GRANT APPLICATION FORM
2023 Grant Cycle - September 5 - October 31
Grants will be awarded during the November Board meeting, and delivered to schools later that month. Applicants will be notified via email after the grants are awarded.
New in 2023
With the change in last year's grant cycle, more grants were applied for, and more grants were approved. The 2022 grant cycle was considered a big success. With over $32,000 awarded, we are looking forward as a foundation to greater success in 2023.
As education changes, our grant criteria must change as well. In the past, subscriptions and consumables have been denied. In the 2023 grant cycle, consumables will be considered. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Lab Materials
- Activity Materials
- Subscriptions ( somewhat limited)
- and other items
All applications, with accompanying supporting documents, must be submitted during the period beginning September 5, 2023 through October 31, 2023 by the end of business day. Application should be submitted to Alisha Martin at the Madison District Office before the end of office hours, which is 4pm. Any applications submitted after this time will automatically be denied.
The grant application process is very simple, especially when compared to many other grant programs supporting education. There are a few things that are required with each application. Some questions have been asked over and over again year after year. Here are a couple of the most common.
Q: Why do I have to include so much information including estimates, and matching funds pledges?
There are certain things that the Board looks for when deciding on a grant. We need as much information about your project and what the plan is in order do make informed decisions on each grant. Things like matching funds, multiple estimates, and number of students who will be impacted are among the things that are considered.
Q: Why do I need to get my Principal's signature on the application?
As part of the process, teachers are required to have their principal sign the application. It is assumed by the Board that because the principal has signed off on the application, it has been reviewed and approved prior to being signed. In the end, all grants become donations to the school at which the applying teacher is employed and because of this, the principal we be responsible in appropriating the funds to the applying teacher. Any property (tangible items like books, cameras, software, etc.) purchased with grant funds also becomes property of the school where the funds were awarded, which would regularly require a principal's approval for the acquisition of these items .
Q: Why do all items purchased with grant funds remain the property of the Madison School District 321?
The Madison Education Foundation is chartered to support the educational opportunities of students and they do this in part by supporting the District through Teacher Grants. In order to maintain the tax deductability status of donations, disbursements of funds cannot directly support an individual. Therefore, anything purchased with grant funds cannot benefit an individual teacher. Thus, any purchased and reusable items, books, teaching tools, equipment and software to mention a few become the property of the Madison School District 321.
Q: How do I know what not to apply for?
Our goal as a Board is to approve as many grants as possible. There are a few things applicants should know will be denied:
If, as an teacher or administrator, you have additional questions regarding grants, feel free to reach out to any of the Board Members.