For Contributors

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 2025

The next Eastern Iowa Science & Engineering Fair will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025 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 Columbus, Ohio to compete in the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF).

As EISEF is an entirely volunteer run organization, all contributions go directly to expenses related to fair day, awards, ISEF related expenses, and yearly operating expenses like website hosting. We depend mostly on corporate and private donors to cover our costs.

To Contribute

Please join the ranks of EISEF Contributors by sending your tax-deductible donation to this address:

Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair

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.

Letter from the IRS confirming our 501(c)(3) status.

We also accept online donations via PayPal  

For more information, send email to: fundraising@eisef.org.

Contributor Recognition

Contribution levels

Contributor levels for 2025 Coming Soon

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:

  • 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:

  • All of our funding comes from private donations.

  • 45% of it comes from local corporate sponsors.