How many grants will you be providing?
Our intent is to award at least 10 grants in the Spring of 2019 to be used during the 2019 - 2020 school year. Grants range between $2,500 and $10,000. (The foundation has awarded 27 grants and $117,000 in the last two years.)
Are the grants awarded to individuals or schools?
Although grants are awarded to a teacher or team of teachers, checks will be made out to your school or school district. Access to your funds will be through your school or school district’s bank account. (*Make sure you're allowed to access funds through these accounts.) The check will be mailed to the attention of the project lead and it is that persons responsibility to deposit it in the appropriate account.
What type of grant should I apply for?
The Academic Enrichment grant focuses on the academic needs and enrichment of students and can be awarded to an individual or team of teachers. Professional Learning grants focus on instructional practice and are awarded to teams of teachers only (grade level or subject team).
How large of a grant should I apply for?
Grants range from $2,500 to $10,000. When considering your project think carefully about your "real" needs. Regardless of grant size, we need to know your request is well thought out and you understand how to measure its impact or success. However, the larger the grant the more specific you'll need to be as to why your project requires the funding requested and how you’ll quantify your results.
If I were awarded a grant and chose to leave my current school would I still receive funding?
No, funding will only be provided to a teacher or teachers returning to their current school in the fall. Since your project is built around the needs of your current students we would not provide funding at a new school. (If a member of your team changes schools, considerations can be made.)
If I'm awarded a grant when do I have to use the funds?
Grants awarded in the Spring of 2019 are to be used during the 2019 - 2020 school year. Preference is given to projects that begin in September (or just prior). Please be specific on the "timeline" you'll be using for your project.
What makes for a strong application?
We’re looking for educators who understand the social, emotional and academic challenges of their students and/or their own professional learning needs and can effectively design and articulate a response to those challenges and needs. A key factor is your ability to clearly define the issue, your response to that issue and how you’ll asses its effectiveness.
What does it mean to “work in collaboration with the Ellison Foundation and share your ideas with others”?
If you and/or your team receive an Ellison Education Grant, we will maintain contact throughout the 2019 – 2020 school year. An in-person or virtual meeting (phone call) will be held three times during the school year – September, January, and April.
We request a two page “reflection paper” by June 15th, 2020 that summarizes the issue you addressed, your response to that issue, and the impact your project had on participants. Your reflection paper may be shared on our website.
Are there guidelines on budget items for the grant?
The Ellison Foundation allows the grant writer to provide the rationale for fund allocation in their budget. We rely on your decision-making process when evaluating applications. Books, materials, art supplies, stipends, technology, etc., are all within the scope of allowable budget items. Travel expenses are often not funded but can be considered depending on the scope and purpose of the project. Stipends will be considered but should not be the bulk of the budget. Fees for substitutes are considered as well.
What happens once I've submitted my application?
Once your application has been submitted you’ll receive a confirmation from the Ellison Foundation and your work is done. All applicants will be notified if they are moving forward as a finalist by March 31st, 2019.
What happens if I'm chosen as a finalist?
If your proposal is chosen as a finalist, the Ellison Foundation will conduct a site visit interview with the applicant(s) at their school. You will also be emailed an Administrators/Principals recommendation form to be filled out by your supervisor and returned prior to our visit. During our site visit we'd like to request a brief meeting with your principal or administrator as well.
Timeline
December 1st, 2018 to March 9th, 2019 - Applications are accepted between December 1st, 2018 and March 9th, 2019; applications are not accepted before or after these dates.
March 31st – You will be notified if your application is selected as a finalist. If you are a finalist, you will be emailed an Administrators/Principals recommendation form to be filled out by your principal and returned prior to our visit.
April - If your proposal is chosen as a finalist, the Ellison Foundation will conduct a site visit interview with the applicant(s) at their school. We will also request a brief meeting with the applicant’s principal or administrator.
May 31st - All finalists will be notified if they’ve been selected as a grant recipient by May 31st, 2019.
August 25th – A check will be mailed to the awardee's school no later than August 25th, 2019. It will be addressed to the attention of the teacher serving as the project’s lead. It is this teacher’s responsibility to ensure funds are deposited in the appropriate bank account. If funds are needed before August 25th arrangements can be made to do so.