OUR PURPOSE:
The Mikkelson Education Fund and The Mikkelson Foundation provide
support for groups and organizations that develop and deliver programs
for the improvement of teachers' technical knowledge and skills.
OUR PHILOSOPHY:
We believe that an extremely important element for improving the level of
science and mathematics competence is to generate in students the
desire to learn and understand how things work. Increased interest in
science can be
encouraged by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher who can make the
subject matter relevant and understandable. Our goal is to identify such
teachers and provide them with opportunities to renew or advance their
knowledge and enthusiasm, with the expectation that a few more students will be
inspired to
follow technical careers, or at least become more technically astute.
Our primary interest is in preparing students for success
in technical fields that
require a strong understanding and competence in advanced mathematics and
science. Our focus is on the improvement of the individual teacher's academic
and technical skills, and on hands-on learning experiences in science and
mathematics.
Supporting programs which provide scientific and technical training of teachers helps to
achieve our goals.
OUR HISTORY:
Over the past twelve years, The Mikkelson Educational Charities have
provided support for over two hundred sixty individual
teachers and fifteen organized programs. Teachers have attended
workshops and courses in areas such as space science, engineering, chemistry,
biology, geology, mathematics, and systems modeling. Programs we have supported
include The Little Shop of Physics at CSU, The Frontiers of Science Institute
at UNC, The New Engineering and Applied Technology Program at CSM, The Peak
Area Leadership in Science, The Keys to Science Institute and Content
Updates Through Scientific Inquiry at BSCS, and the Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
at The CU Medical Center.
FUND ORGANIZATION:
The Mikkelson Education Fund provides grants to
non-profit groups, organizations, and institutions which provide
teacher training experiences consistent with the Fund's objectives. The
Mikkelson Education Fund is a donor advised fund administered by The Denver Foundation.
As a donor advised fund, The Mikkelson Education Fund solicits requests
for funds and provides recommendations to The Denver Foundation. The
Mikkelson Education Fund primarily supports educational requests in
Colorado. The Denver Foundation has the final
authority to approve grants and will ensure that grant rules and
accounting
practices are followed to preserve the charitable status of the Denver
Foundation and the Mikkelson Educational Fund.
Grants will be made on the basis of the suitability of the program or
project
to further the goals of The Mikkelson Education Fund. To apply for
funding, please see Teacher Support
for scholarship assistance for teacher development programs, or
Program Development for support in developing programs.
Through The Mikkelson Education Fund we expect to be able to support two to three group or institutional programs each year.
The Mikkelson Foundation works with institutions to develop and present programs for teacher training. Additionally, The Mikkelson Foundation funds some groups and organizations which provide teacher training experiences consistent with the Foundation's objectives.
The Mikkelson Foundation currently supports four institutional programs.