Go to our Stories of Impact page to learn about programs and initiatives supported by The James Marran Grants.
Renamed to honor James Marran—a longtime teacher, friend, and mentor whose deep commitment to New Trier spanned decades and thousands of students—the grants program has been providing private funding since 2004 for unique and innovative educational opportunities that are beyond the reach of the District 203 budget.
The Foundation partners with teachers and staff to identify exceptional learning experiences that can be brought into the classrooms or take place beyond the school setting. These programs support the core academics, electives, extracurriculars, athletics, and faculty initiatives. Both our school motto and the New Trier 2030 Strategic Plan guide our work to approve thousands of dollars in grants every cycle.
Click the image below to view a quick clip of some of the funding approved by the Foundation Board in the fall 2025 grant cycle.
Safety Town Continued
Thanks to a partial grant from the Foundation last year, New Trier students in the Geometry Design and Construction class built the initial structures for the Wilmette Park District. This new grant supports the completion of the project for the summer of 2026 to improve the experience for children using the Safety Town and to make these structures easily movable and storable for the Park District when not in use.
Gourmet and Culinary Arts Indoor Grill
Beginning in January, students will have the opportunity to use the new indoor smokeless grills when they begin the Heat unit of the Gourmet class at the Winnetka Campus and explore the various methods in which foods can be cooked. This project supports the latter half of the unit and covers modern, innovative ways of cooking, including indoor grilling.
Welding Helmets
Applied Arts will obtain six auto-dimming welding helmets that significantly improve the clarity of what students see through the helmets. Students would be able to take on more complex and creative welding projects and delve deeper into their interests. The new helmet’s auto-dimming lens remains clear until a student starts welding, which helps to eliminate the anxiety of a student who may feel closed in when wearing a traditional welding helmet. Additionally, the current helmets are in conventional men’s sizing and do not fit the female students.
Student Council Ladder
Student Council will acquire two rolling safety ladders to help fulfill their goals on a weekly basis, primarily for decorating the school for Homecoming, Halloween, Back-to-school, and more. Not having to borrow ladders from other sources helps our students to carry out their tasks successfully, safely, and effectively.
IGSS Civil Rights Trip
Thanks to support from the Fowkes Family Grant, this civil rights study trip to Alabama will provide students with deeply rigorous and immersive learning experiences that cultivate intellectual curiosity and critical thinking, while fostering a sense of ownership and empathy over learning that extends beyond traditional coursework. As students synthesize historical evidence, personal reflection, and ethical inquiry, they not only deepen their academic skills but also strengthen their capacity to engage with the world in compassionate and impactful ways.
HCD Engineering – Design Your World
New Trier’s Applied Arts curriculum has evolved to have Human-Centered Design (HCD) as the foundation for the engineering program that immerses students in authentic, meaningful projects that address real human needs. This approach cultivates the very mindsets, curiosity, adaptability, and user-focused innovation that today’s industry demands. To maintain vertical integration and fluidity of design methods across more than 10 interconnected courses, this grant enables faculty and staff to create a classroom infrastructure that is as dynamic and flexible by using modular furniture and design components that align with their educational mission.