1. Wallingford Education Foundation Mini-Grant Orientation

2. WEF Overview Non-profit organization Non-profit organization Board of Directors-members of the Community Board of Directors-members of the Community Raise funds to support mini-grants and a major project Raise funds to support mini-grants and a major project Events Events Distinguished Alumni DinnerDistinguished Alumni Dinner Adult Team Spelling BeeAdult Team Spelling Bee

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

4. Grant Process 5 Mini-grants awarded annually 5 Mini-grants awarded annually $5,000 or less$5,000 or less 1 Major project 1 Major project Mini-grant materials distributed by Feb. 6 Mini-grant materials distributed by Feb. 6 Submission of proposals no later than March 9 Submission of proposals no later than March 9 Grants reviewed and scored by Grant Committee Grants reviewed and scored by Grant Committee Recipients notified prior to end of current school year Recipients notified prior to end of current school year Announcement at system wide staff meeting at the start of the subsequent school year Announcement at system wide staff meeting at the start of the subsequent school year

5. Grants are awarded for the following purposes Educational opportunities to meet the challenges in a global society: Curricular and extra- curricular learning Educational opportunities to meet the challenges in a global society: Curricular and extra- curricular learning Community and School Partnerships: New Initiatives that enhance the educational mission of the schools through collaborative partnerships Community and School Partnerships: New Initiatives that enhance the educational mission of the schools through collaborative partnerships Leveraging External Grants: Matching dollars when grants are required by the funder to include local matching funds. Matching grant requests must be related to the above two areas of Foundation funding. Leveraging External Grants: Matching dollars when grants are required by the funder to include local matching funds. Matching grant requests must be related to the above two areas of Foundation funding.

6. Grant Proposal Format Criteria Maximum of four pages, including provided cover sheet and budgetMaximum of four pages, including provided cover sheet and budget Pages should be single spaced, using one side only of each sheet. White 8 1/2 x 11 paper should be used.Pages should be single spaced, using one side only of each sheet. White 8 1/2 x 11 paper should be used. Pages should be stapled and numbered in the center of the bottom marginPages should be stapled and numbered in the center of the bottom margin Two copies should be made, one of which has the original signature of the building Principal and the Superintendent.Two copies should be made, one of which has the original signature of the building Principal and the Superintendent.

7. Grant Proposal Content Abstract: Brief, succinct overview of the project, including the estimated number of students directly impacted. If there is a secondary impact on students that should be noted as well. Abstract: Brief, succinct overview of the project, including the estimated number of students directly impacted. If there is a secondary impact on students that should be noted as well. Statement of Need and Rationale: Description of the current need and evidence that the project to be funded will address that need. Statement of Need and Rationale: Description of the current need and evidence that the project to be funded will address that need.

8. Grant Proposal Content (cont) Award Purposes and Objectives: List the subject areas involved in the project. How will the project enhance the students’ learning experience in those areas? Elaborate about the objective within your school goals that will be met by this grant. Award Purposes and Objectives: List the subject areas involved in the project. How will the project enhance the students’ learning experience in those areas? Elaborate about the objective within your school goals that will be met by this grant. Responsibility: Statement of the action steps that the project director will take to ensure success once the project is funded. Responsibility: Statement of the action steps that the project director will take to ensure success once the project is funded.

9. Grant Proposal Content (cont) Source of Funding: Identify any funding that is or could be available from other sources. Source of Funding: Identify any funding that is or could be available from other sources. Project Activities: Description of the activities the award will facilitate and that will produce the objectives stated in the proposal. Project Activities: Description of the activities the award will facilitate and that will produce the objectives stated in the proposal. Personnel: Names, qualifications, and roles of those responsible for administering the project activities. Personnel: Names, qualifications, and roles of those responsible for administering the project activities.

10. 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 supplies.Itemized list of project expenses including supplies. Finding the most inexpensive cost for an item, where applicable, is encouragedFinding the most inexpensive cost for an item, where applicable, is encouraged

11. Proposal Oversight May be prepared by anyone who has been authorized by the school principal to do so May be prepared by anyone who has been authorized by the school principal to do so Project Director Project Director The person who has been authorized to oversee the proposed project activitiesThe person who has been authorized to oversee the proposed project activities Must be an employee of the Wallingford Board of Education and may not be a student. Must be an employee of the Wallingford Board of Education and may not be a student.

12. Restrictions and Conditions Awards will be “project specific” and limited to achieving the objectives stated in the approved proposal. Awards will be “project specific” and limited to achieving the 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 school or reduction of budget shortfalls.Expenses normally covered in the general operating budget of the school or reduction of budget shortfalls. Purposes related to the furtherance of a political party or position, religious activities, or controversial issues (as determined by the Foundation).Purposes related to the furtherance of a political party or position, religious activities, or controversial issues (as determined by the Foundation). Compensation (including honoraria or stipends) for employees of the Wallingford Board of Education or studentsCompensation (including honoraria or stipends) for employees of the Wallingford Board of Education or students Substitute paySubstitute pay Food and party suppliesFood and party supplies Telephone expenseTelephone expense The Foundation will not be a sustaining source of funding for projects. The Foundation will not be a sustaining source of funding for projects.

13. Project Award Periods Awarded mini-grant funds will be available for one calendar year. Awarded mini-grant funds will be available for one calendar year. Unused grant money at the completion of the project period must be returned to the WEF. Unused grant money at the completion of the project period must be returned to the WEF. In unusual circumstances, the WEF may, at its discretion, extend the project period of an active grant in response to a written request signed by the school Principal. In unusual circumstances, the WEF may, at its discretion, extend the project period of an active grant in response to a written request signed by the school Principal. Goods and services purchased with funds from the WEF become the property of the Wallingford Board of Education to ensure the benefit of the Wallingford students. Goods and services purchased with funds from the WEF become the property of the Wallingford Board of Education to ensure the benefit of the Wallingford students. In the event a teacher moves from one Wallingford school to another, the award materials will go with the teacher. In the event a teacher moves from one Wallingford school to another, the award materials will go with the teacher.

14. Expectations of Grant Recipients Serve as an active ambassador of WEF to peers, students and community Serve as an active ambassador of WEF to peers, 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 provided. Reports due four weeks after project completion. Submit a brief summary report on the form provided. Reports due four weeks after project completion.

15. Top 10 Tips for Writing a Grant 1. Have a clear idea of the project before writing 2. Use headings found in the WEF Guidelines 3. Include the following sentence: “This project promotes educational opportunities for students to meet the challenges in a global society by….” 4. Explain educational terms that are not obvious 5. Itemize budget items 6. Include a clear plan for evaluation 7. Show creativity and a sense of commitment 8. PROOFREAD 9. Double check that all form requirements have been followed 10. Score your grant using the scoring grid

16. Grants Rubric WeightScoreCategory 10 1. Meets WEF Mission 5 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.

17. Process for Awarding Grants All grants scored individually by members of the grant committee utilizing the grid All grants scored individually by members of the grant committee utilizing the grid Scores tallied and presented to committee for review and discussion Scores tallied and presented to committee for review and discussion Committee recommends projects to be funded to WEF BOD at it’s April meeting Committee recommends projects to be funded to WEF BOD at it’s April meeting

18. Q & A 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 school has already has been awarded a grant that year or in a previous year. 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 grant dollars to sustain a project from year to year. Q: How do you award major grants? A: We realized based on this question that our handout regarding the grant program was confusing. We have changed the wording from a major grant to a major project. Major projects are chosen through a collaborative process with the Superintendent of schools separate from the mini-grant program. Thank you