Hardscrabble Education Fund Grant Guidelines
Application Deadline: Postmarked by April 15, 2011
Grant Notification: May 30, 2011
Grant Range: $1,000 - $5,000
Geographic Limitations
The fund supports projects which benefit Essex County students in the public school districts of Beverly, Lynn, Marblehead, Nahant, Salem, and Swampscott.
Program Priorities
The Hardscrabble Education Fund promotes and supports academic achievement in pre-collegiate, regulated public school systems of Beverly, Lynn, Marblehead, Nahant, Salem, and Swampscott by issuing grants to teachers, schools or districts primarily in the fields of English, Mathematics, and Science.
Priority consideration will be given to projects which:
- Strengthen the capabilities of teachers by supporting their initiatives in the areas of Math, English and Science.
- Promote the development of teachers and staff.
- Benefit public school children.
- Introduce or enhance the use of technology.
- Increase the availability and effective use of instructional supplies.
- Forge a link between the public schools, parents and their respective communities.
- Encourage experiential learning projects.
- Take advantage of matching gifts for projects which combine resources from various segments of the community.
One year grants are awarded in an amount up to $5,000.
Eligibility
Only public elementary, middle, or high schools operating within the constraints of local district rules are eligible for consideration. Public charter schools are not eligible. Proposals must be submitted by a teacher, principal, or other professional staff at the school. Proposals submitted by outside consultants will not be considered.
Application Deadline
Proposals must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service AND received electronically at grantsubmit@eccf.org no later than April 15th.
If the grant deadline falls on a day when the post office is not open, the postmark must be from the previous day of operation or earlier. Incomplete or late proposals will not be considered.
Application Procedures
Proposals must be submitted in paper AND electronic format.
- Paper format – Three printed copies of the cover sheet, proposal narrative, and project budget must be mailed. Please do not staple or bind proposals. Please do not send hard copies of attachments. Mail proposals to Essex County Community Foundation, 175 Andover St., Suite 101, Danvers, MA 01923.
- Electronic format - Electronic submissions should include the cover sheet, proposal narrative, project budget, and any required attachments. Important: Please include the name of your school in the electronic file name. For example,” XYZ School - Cover Sheet”. Email proposals to grantsubmit@eccf.org.
Proposal Format
Proposals should include four parts: the Hardscrabble Education Fund cover sheet, proposal narrative, project budget, and attachments.
1. HARDSCRABBLE EDUCATION FUND COVER SHEET:
The signatures of both the applicant and the school principal are required on the proposal cover sheet. Click here to download the Cover Sheet.
2. PROPOSAL NARRATIVE: A 2-3 page proposal narrative covering the following:
- School Description - Briefly describe your school. Include meaningful statistics on who you serve and a brief history of the school, including significant accomplishments.
- Statement of Need - What need(s) or opportunities is this project intended to meet? How were these needs determined? Why is this project important?
- Project Description - Describe specifically what will be accomplished with funding from the Hardscrabble Education Fund. What is your project's purpose, goals and time frame? How many students and which Essex County communities will benefit? How does the project coordinate with or enhance other efforts? Include other prospective financial or in-kind support for the project.
- Evaluation - How will your school measure the success of the project? What information will be collected to assess the results?
- Equipment – For proposals that include equipment requests, please submit information on the shelf life of the equipment.
3. PROJECT BUDGET: Please include an itemized budget of all project expenses and anticipated revenue including any other committed or potential funding sources. Please use the ECCF Hardscrabble Education Fund project budget form. Click here to download project budget form.
4. ATTACHMENTS: For equipment items over $500, please include a vendor quote on the vendor’s stationary with the vendor name, price of requested item, manufacturer and model number. Please complete and return the equipment form.
Review Process
Applications are reviewed by an advisory committee and are generally awarded within 30 days.
Reporting Requirements
Grant recipients must submit a final report within 60 days after grant funds have been expended or by the end of the school year. Click here to download Grant Report Form.
If a school is requesting a grant in the year after having received a Hardscrabble Education grant, the final report for the existing award should be submitted by April 26th. If the project has not been completed, please submit an interim report, which should be followed by the final report at the end of the school year.
For More Information
For more information or to discuss a program idea, please contact:
Julie Bishop
Vice President for Grants and Services
Essex County Community Foundation
175 Andover Street, Suite 101
Danvers, MA 01923
Tel: 978-777-8876
Email: j.bishop@eccf.org
|
