Education Foundation of Bridgewater-Raritan: Mini Grants
Deadline for 2010 Mini Grant Applications: MARCH 22
The Education Foundation of Bridgewater-Raritan Mini-Grant Program is designed to spark innovation and to provide teachers and administrators the opportunity to implement their creative ideas in the classroom.
QUESTIONS:
Jim Franco: 732-672-7800
email: jfranco@jvfranco.com
Please click on and complete both forms listed below. You can type directly into the form:
02/22/10: There is a recent issue with Acrobat Reader enabling forms to be submitted with th email submit button online. Please save your forms and email them to jfranco@jvfranco.com
Budget Application(pdf) |
Selection Criteria |
Background:
The Education Foundation of Bridgewater-Raritan, Inc. is a non-profit
organization administered by local citizens dedicated to attracting
resources from individuals, corporations and other foundations for innovative
projects and programs not available through public funding. Foundation
funds are not intended to substitute for or replace governmental support.
Rather, resources are used to develop creative approaches to teaching
and learning.
Established in 1993, the Foundation is an autonomous, non-profit corporation
chartered under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and
is distinct from the Board of Education. Each year, the Foundation provides
grants for unique scientific, cultural, artistic and scholastic programs
and technologies that benefit a significant number of Bridgewater-Raritan
Regional School District students. Through its fund-raising and grant-making
activities the Foundation strives to strengthen the partnership between
community, business and education.
The Mini-Grant Program:
The Education Foundation of Bridgewater-Raritan Mini-Grant Program is
a competitive grants program, in which grants are placed into two separate
categories: Mini-Grants or Collaborative Mini-Grants.
Mini-Grants of up to $750 are considered to support projects lasting
one school/educational year and impacting a single classroom.
Collaborative Mini-Grants of up to $1,500 are considered to support
projects impacting multiple classes, departments or an entire school.
Technology
and Learning Fund
Projects are designed to promote the use of the most recent technologies
and to provide experiences for students that will prepare them for the
21st Century’s work and school environments.
Arts and Education Fund
The goal is to provide experiences in the fine and performing arts that
will promote a lifelong enrichment and enjoyment of the arts for students,
faculty and the community at large.
Cultural Enrichment Fund
Programs are aimed at exposing students to a wide variety of cross-cultural
experiences that will help prepare them for our increasingly global
society.
Scholastic Enhancement
Programs will provide learning opportunities that are beyond the core
curriculum.
Professional Development
This fund is for teachers and administrators to pursue professional
experiences that will support the Foundation goal of providing innovative
learning experiences to district students.
Mini-Grant Examples:
For each Education Foundation Fund area, the following are
some examples of activities that have formed the basis of a successful
grant proposal:
Technology and Learning Fund Example -
International Business Practice Firm creates a dynamic learning environment
for high school students to develop the knowledge and skill needed to
conduct business in a global environment including importing, exporting
and foreign exchange using state of the art technology in a team environment.
Arts and Education Fund Example -
A third grade classroom studies the most recently published children’s
storybooks to create original artwork that will complement their stories.
Cultural Enrichment Fund Example -
Native American Day provides students with learning experiences related
to Native American studies that cross all areas of the curriculum throughout
the third grade classrooms of a school.
Scholastic Enhancement Example -
Exploring Colonial Williamsburg through “Electronic Field Trips”
for 7th Grade students. These electronic field trips provide interactive
television programs and special interactive internet activities to students.
Professional Development Example -
Sponsorship of attendance at the National Association of Resource Officers
Annual Conference where participant will receive school violence
prevention training and will learn how to teach the math and science
of safe driving to students.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be considered for funding through the Mini-Grant program, projects
must demonstrate strategies that provide for innovative and creative
educational opportunities to Bridgewater-Raritan District students.
Grants are not intended to be used to conduct normal school curriculum
and funding must otherwise not be available through traditional sources.
Grant applications may be submitted by Bridgewater-Raritan School District
Teachers, Specialists, School Administrators and other Staff.
Selection Criteria:
In addition to the criteria listed below, the Foundation will
try to achieve a diversity of grantees based on geography within the
district and age group of children that will benefit from the project
or educational enhancement.
Criteria used to assess proposals will include:
- Clarity of project goals and objectives.
- Relevance to at least one of the Foundation’s primary fund goals.
- Innovation and strength of the project design.
- If this project or a similar project has been provided in the past, an explanation of how this project is unique.
- Applicant’s capacity to implement and oversee the proposed project.
- Evidence of commitment by the school’s leadership.
- Potential for the project to affect other educational providers in the district, region or statewide, including a plan to communicate progress and results.
- Extent to which the project may have an impact on how services are organized and delivered within the district, regionally or statewide.
- Financial and in-kind support from other organizations, if relevant to the proposed project.
- Likelihood that the project will become self-sufficient or be repeated in future academic years without additional funding requests.
- Nature and strength of collaboration with other educational providers, if collaboration is an objective of the project.
- Professional Development Mini-Grants must include the applicant’s
description of any program(s) or service(s) which will be developed
within the school/district as a result of the course or conference and
a method of communicating the knowledge/skills gained through participation
in the professional development program to fellow teachers and/or administrators.
Funding for professional development grants is limited to $1,000, and
a break-out of amounts for tuition, travel expenses and lodging is required.
Use of Grant Funds:
Grant funds may be used for consultant fees, outside experts,
artists, performers, etc. but are not available for salary and stipends
to school personnel.
Grant monies may be used to purchase supplies and pay for other direct
project expenses, including a limited amount of equipment, but only
if the equipment serves to promote an innovative educational objective
clearly stated in the Mini-Grant application.
Major capital equipment acquisition is generally not supported through
the Mini-Grant program.
Student transportation costs (for example: buses to and from an activity)
are not supported through the Mini-Grant funding.Professional Development
Grant funding may be limited to per diem expense amounts.
Evaluation and Monitoring:
Grantees are expected to meet the Foundation’s requirements for
the submission of narrative and financial reports, and to submit periodic
information as needed for overall project performance. Project directors
may be asked to give progress reports on their grants. At the close
of each grant, the project’s director is expected to provide a
written report on the project and its finding that is suitable for wide
distribution and dissemination.
Photographs of the project (along with photographic releases) are appreciated
by the Foundation to be utilized for press releases and promotional
materials.
Program Direction:
Direction and technical assistance for this program is provided
by representatives of the Board of Trustees of The Educational Foundation
of Bridgewater-Raritan.
An advisory committee, whose members are representatives of the Board
of the Foundation and school district representatives, provide assistance
with the review of applications.
How to Apply:
All grant applicants must use the Education Foundation of Bridgewater-Raritan
Mini-Grant Application format.
There are three elements to the application for funding. All applications
must include the following project information:
1. Completed “Application
Information Cover Page” which includes:
- Name, address and phone number of the primary contact person for the project.
- Dates of the proposed grant period.
- Total Dollar Amount requested.
- A one-sentence description of the project.
2. Narrative Section:
A one – three page, double-spaced typed
narrative, which includes
- Description of the project to be delivered and its relationship to a Foundation Fund initiative.
- Statement of the project’s principal objectives.
- Description of the proposed educational interventions
- Identification of School, Grade, Department and Number of Students expected to benefit from the project.
- Description of the grantee’s ability to communicate the projects objectives, activities, and benefits to peers and/or schools (within and/or outside of the District)
3. Completed “Budget Application Form” which includes:
- Estimated project budget detail.
- Commitment and support of applicant and school/district leadership (signatures required).
Please direct all applications to:
Education Foundation of Bridgewater-RaritanAttn: Mini-Grant Programc/o Wade Administration Building
QUESTIONS:
Jim Franco: 732-672-7800
email: jfranco@jvfranco.com
Please print out and complete both forms listed below by clicking each link:
Budget Application(pdf) |