EISEF’s Mission Statement
We are the Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair (EISEF).
Our mission is to inspire eastern Iowa’s students to pursue careers in science, engineering, and math.
To accomplish our mission, every year we do the following:
- We challenge the students in grades 6–12 to do science projects.
- We support their parents and teachers in guiding their projects.
- We invite them to Cedar Rapids to exhibit their projects and explain what they learned.
- We recognize the deserving students with awards, prizes, and scholarships.
- We send the very best students to the International Science and Engineering Fair, to exhibit their projects alongside the best students from around the world.
- We raise funds and mobilize volunteers and resources to make all this happen.
- We try to have fun doing it, and make it fun for everyone else.
The Challenge for 2024
The next Eastern Iowa Science & Engineering Fair will be held Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids. We expect to host about 250 middle school and high school students from the eastern third of Iowa. They will be competing for 100 to 200 awards, including a trip to Los Angeles, California to compete in the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF).
In 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 forced us to hold the Fair online, which reduced our expenses a lot. In 2021 we expect to hold the Fair live and to send students to ISEF in Los Angeles, California; this will return our expenses to “normal”, like in 2019. The 2019 Fair cost $19,618 to put on, 71% of which went to the students as prizes in one form or another (see chart) — and every dollar was raised through private contributions. The 2024 Fair will cost about that much — and your contribution will help us meet that cost.
To Contribute
Please join the ranks of EISEF Contributors by sending your tax-deductible donation to this address:
PO Box 10862
Cedar Rapids, IA 52410–0862
All donations are tax deductible. EISEF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, federal tax ID (EIN) 46–1075519.
For more information, send email to: .
Contributor Recognition
Contribution levels
In 2006 we introduced new levels for our contributors, using the names of rivers in eastern Iowa or on Iowa’s borders:
| Mississippi River Level | $1500 and over | |
| Missouri River Level | $750 to $1499 | |
| Cedar River Level | $350 to $749 | |
| Iowa River Level | $150 to $349 | |
| Wapsipinicon River Level | up to $149 |
Past contributors
These pages show who helped make EISEF possible each year!
- 2024 Contributors
- 2022 Contributors
- 2021 Contributors
- 2020 Contributors
- 2019 Contributors
- 2018 Contributors
- 2017 Contributors
- 2016 Contributors
- 2014 Contributors
- 2013 Contributors
- 2012 Contributors
- 2011 Contributors
- 2010 Contributors
- 2009 Contributors
- 2008 Contributors
- 2007 Contributors
- 2006 Contributors
- 2005 Contributors
- 2004 Contributors
EISEF Funding Facts
- We charge the students, teachers, or schools no fee to participate.
- Everyone involved in running the Fair — the Fair Board, the judges, the Fair Day staff, the fundraisers — is an unpaid volunteer.
- Where the money goes (see last year’s expenses chart):
- Prizes for the students (travel to ISEF, prize money, and trophies etc.): 76%.
- Putting on the Fair (Fair Day expenses and equipment, plus ISEF fees): 10%.
- Year-long expenses (including our website and all fundraising expenses): 14%.
- Where the money comes from (see last year’s income chart):
- All of our funding comes from private donations.
- 45% of it comes from local corporate sponsors.
Expenses
Income
