Sample Grant Applications

1. Grow with Van Gogh: great combination of detail and enthusiasm for idea in a succinct application.

2. Artist in Residence at Highcrest: wide scope of students involved; great extension & integration of foreign languages and art; "buy-in" by staff and PTO.

3. Illinois History Comes Alive: very succinct, widely supported by staff Innovative. NOTE: The submission included money for substitute teachers. The Foundation does not pay for these and the grant awarded excluded that $250.

4. Guided Reading Staff Development: Approved largely because it supports classroom teachers with hands-on expertise in their classroom for a new curriculum in reading. We are aware that this kind of follow-up to staff development is pretty rare and usually greatly appreciated by teachers. NOTE: We received a number of reading-related requests at the same time; it was felt that this submission provided the best use of funds over the greatest number of buildings and staff.

5. Enhanced non print book collection: Lots of detail on how the money would be spent; designed to help the slower readers and those with special needs to participate more fully in the curriculum. In addition, Highcrest as the newest school, has had the greatest need for help in building their resource center. NOTE 1: The Foundation received a large donation which recognized the success of a special needs student through the support of D39 teachers & staff. Therefore, we were looking for good proposals targeted for this population. NOTE 2: Another proposal we received for creating more resources on the Intranet system to aid classroom teachers with suggested interventions to support struggling students was a wonderful proposal, but rejected because of the Foundation's policy to not pay for "teacher time." In that case, the entire cost would pay for the student support team to develop the materials and make them available as part of the D39 Intranet. Great idea-we just couldn't pay for it, given our policy.

6. Communicating the IEP: This was a request for equipment that would be used in a very specific fashion. The committee and superintendent reactions were that this addressed a need to share information in conferences on students with special needs in a way that would be easier and better for all involved.

7. Parent Resource Center: Though this is a request to buy books, the consensus was that providing on-site help with parenting materials was a good idea and worth supporting. Sufficient detail and strong principal support also helped in getting this approved.