Grants News Bulletin
Cumberland County Schools Grants and Funding Newsletter
August Newsletter
Your feedback on the newsletter, suggestions for future issues, and contributions are welcome! Contact Jennifer Lloyd at jenniferlloyd@ccs.k12.nc.us or 910-678-2797 with your comments and ideas.
Volume 1 Issue 5 August 2018
What's Your Problem?
Welcome back to school! Are you sitting through a staff orientation now? Perhaps, a data meeting to review the results of last year’s assessments. PERFECT! I hope you are listening and TAKING NOTES! There is more grant money available to our schools during the fall semester than at any other time of the school year. Right now is the time to apply for grants-whether the grant is being awarded by the federal government, state government, or by a foundation. It doesn't matter if you are an experienced grant writer, or an educator who has never written a grant, now is the best time to get started writing those grant proposals for your school.
As you begin searching for and writing grants, keep in mind the most important element to any project proposal and the key to winning any grant: You must closely match the needs of your school with the purpose for which the granting organization is giving grant money. This seems like a simple idea right? Yet, failure to do this is the cause for most proposal rejections. The first step to ensuring your needs match those of the funding organization is to fully understand the needs of your school. Your school may need additional money in your general budget, or funds to hire additional personnel, or money for a senior field trip to the beach, but those types of needs almost never match up with a funding agency’s reasons for giving grants.
On the other hand, the need to increase the math scores of middle school students who are two years behind, the need to increase parent involvement, or the need to personalize the learning experience of low performing students by integrating the innovative technology can be matched with the purposes of funding agencies.
When you begin searching for grants, it is important to remember that you are not searching for money. You are searching for resources to address a specific problem or need at your school!
Identify your school’s area of needs that can be addressed through grants. First, use your school’s assessment scores to identify the areas of low performance or achievement gaps. Likely, this has already been done through your school improvement plan process. Data will verify the existence of the problem/need. Once you have identified your list of needs, prioritize them, and begin to research the resources that will help you solve the problems you have identified. Now, you are ready to begin your hunt for funding agencies that will grant monies to assist your school in meeting their needs.
If your school or a grade level in your school is struggling academically, for instance, your needs assessment may begin with standardized test scores. If your incoming freshman class has an average reading level of 6.8, you have an academic problem that will have great influence. Your standardized test scores are evidence that an intervention or change is needed with this group. If only 40 percent of your sixth graders passed your state's assessment test in mathematics, you have a problem that needs addressing. Again, standardized tests have informed you of the need.
Conversely, some problems cannot be identified by standardized testing. Such as,
- 40 percent of your students might be overweight.
- more than 5 percent of your high school girls might be pregnant.
- only 50 percent of your elementary students may have someone at home to care for them at the end of the school day.
Issues such as these can’t be identified using standardized assessments; however, they are still problems that need to be addressed and can often be addressed with programs funded by grant money. An excellent way to identify some of your school’s urgent problems is through surveys. You could survey your staff, students, parents, and community. A survey such as, the annual Teacher Working Conditions Survey, is a great survey to reference in your needs assessment. Surveying your students may produce a multitude of additional areas that can be addressed with grant money. Bullying, stress, or classroom disruptions by problem students may be preventing your students from learning to their potential. Once you have identified and prioritized the issues that impact your students' academic success or their quality of life, you are ready to begin searching for the resources and grant monies that will closely match your needs.
Whether you are a teacher or administrator, now is the time to start writing grants for your school! But remember, you are wasting your time if you are applying for grants, and you have failed to identify and provide evidence to support the major needs and problems your school faces.
Applying for grants is not simply about trying to get free money for your school. It's bigger than that! It’s about entering into a partnership with an agency that agrees to fund a project that will assist you in meeting a critical need for your students and school. Your students were assessed in June and you are likely reviewing and prioritizing data now. It’s time to begin applying for grants!
Stephen Shane Fincher Memorial Educational Grant Program
The Stephen Shane Fincher Memorial Foundation is now accepting grant proposals for the 2018-2019 academic school year. The Foundation wishes to enrich the learning experience by supporting improved educational opportunities for students and educators in the fields of mathematics, science, technology, and engineering.
Deadline: October 12, 2018
Who may apply? Teachers, administrators, and schools
What types of grants will be awarded? The sky is the limit. We know that you have wonderful ideas to inspire your students and support their learning in the areas of mathematics, science, and engineering. Perhaps you need materials for a hands-on project or authentic learning experience. Maybe there’s a professional development opportunity that you and other educators could learn invaluable information by attending. Would a field trip expose your students to the subject matter? Does your school need equipment for real world application? Use this grant to innovate your instruction by supporting your students’ creativity and critical thinking skills.
Awards: The Foundation will award up to $5,000.
Priority will be given to projects that:
- Create a sustainable educational resource that can be used beyond the current school year.
- Integrate projects with current curriculum (math, science, and/or engineering);
- Provide learning that will have long lasting effects; and
- Develop start-up projects
Rules for use:
Grant funds must be used as stated in the proposal. The deadline to use the funds is May 17, 2019 , and all funds not used by this deadline will be returned to the fund. Principals will be responsible for ensuring projects are implemented and accounting report(s) are made to the Foundation by May 31, 2019. Materials obtained by the award of a grant shall become the property of the Cumberland County Public School System.
2018 Application Proposal Instructions
- School and personal contact information including e-mail address
- Number of students/educators benefited
- Plan for implementation (including timeline)
- Budget
- School Principal Approval
- Grant proposals should be submitted on school letterhead and should be no more than three (3) pages in length, excluding the cover page (shown below) and line item budget detailing proposal needs.
- No more than two (2) proposals will be accepted from any one (1) school.
- Proposals involving multiple schools will be considered.
- Proposal should explain need and purpose of project, goals and objectives, number of students and grades benefited and/or number of educators benefited and their respective positions, total amount requested including line item budget detailing how funds will be used, description of how funds will be tracked to ensure that proper accounting procedures are followed, and description of how the success of the project will be evaluated.
Each proposal must be signed by the school principal and primary contact person
for the project and must be mailed no later than October 12, 2018 to:
The SSF Memorial Educational Grant Program
PO Box 53674
Fayetteville, NC 28305
Recipients will be notified by December 14, 2018.
Awards will be made in January 2019 to the recipient’s school.
Upcoming Grant Workshops
Donors Choose Support Session
Location: ERC Lab 1
Date: September 6, 2018
Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
You do not need to register for workshops. Simply plan to attend!
If you have any questions concerning these workshops please contact
Jennifer Lloyd at 910-678-2797 or jenniferlloyd@ccs.k12.nc.us
Upcoming Grants & Deadlines
Funding opportunities for schools and educators
Sponsor: Teaching Tolerance
Award: Awards range from $500 to $5,000 for classroom or school projects
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: on a rolling basis until August 31, 2018
TT will fund projects that encourage students to learn about and engage in the democratic process, including non-partisan voter registration, information
and turnout efforts. If you have an idea for a project that will help students become empowered current or future voters or voting advocates in their communities, they'd love to fund it.
Wal-Mart Foundation Community Grant Program
Sponsor: Wal-Mart Foundation
Award: Awards range from $250 to $5,000 for classroom or school projects
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: on a rolling basis until Dec. 31, 2018
There are 8 areas of funding for which an organization can apply. Please review the areas listed below to ensure your organization’s goals fall within one of these areas.
- Hunger relief and healthy eating: Providing Federal or charitable meals/snacks for low income individuals and families in the United States
- Health and human service: Providing medical screening, treatment, social services, or shelters for low income individuals and families in the United States
- Quality of life: Improving access to recreation, arts or cultural experiences for low income individuals and families in the United States
- Education: Providing afterschool enrichment, tutoring or vocational training for low income individuals and families in the United States
- Community and economic development: Improving local communities for the benefit of low income individuals and families in the United States
- Diversity and Inclusion: Fostering the building of relationships and understand among diverse groups in the United States
- Public Safety: Supporting public safety programs through training programs or equipment in the United States
- Environmental sustainability: Preventing waste, increasing recycling or supporting other programs that work to improve the environment in the United States.
NC Aquariums Teacher Mini-Grants
Aquarium Scholars is a new partnership between the NC Aquariums, NC public schools and the nonprofit NC Aquarium Society, through which private donors help fund access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)-based Aquarium education programs for underserved students across the state. These grants are only available for Title 1 teachers. Aquarium Scholars grant applicants can choose one of the following:
- Funding for an Aquarium visit (bus, fuel, fees, etc.).
- Funding for an educational program during your Aquarium visit and any related program fees.
- Funding for an Aquarium outreach program to bring Aquarium programs to your school.
- Funding for a distance learning program (live online programs with Aquarium staff and animals) for your class.
If you are interested in applying for the Aquarium Scholars Program, please read the following information carefully and fill out the online application.
North Carolina Electric Cooperatives are now accepting applications for Bright Ideas grants for the 2018-2019 school year . Grants amounts vary from electrical cooperative and are for K-12 teachers . Grants are available for all subjects . Teachers can also apply individually or as a team . To apply the educators must include :
- A budget
- Explanation of creative elements
- Implementation of the project
- Goals and Evaluation for the project
Please note from the Bright Ideas Website, “Because there are 26 electric cooperatives throughout North Carolina, there are some differences in how each cooperative administers its program (including varying grant amounts). Please contact your sponsoring cooperative for more information.” [Sponsoring cooperative information is on the Bright Ideas website ] For more information see www.NCBrightIdeas.com
Throughout the year, National PTA offers awards or grants to honor or support PTAs as they: engage families, support student success, improve the health and safety of students and families, increase access to arts education or celebrate advocacy and diversity.
American Honda Foundation STEM Grants
Sponsor: American Honda Foundation
Award: $20,000 to $75,000
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: Feb. 1 and Aug. 1 for new organizations; May 1 for returning organizations
Project Learning Tree GreenWorks Grants
Sponsor: Project Learning Tree
Award: $1,000 per organization
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: Sept. 30
SparkFun Community Partner Program
Sponsor: SparkFun
Award: STEM/STEAM-related prize packages, event and team sponsorships and other types of support
Number of Awards: Varies
Application Deadline: Ongoing: third Thursday of each month; awards announced on the last business day of each month
Career Awards for Science and Mathematics Teachers
Sponsor: Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Award: $175,000 over 5 years
Number of Awards: 6 awards
Application Deadline: September 24. 2018
The Career Award for Science and Mathematics Teachers provides $175,000 over five-years to outstanding science and/or mathematics teachers in the North Carolina public primary and secondary schools. The purpose of this award is to recognize teachers who have demonstrated solid knowledge of science and/or mathematics content and have outstanding performance records in educating children. This five-year award presents opportunities for professional development and collaboration with other master science and/or mathematics teachers who will help to ensure their success as teachers and their satisfaction with the field of teaching. Special consideration will be given to teachers working in hard-to-staff, economically deprived classrooms in North Carolina.
Naiku Innovative Teacher Grant
Deadline: Ongoing (approx. 10 awards per month)
Deadline: Ongoing (grants awarded on a rolling basis)
TAF Project-Based Learning Grants for Grades 6–12
Sponsor: Toshiba America Foundation
Award: Two categories: Up to $5,000 and more than $5,000
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: Up to $5,000 awarded on a rolling basis; Feb. 1 deadline for applications for more than $5,000
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