THE ED. FUND
(The West Contra Costa Public Education Fund)
1807 Arlington Blvd. Phone: 510-233-1464
El Cerrito, CA 94530 Fax: 510-235-0606
HELPFUL HINTS FOR ED. FUND MINI-GRANTS
(The Ed. Fund will not fund a project for more than two consecutive years).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Be specific, descriptive and informative. The Ed. Fund will use this
description in The Ed. Fund newsletter, local newspapers, and/or other Ed.
Fund publicity.
NEED or PROBLEM: Tell The Ed. Fund about the problem or situation you wish to solve with your
project.
PROPOSED SOLUTION:
- Indicate exactly what you want to do to solve the problem.
- Clearly explain how you will implement the solution.
- Specify the role you and/or other adults will play in this project.
- Indicate other resources/experiences you will use to solve the problem.
- GOAL STATEMENT:
State specifically and clearly what you intend to achieve with this project.
- FUNDS NEEDED:
State the exact total taken from your Itemized Budget (page 3 of the
application).
- ADVANTAGES:
Describe all advantages or benefits to be gained.
- DISADVANTAGES:
Be honest, specific and realistic in describing the disadvantages of this
project. By considering the disadvantages, you will be better able to
objectively view your project.
- DATES:
Indicate when you plan to start and complete the project.
- EVALUATION:
- Explain how you will assess whether you have reached your stated goal.
- Use measurable terms whenever you can. "Teacher observation" alone is not sufficient evaluation most of the time.
- OTHER
FUNDING SOURCES:
Indicate if a project requires more than the maximum amount of The Ed. Fund mini-grant.
Indicate other definite sources of funding that will make up the
difference between this mini-grant and the funds required. Be
imaginative and resourceful about obtaining other funds.
- Indicate how much these other sources of funding will provide.
- Indicate when no other funding is available.
11, 12. Be sure you and your principal sign the application. NO UNSIGNED APPLICATION WILL BE CONSIDERED.
DATE YOUR APPLICATION.
ITEMIZED BUDGET (page 3):
- Check all costs for accuracy and economy.
- Include ALL shipping, handling charges and taxes.
- Explain each expenditure in your description of the project. The Ed. Fund needs to know why you need the items listed.
ED. FUND MINI-GRANT CRITERIA
The Ed. Fund looks for projects that:
Indicate maximum use of each dollar, maximum creativity, and maximum student impact. Exciting ideas that yield high student impact and require small grants are very successful
Cannot or should not be supported by District or other public resources. Be creative in your use of all the District has to offer, then ask The Ed. Fund for whatever you cannot fund.
- The Ed. Fund will not grant money for textbooks or basic essential supplements.
- The Ed. Fund sometimes will help you find the resources you need elsewhere in the District.
- Are fully integrated into a curriculum. For example:
- The Ed. Fund might fund a set of books to be used in a project to develop critical thinking in all subject areas for an elementary school class.
- The Ed. Fund will reject a request for a set of books desired purely because they are wonderful books.
- The Ed. Fund tends to reject field trips unless they are clearly woven into a curriculum and play a major part in the success of that curriculum.
IMPORTANT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
(Failure to comply with the following requirements will automatically disqualify your application.)
All applications must be postmarked no later than the deadline shown on the application.
An original and 4 collated, stapled copies of the application must be submitted.
All applications must be signed by the teacher applying for the grant and the school principal.
All applications must be sent with the correct postage and must not require a signature to be delivered.
If you have questions regarding mini-grants, please call:
Susan Wittenberg 233-1464
Cate Burkhart 620-2019