2024 Education Grant Program

The Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV) is offering its 2024 Education Grant Program, aimed at enhancing educational opportunities within the New River Valley. This grant program aligns with the foundation's broader mission to support and strengthen the communities it serves, specifically by investing in the education sector. The initiative is designed to fund projects that provide additional resources and experiences beyond what is typically available through public funding, thereby fostering innovation and addressing specific needs within local schools. The grant program targets a wide range of beneficiaries, including educators, support personnel, students, and PTA's/PTO's within the public schools of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe counties, as well as the City of Radford. Additionally, Head Start programs serving Montgomery County and projects from the MCPS central office, Montgomery Central, or the NRV Juvenile Detention Home are eligible. The primary impact goal is to create opportunities that directly benefit students, personnel, and the school community, leading to improved educational outcomes and a more enriched learning environment. The program prioritizes projects that demonstrate a clear need and offer creative solutions that go above and beyond existing public provisions. Evaluators will focus on the extent to which proposed projects meet identified needs and the potential for significant, positive impact on students, personnel, and the school system as a whole. This includes considering how well the project provides opportunities that are truly supplemental and innovative, aligning with the CFNRV's strategic priority of fostering robust educational ecosystems in the region. The expected outcomes include enhanced learning experiences for students, increased support for educational staff, and a more dynamic and resourceful school environment. Measurable results will likely be derived from how well the proposed projects address the described needs and the tangible benefits they deliver to the target population. The CFNRV's theory of change appears to center on the idea that by strategically funding supplemental educational initiatives, they can stimulate growth, address gaps in public funding, and ultimately contribute to the long-term well-being and development of the New River Valley's youth and educational institutions. The grants range from $1,000 to $10,000, with an amount available up to $2,000, indicating a focus on funding a variety of impactful, smaller-scale projects. Applications are due by July 19, 2024. This structured approach ensures that resources are allocated to projects that are well-conceived, demonstrate clear objectives, and promise measurable improvements within the local educational landscape, reinforcing the foundation's commitment to community betterment through education.