Mini-Grants for Staff Members

• Application Directions
• On-Line Application Form

Dear Prospective Mini-Grant Applicant

Posted: March, 2008

It’s that time of year again! The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation is soliciting proposals for the spring round of mini-grants. Including grants awarded in the fall of 2008, we have now awarded 386 grants for past applicants. Before applying, please review the list of questions below. If the answer is yes to all five, your chances are enhanced for acceptance:

• Is this an “educational extra” (i.e., not normally financed with taxpayer dollars)?
   

• Can it be replicated or otherwise serve as an inspiration to others?
   

• Is it as cost-efficient as possible? (One way is to include other classes, grades or schools)
   

• Is the total cost between $100 and $1500?
   

• Has this proposal not been IPEF-funded in the past three years: (We generally do not refund recent projects. New ideas have the greatest appeal.)

As in the past, each mini-grant application will now be submitted on behalf of your school’s activity fund and checks will be made payable to the activity fund. This should eliminate all concerns as to whether mini-grant awards are “compensation.” If you don’t have a school activity fund, don’t worry....we will find you one to use! A change has been made to the process, as applications will require the principal’s approval. Submit applications per the directions below and the committee will secure your principal’s approval. We still encourage you to review the request with your respective administration prior to submittal. Please remember to follow all the rules stated in the application.

Please note, the Foundation Mini Grant committee does not want to jeopardize your opportunity to be creative, but there are some items/areas where grant requests will not be considered and applications will be returned if they include any of the following: payments to staff members, purchase/rental of any Audio Visual equipment currently available in the District, CD Writers, Digital Cameras, Refreshments, Athletic Equipment, Student/Staff Transportation, Level Reading Materials, Magazines, Reading Nights/Take Home Packs. In addition, applications that request any type of books, electronic media or reading material only will not be considered. 

The deadline for submitting your proposal is Friday, April 11^th, 2008. Karen Sharpe, Committee Chair must receive your application, by this date. No applications will be considered after this date. Applications are now available through the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation web, which can be accessed on the District 204 site. If you have any questions, I can be reached by phone at 630-548-0447 or via e-mail at sharpe@wideopenwest.com. Thank you for your past participation and support, as well as your continued interest in providing superior educational experiences for the students in District 204. I look forward to reviewing your proposal.

Sincerely,
 Karen Sharpe