the educational experience of their students.

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GEF cares about making the educational experience of Gorham students creative, dynamic, and flexible. We are not just concerned about common core standards, specific or measurable teaching results, or test scores.  We look for projects that will engage students and help them learn and think in imaginative and innovative ways.

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Current Board Members:

Amey Lewin, President

Michelle Inman Carlson, Vice President

Aaron Carlson, Treasurer

Kim Walker, Secretary

Lori Littlefield

Thom Courtney

Rachel Quinn

Our Mission

Gorham Educational Foundation is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the Gorham public schools.  We support programs that encourage a thirst for knowledge, respect for the community, and responsible citizenship.  Our core goals are to enrich learning, promote ethics and leadership, and support excellence in teaching.

Please read the following guidelines thoroughly and contact us if you have any questions.

Whether your project should be paid for within the school budget: We absolutely realize that there are basic items that are not covered by or are limited by school funding. The role of GEF is to fund projects which should not reasonably be within the responsibility of the school system to provide. Please note that multiple mini grant applications for the same project will be considered a major grant request.

Reach:

While we sometimes will fund projects that reach a small number of students or teachers, we are more likely to fund programs and projects with a greater reach. All grant decisions are made by the GEF Board of Directors and funding for any project is subject to the discretion of the Board.

Grant Disbursement:

If your project is funded we will deliver a check to the school Business Department, allocated to you as the grantee. Once you have heard from us regarding your grant you can contact the Business Department to see when you can access the funds. We will generally inform you when the check will be available.

Grant Reporting:

If your project is funded we ask that you submit a Grant Report within a month of the end of the project or within a year of funding, whichever comes first. The Grant Report should include a synopsis of the project and any feedback you may have. We encourage you to take pictures of your project in action and to submit them with your report.  Reports can be emailed to

A Note About the Ownership of  Equipment/Supplies Purchased with GEF Funds:

All Equipment and Supplies funded by GEF become the permanent property of the Gorham Schools. If you purchase equipment and leave the employ of the Gorham School System, the equipment/supplies must be turned over to your school administrator for use by another teacher within Gorham schools. All technological devices (iPads, e-readers, etc.) which require an account for use, must be registered and used only under a school account and all purchases related to that device made through the school account. You may not register a device under your personal account.

Support Us

We are so happy you’re interested in supporting Gorham Educational Foundation. There are so many ways for you to help, and we truly appreciate each and every effort. By lending your support, you’ll become a valuable part of the Gorham community.

Contact Gorham Educational Foundation

PO Box 295 Gorham, ME 04038