Wallingford Education Wallingford Education FoundationFoundation

Mini-Grant OrientationMini-Grant Orientation

WEF OverviewWEF Overview

Non-profit organization Non-profit organization Board of Directors-members of the Board of Directors-members of the

CommunityCommunity Raise funds to support mini-grants Raise funds to support mini-grants

and a major projectand a major project EventsEvents

• Distinguished Alumni DinnerDistinguished Alumni Dinner• Adult Team Spelling BeeAdult Team Spelling Bee

WEF MissionWEF Mission

The Wallingford Education The Wallingford Education Foundation is a non-profit, Foundation is a non-profit, community-based partnership whose community-based partnership whose mission is to provide financial mission is to provide financial support for programs outside the support for programs outside the school budget that will empower school budget that will empower ideas and enhance the educational ideas and enhance the educational experience, thereby helping prepare experience, thereby helping prepare our students for full participation in a our students for full participation in a global society.global society.

Grant ProcessGrant Process 5 Mini-grants awarded annually5 Mini-grants awarded annually

• $5,000 or less$5,000 or less 1 Major project1 Major project Mini-grant materials distributed by Feb. 6Mini-grant materials distributed by Feb. 6 Submission of proposals no later than March 9Submission of proposals no later than March 9 Grants reviewed and scored by Grant CommitteeGrants reviewed and scored by Grant Committee Recipients notified prior to end of current school Recipients notified prior to end of current school

yearyear Announcement at system wide staff meeting at Announcement at system wide staff meeting at

the start of the subsequent school yearthe start of the subsequent school year

Grants are awarded for the Grants are awarded for the following purposesfollowing purposes

Educational opportunities to meet the challenges Educational opportunities to meet the challenges in a global society: Curricular and extra-in a global society: Curricular and extra-curricular learningcurricular learning

Community and School Partnerships: New Community and School Partnerships: New Initiatives that enhance the educational mission Initiatives that enhance the educational mission of the schools through collaborative partnershipsof the schools through collaborative partnerships

Leveraging External Grants: Matching dollars Leveraging External Grants: Matching dollars when grants are required by the funder to include when grants are required by the funder to include local matching funds. Matching grant requests local matching funds. Matching grant requests must be related to the above two areas of must be related to the above two areas of Foundation funding.Foundation funding.

Grant Proposal Format CriteriaGrant Proposal Format Criteria

• Maximum of four pages, including provided Maximum of four pages, including provided cover sheet and budgetcover sheet and budget

• Pages should be single spaced, using one Pages should be single spaced, using one side only of each sheet. White 8 1/2 x 11 side only of each sheet. White 8 1/2 x 11 paper should be used.paper should be used.

• Pages should be stapled and numbered in the Pages should be stapled and numbered in the center of the bottom margincenter of the bottom margin

• Two copies should be made, one of which has Two copies should be made, one of which has the original signature of the building Principal the original signature of the building Principal and the Superintendent.and the Superintendent.

Grant Proposal ContentGrant Proposal Content

Abstract:Abstract: Brief, succinct overview of the Brief, succinct overview of the project, including the estimated number of project, including the estimated number of students directly impacted. If there is a students directly impacted. If there is a secondary impact on students that should secondary impact on students that should be noted as well.be noted as well.

Statement of Need and Rationale:Statement of Need and Rationale: Description of the current need and Description of the current need and evidence that the project to be funded will evidence that the project to be funded will address that need.address that need.

Grant Proposal Content (cont)Grant Proposal Content (cont)

Award Purposes and Objectives:Award Purposes and Objectives: List List the subject areas involved in the project. the subject areas involved in the project. How will the project enhance the students’ How will the project enhance the students’ learning experience in those areas? learning experience in those areas? Elaborate about the objective within your Elaborate about the objective within your school goals that will be met by this grant.school goals that will be met by this grant.

Responsibility:Responsibility: Statement of the action Statement of the action steps that the project director will take to steps that the project director will take to ensure success once the project is funded.ensure success once the project is funded.

Grant Proposal Content (cont)Grant Proposal Content (cont)

Source of Funding:Source of Funding: Identify any funding Identify any funding that is or could be available from other that is or could be available from other sources.sources.

Project Activities:Project Activities: Description of the Description of the activities the award will facilitate and that activities the award will facilitate and that will produce the objectives stated in the will produce the objectives stated in the proposal.proposal.

Personnel:Personnel: Names, qualifications, and Names, qualifications, and roles of those responsible for roles of those responsible for administering the project activities.administering the project activities.

Grant Proposal Content (cont)Grant Proposal Content (cont)

Plan for Evaluation and Follow Up:Plan for Evaluation and Follow Up: • What will you measure?What will you measure?• How will you measure it?How will you measure it?• What is the timeframe for measuring?What is the timeframe for measuring?• WEF will track evaluation and follow up plansWEF will track evaluation and follow up plans

Budget: Budget: • Itemized list of project expenses including Itemized list of project expenses including

supplies.supplies.• Finding the most inexpensive cost for an item, Finding the most inexpensive cost for an item,

where applicable, is encouraged where applicable, is encouraged

Proposal OversightProposal Oversight

May be prepared by anyone who has May be prepared by anyone who has been authorized by the school been authorized by the school principal to do so principal to do so

Project Director Project Director • The person who has been authorized to The person who has been authorized to

oversee the proposed project activitiesoversee the proposed project activities Must be an employee of the Wallingford Must be an employee of the Wallingford

Board of Education and may not be a Board of Education and may not be a student.student.

Restrictions and ConditionsRestrictions and Conditions Awards will be “project specific” and limited to achieving the Awards will be “project specific” and limited to achieving the

objectives stated in the approved proposal.objectives stated in the approved proposal.

Awards will not be made for:Awards will not be made for:• Expenses normally covered in the general operating budget of the Expenses normally covered in the general operating budget of the

school or reduction of budget shortfalls.school or reduction of budget shortfalls.• Purposes related to the furtherance of a political party or position, Purposes related to the furtherance of a political party or position,

religious activities, or controversial issues (as determined by the religious activities, or controversial issues (as determined by the Foundation).Foundation).

• Compensation (including honoraria or stipends) for employees of the Compensation (including honoraria or stipends) for employees of the Wallingford Board of Education or studentsWallingford Board of Education or students

• Substitute paySubstitute pay• Food and party suppliesFood and party supplies• Telephone expenseTelephone expense

The Foundation The Foundation will notwill not be a sustaining source of funding be a sustaining source of funding for projects.for projects.

Project Award PeriodsProject Award Periods Awarded mini-grant funds will be available for one calendar Awarded mini-grant funds will be available for one calendar

year.year.

Unused grant money at the completion of the project period Unused grant money at the completion of the project period must be returned to the WEF.must be returned to the WEF.

In unusual circumstances, the WEF may, at its discretion, In unusual circumstances, the WEF may, at its discretion, extend the project period of an active grant in response to extend the project period of an active grant in response to a written request signed by the school Principal.a written request signed by the school Principal.

Goods and services purchased with funds from the WEF Goods and services purchased with funds from the WEF become the property of the Wallingford Board of Education become the property of the Wallingford Board of Education to ensure the benefit of the Wallingford students. to ensure the benefit of the Wallingford students.

In the event a teacher moves from one Wallingford school In the event a teacher moves from one Wallingford school

to another, the award materials will go with the teacher. to another, the award materials will go with the teacher.

Expectations of Grant RecipientsExpectations of Grant Recipients

Serve as an active ambassador of WEF to peers, Serve as an active ambassador of WEF to peers, students and community students and community • Announcement of award in school or class newsletterAnnouncement of award in school or class newsletter• Letter to parents of students impacted by the grantLetter to parents of students impacted by the grant• Included in school’s daily announcementsIncluded in school’s daily announcements• Consider media coverageConsider media coverage• Desire to participate/promote WEF eventsDesire to participate/promote WEF events

Submit a brief summary report on the form Submit a brief summary report on the form provided. Reports due four weeks after project provided. Reports due four weeks after project completion.completion.

Top 10 Tips for Writing a GrantTop 10 Tips for Writing a Grant

1.1. Have a clear idea of the project before writing Have a clear idea of the project before writing 2.2. Use headings found in the WEF Guidelines Use headings found in the WEF Guidelines 3.3. Include the following sentence: “This project Include the following sentence: “This project

promotes educational opportunities for students promotes educational opportunities for students to meet the challenges in a global society by….”to meet the challenges in a global society by….”

4.4. Explain educational terms that are not obvious Explain educational terms that are not obvious 5.5. Itemize budget items Itemize budget items 6.6. Include a clear plan for evaluation Include a clear plan for evaluation 7.7. Show creativity and a sense of commitmentShow creativity and a sense of commitment8.8. PROOFREAD PROOFREAD 9.9. Double check that all form requirements have Double check that all form requirements have

been followed been followed 10.10. Score your grant using the scoring grid Score your grant using the scoring grid

Grants Rubric

Weight Score Category10   1. Meets WEF Mission5   2. Abstract: brief, succinct overview of project, including the number of

students (or best estimate) directly impacted and if appropriate, the number of students indirectly impacted.

10   3. Statement of Need and Rationale: description of the current need(s) and evidence that the project funded will address those need(s).

10   4. Award Purposes and Objectives: list the subject areas involved in the project. How will the project enhance the students’ learning experience in these areas? Elaborate about the objective within your school goals

5   5. Responsibility: statement of the action steps the project director will take to ensure success once the project is funded.

5   6. Project Activities: description of the activities the award will facilitate and how these activities will produce the objective(s) stated in the proposal

5   7. Budget: itemize a list of project expenses including supplies and cost for each item

10   8. Plan for Evaluation and Follow-up: standards of measurement to be used to determine if objectives have been achieved and timeline for assessment of results

5   9. Form followed, including meeting the date deadline

-10   If previous grant recipient and evaluation and follow-up plan for prior grant was not followed.

Nine categories are scored. For categories 2,5,6,7 and 9; scoring is based on 0-5 scale. For categories 1,3,4,and 8; scoring based 0-10 scale.

Process for Awarding GrantsProcess for Awarding Grants

All grants scored individually by All grants scored individually by members of the grant committee members of the grant committee utilizing the gridutilizing the grid

Scores tallied and presented to Scores tallied and presented to committee for review and discussioncommittee for review and discussion

Committee recommends projects to Committee recommends projects to be funded to WEF BOD at it’s April be funded to WEF BOD at it’s April meeting meeting

Q & AQ & AQ: Can more than 1 grant be awarded to a school?Q: Can more than 1 grant be awarded to a school?A: Yes. We award grants based on the scoring grids, not based on if A: Yes. We award grants based on the scoring grids, not based on if

a school has already has been awarded a grant that year or in a a school has already has been awarded a grant that year or in a previous year.previous year.

Q: Can a teacher receive grant dollars multiple years in a row?Q: Can a teacher receive grant dollars multiple years in a row?A: Yes, as long as the grants are unique. The WEF does not provide A: Yes, as long as the grants are unique. The WEF does not provide

grant dollars to sustain a project from year to year.grant dollars to sustain a project from year to year.

Q: How do you award major grants?Q: How do you award major grants?A: We realized based on this question that our handout regarding the A: We realized based on this question that our handout regarding the

grant program was confusing. We have changed the wording from grant program was confusing. We have changed the wording from a major grant to a major project. Major projects are chosen a major grant to a major project. Major projects are chosen through a collaborative process with the Superintendent of schools through a collaborative process with the Superintendent of schools separate from the mini-grant program.separate from the mini-grant program.

Thank you Thank you