This Workshop is intended to prepare educators to submit grant applications for all three SEF grant programs: Innovative Educator Grants, S.E.L.F. Grants, and Frank Sherman Grants.

Eligibility

• Individuals or teams of individuals employed by Springfield Public Schools.
• Grants are for use in the 2023-2024 school year.
• Evaluations must be completed for the previous year to be eligible to receive funding again.

About Springfield Education Foundation

Mission

To empower student success through community engagement.

Vision

To see the exceptional become the expected – in the ways students learn, teachers innovate, and our community unites around them.

Innovative Educator Grants: Funding Innovation!

Purpose

• Increase participation
• Reach underserved populations
• Increase attendance
• Improve graduation rates
• Promote career opportunities and college connections

Funding

Made possible by SEF fundraising efforts, individual contributions, private grants, and generous sponsorships from SELCO Community Credit Union, Weyerhaueser Giving Fund, and Palo Alto Software.

IE Grant Eligibility

• $250 to $4,000 grants available
• One IE Grant proposal per applicant allowed
• Grant funds are to be spent and utilized by the end of the 2023-24 school year
• Repeat funding requests are allowed and will be considered annually

Review Process

Applications will be assessed blindly and reviewed and awarded by the IE Grant Review Committee, comprised of the following members:

• SEF Board Members
• Community members who are not necessarily educators

Frank Sherman Grants – Get out and learn!

Supports health, physical fitness, and outdoor education activities offered to Springfield students.

Purpose

To promote and support health, physical fitness, and outdoor education activities and curriculum offered at Springfield Public Schools.

Funding

Frank Sherman was an administrator of health, physical education, and athletics for SPS from 1961-1985. After his passing in 2010, his widow, Katy Sherman gave SEF a generous donation of $25,000, creating SEF’s first endowment. The disbursements from this initial investment provide the funding for the Frank Sherman grant.

Frank Sherman Grant Eligibility

• Up to $1000 grants available
• Funds can be used for development of curriculum, educator training, equipment, supplies, transportation, and/or other resources related to health, physical fitness, or outdoor education
• Special consideration is given to those applications whose projects utilize Sky Camp

Review Process

Applications will be assessed blindly and reviewed and awarded by the Frank Sherman Grant Review Committee, comprised of the following members:

• Members of the Frank Sherman family
• Board and district representative selected by the Executive Director and the Sherman family
• Others as determined by the SEF Board of Directors

S.E.L.F. Grants – Nurturing hearts and minds!

Social Emotional Learning Fund

Purpose

Funding for educators that wish to implement sustainable Social Emotional Learning opportunities for students attending Springfield Public Schools.

Funding

The SEL Fund was established by a gift from Stan and Cathy Paine, both long-time administrators in the Springfield School District who have a passion for children’s positive social development, physical safety, and emotional well-being in school settings.

S.E.L.F. Grant Eligible Activities

Grants up to $1,000 may be used for:

• Social Emotional Learning curriculum materials, training, and implementation support
• Character education programs
• Peace education initiatives
• Asset, strength, or interest development programs
• Anti-bullying/anti-harassment strategies
• School mentoring programs
• Leadership development programs

S.E.L.F Grant Ineligible Activities

• Activities not falling within one of the categories listed above
• Stand-alone, one-time events (assemblies, speakers, field trips, “fairs”, “(focus) nights” (e.g. “SEL night”, etc.) However, such activities could possibly be part of a larger program of activities for one of the above categories, providing that these activities lead to the implementation of an on-going structure or support of activities that promote strong socio-emotional learning.
• One-time training without implementation follow-up support and without the expectation of ongoing use of the trained skills by all school staff.

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed blindly and awarded by the SELF Grant Review Committee, comprised of the following members:

• Cathy and Stan Paine
• Patrick Kennedy, representing the Paine Family Trust
• Board representative selected by the Executive Director
• Others as determined by the SEF Board of Directors

Timeline for ALL Grants

• March 1 –  Application Available
• April 25 –  Grant applications due by midnight
• June –  Recipients notified and grant funds available
• June 30 –  Grant evaluations due

Grant Writing Tips – Planning your proposal

• What problem are you solving?
• Why is this project important or necessary?
• Who will benefit from this solution?
• Who will you partner with?
• How will you execute your plan?
• How can you be more sustainable and more efficient?
• When will your solution happen?
• What is your timeline?

Application Process

• Applications due by midnight on April 25th
• Educators may apply for one of each type of grant per cycle
• Apply online or download a PDF application at: www.springfieldeducationfoundation.org/grants
• The FORM DOES NOT SAVE YOUR WORK! Start in another document and cut/paste to application
• Do not include your name or your school’s name in the body of your grant
• If there are any identifying names included in the body of your grant, it may be disqualified
• Administrator approval required
• Please avoid educational jargon and spell out acronyms

Review Process

• Small and large grants will be reviewed the same way and measured only by the content of the application.
• Grants are scored by SEF and SPS representatives and community volunteers who may be familiar with you and your school. in an effort to reduce bias, please do not identify yourself, your school, or project partners by name.
• Your proposal will be reviewed blindly – each application will receive an identifyingnumber referenced throughout review. Applications that include specific employee or school names will not be considered.
• Each application will receive a cumulative numerical score and those with highest scores will receive funding priority.

Responsibilities of Grant Recipients

• Submit a video and pictures of students participating in or talking about your SEF-funded project.
• Agree to share project information at a SEF event or meeting if requested.
• Return the required project evaluation by June 30 of the project’s school year.
• Equipment purchased with SEF grant funds is considered the property of Springfield Public Schools. Please notify SEF if you plan to move and take your equipment to another building.
• Projects and evaluations must be completed before applicants can access funding for another grant in subsequent years.

Good luck!

For more information on any of these grants, or for assistance with your application, please visit SEFLane.org/grants or call Christina San Filippo at 541-726-3243.

Alternative Funding Sources

“SPARK Grants”

• SELCO – Grants available up to $1,000 available
• Submissions accepted in the fall
• https://www.selco.org/community-giving/spark-creative-learning-grants

“Project Community Awards”

• Northwest Community Credit Union – Grants of $1,500 available
• Submissions accepted in the fall
• https://www.nwcu.com/project-community

“Donors Choose”

• Post a desired project or supply need, donors can choose to fund it
• https://www.donorschoose.org