SouthWest Metro Educational Foundation

A nonprofit organization

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27 donors

31% complete

$15,000 Goal

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SouthWest Metro Educational Foundation

Supporting special education and alternative learning programs that work!

Your gift will help us raise money to:

SUPPORT STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS: Our goal is to provide scholarships to graduating students to help them achieve their post-secondary education goals.
SUPPORT SPECIAL PROJECTS AND CLASSROOM ENHANCEMENTS: Sponsoring projects including special classroom equipment needs, student incentives, field trips, teacher training, and more!
SUPPORTING GRADUATES THROUGH MENTORING: Supporting a foundation-led our mentoring program for graduates as they pursue their post-secondary education goals. Students are pairedwith a mentor to help guide and support them as they navigate post-secondary training. Many SouthWest Metro students are the first in their families to attend college.

Examples of Work in Action

Thanks to the generous funds raised by supporters, we were able to sponsor special projects including: over $14,000 in scholarships awarded for training and post-secondary programs in 2025, Thanksgiving Dinner for families in need, a SouthWest Metro High School kick-ball tournament, teacher appreciation initiatives, and equipment needed in the Special Education Department.

In the 2017-2018 school year, we also raised funds for an inclusive sensory playground at our River Valley Education Center, which provides education to elementary and middle aged students with special needs.

History and Mission

Enriching Lives through Education

The SouthWest Metro Educational Foundation (SWMEF) is a 501(3)(c) not-for-profit organization. Founded in 2004 as the Carver-Scott Educational Foundation, the foundation changed its name on July 1, 2013 to follow the merger of the Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative and the Minnesota River Valley Special Education Cooperative into the SouthWest Metro Intermediate District.

We exist for the sole purpose of sustaining and advancing the unique and vital educational services and programs of SouthWest Metro Intermediate District 288, which served over 4,000 students last year.

Spotlight on Paige Ackerman
From Classroom to CNA in 3 Months

For Paige Ackerman, receiving a SouthWest Metro Educational Foundation (SWMEF) Scholarship was more than just financial support—it was a stepping stone to a rewarding career. Thanks to the scholarship, Paige was able to immediately enroll in a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at South Central College in Mankato. She successfully completed her certification just days after graduating from high school in 2024 and quickly began working at Ridgeview Hospital in Waconia as a CNA.

"Receiving the SWMEF Scholarship was a life-changing opportunity,"

"It helped me pay for my certificate program right away, minimizing the amount of time between high school graduation and being able to attain a job in my field."
- Paige Ackerman

Her journey highlights how scholarships and hands-on learning experiences can create direct pathways to meaningful careers. A Belle Plaine graduate and participant in SouthWest Metro Career and Technical Education Programming, Paige is already making a difference in healthcare, and we are excited to see where her journey takes her next!