2024 Beyond Pencils and Beyond Crayons Grants

The Beyond Pencils & Crayons Grants program is administered by the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin. This foundation serves as a regional philanthropic resource, helping to improve communities through various grantmaking efforts. Through this particular program, the foundation aims to promote educational enrichment and creativity in K-12 classrooms across Marathon County, Wisconsin. Both public and private schools are eligible to apply. The grants support innovative and motivational projects that enhance student learning and engagement. The core purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage and reward creative approaches in education. The program seeks to support projects that not only enrich the educational experience but also inspire students and educators, demonstrate a sense of community, and fill specific, unmet needs within classrooms. Projects must be conducted within the current school year, and materials and equipment funded by the grant become the property of the school. Applications are reviewed for innovation, community impact, and cost-effectiveness. While the grant encourages a wide range of creative project ideas, there are clear restrictions on allowable expenses. Funding will not generally be awarded for items that the committee believes should be covered by standard school district budgets. These restricted items include core curriculum materials, staff salaries, transportation, refreshments, rewards, and incentive programs. The program places a strong emphasis on funding projects that go beyond the basics and that demonstrate measurable and creative impact in the classroom. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Foundation’s online grant management system. The submission deadline is September 30, and applicants will be notified of their application status by the end of October. Recipients are required to recognize the Foundation's support through appropriate use of the Foundation’s logo in project materials. In addition, recipients must document the project with photographs that may be used in Foundation marketing materials. A final report is due within 60 days of project completion or by the end of the school year, whichever comes first. Eligibility is limited to educational institutions within Marathon County. The grant program supports both private and public K-12 schools in the region. Organizations must not discriminate based on a comprehensive set of protected characteristics, including race, gender, religion, disability, and national origin. Applicants may be asked to submit their organization’s nondiscrimination policy as part of the review process. For further information or assistance prior to applying, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Sue Nelson, Program Officer at the Community Foundation. She can be reached at sue@cfoncw.org or by phone at (715) 845-9555. Additional inquiries can also be directed to the Foundation’s general email address, info@cfoncw.org. Detailed application guidelines, the submission portal, and grant resources are available on the Foundation’s website at https://cfoncw.org/grants-scholarships/community-grants/.

Projects should demonstrate innovation and educational value while avoiding budget-covered items.