The Coover/Rural Schools Partnership Celebrate Rural Schools Grant Program is a funding initiative led by the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation, administered in partnership by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) and The Commerce Trust Company. This program is specifically designed to uplift and amplify the cultural identity, achievements, and community contributions of rural schools. The CFO, a prominent Missouri-based philanthropic organization, is known for its dedication to supporting rural education through its Rural Schools Partnership—a collaborative network aimed at enhancing rural school systems across the region.
This single-year grant opportunity provides a total funding pool of $100,000, with individual awards of up to $5,000 per applicant. The program seeks to fund projects that celebrate the unique culture and community roles of rural schools. Supported activities may include student-led storytelling initiatives, such as journalism, podcasting, or video projects; community engagement events aimed at building stronger ties between families, schools, and communities; recruitment-driven storytelling to attract new educators and staff; and collaborations with local organizations to provide students with community service experiences.
To be eligible, applicants must be members of the CFO’s Rural Schools Partnership program. This membership requirement ensures alignment with the partnership’s mission and goals. Interested schools that are uncertain about their membership status are encouraged to contact Beth Hughs at [email protected] or (417) 864-6199 for confirmation. All grantees will also be required to affirm a non-discrimination policy covering a wide range of protected categories, including race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and veteran status.
The application deadline is March 12, 2026, at 11:45 p.m. Central Time. All awarded projects will operate on a single-year timeline, with final reports due in May 2027. The submission process occurs through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks' grant portal. For technical assistance, applicants may reach out to Latesa Carter at [email protected] or the CFO’s main line at (417) 864-6199.
Evaluation criteria are not explicitly listed, but the funders clearly emphasize storytelling, community impact, student success, and school pride. These themes should guide applicants in framing their proposals. While there are no preliminary application stages like LOIs, all applicants must follow the standard procedures and deadlines listed on the official application portal.
This grant does not recur annually based on currently available data, and therefore no next cycle has been scheduled. However, the partnership between CFO and The Commerce Trust Company is ongoing, which may suggest future iterations depending on funding availability.
