Grants for Independent School Districts

This grant provides funding for schools in northwestern Minnesota to purchase equipment that enhances artistic programs and supports local artistic development.

The IDEA Capacity Building Grant, offered by the Division for Special Education Services and Supports, aims to provide federal funds to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and Georgia Network for Education and Therapeutic Services Support (GNETS) in Georgia. The grant supports projects for students with disabilities, focusing on professional learning, high-quality instructional materials, and evidence-based interventions. The grant period is from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, with funds allocated to improve literacy and ELA standards compliance.

The School Safety and Security Grant (SSSG) has been expanded to also help cover the costs of inspections, assessments, maintenance, and improvements to indoor heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as well as the purchase of other secondary devices to control the spread of airborne contaminants, including viruses, for eligible applicants. This additional funding of $15,000 is available to any qualifying entity under the SSSG program policy and is available specifically for the purchase of HVAC improvements only. An exact list of qualifying expenses can be found here or on page four of the application. This offering is available to employers with no matching amount required. Eligible applicants may apply even if they have exhausted all previously available SSSG funds. Please continue reading below for full eligibility requirements, instructions for completing an application, and steps to receiving grant funds.

The 2024 SSH Notification of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the US Embassy in Uganda announces an open competition for registered organizations interested in submitting applications for the Ambassadors Special Self-Help (SSH) Program, which supports small-scale, community-based initiatives that promote self-reliance, foster development, widen civic space and engagement, protect and promote human rights, and promise an immediate and dramatic effect on local communities. Projects tailored to gathering spaces and targeted for vulnerable populations, promotion of gender and equity, civic participation, and the prevention of the negative effects of climate change are of particular interest this year. Entering its sixtieth year of continuous operation, the SSH program is a direct reflection of the U.S. governments commitment to helping Ugandans help themselves. The project must be submitted by an organized group, motivated, who has a real need, and has already worked with communities. The project should be feasible based on the socio-economic context and include the necessary information and documentation indicated on the form. Interested organizations can obtain an application from the Office of Self Help or download it here: Special Self-Help Fund Application (PDF 213 KB). The organization may also send its own drafted project provide that all needed information in the SSH application were answered in their proposal. The applicant should fill the form carefully with special emphasis on the following critical aspects of the proposed project: Objectives, impacts and key activities Implementation strategy Monitoring mechanisms Itemized budget The application should be sent to: Special Self-Help Coordinator U.S. Embassy Kampala Plot 1577 Ggaba Road, P.O. Box 7007 Kampala, Uganda [email protected] ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION C.1 Eligible Applicants The U.S. Embassy Kampala Small Grants Office welcomes applications from all established Uganda-based, non-profit organizations/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Community Based Organizations (CBO), and grassroots organizations. The application must be submitted by an organization that is motivated, demonstrates a real need, and has already successfully implemented projects in the community. The project should be feasible and based on the socioeconomic context of the local community. To be eligible for funding, your project must meet the following criteria: Be community-based. Be initiated locally. Be administered at the local level; and Include substantial community participation and contributions in cash, labor, food, accommodation for qualified labor, transportation costs, or materials such as carts of sand or gravel, bricks for construction, fence materials, or water. Organizations that apply for SSH funds must be established and registered as Community Based Organizations (CBO) or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) at the local government level in the communities in which they work. Please provide registration certificate. Help improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level and have long-lived value. Particular attention will be given to projects that focus of enhancing civic engagement, fiscal independence, and reduce the effects of climate change. The projects should be high impact, benefiting the greatest number of people possible. Funding is limited to one project, which must be completed within twelve (12) months or less. Projects must be self-sustaining upon completion. The U.S. Embassys support for the project must be a one-time-only/one grant contribution. Projects must be within the communitys ability to maintain and operate. Requests for large-scale agriculture or construction projects, or for expensive equipment are not considered priority projects. All applicants must display sound management in the form of financial and administrative procedures that protect against waste, fraud, and abuse. C.2 Cost Sharing or Matching Although providing a specific cost sharing, matching, or cost participation amount is not an eligibility requirement for this NOFO, the project proposal must include community participation and contributions in cash, labor, and/or materials as noted above in C.1. The Special Self-Help Program does NOT fund: Requests to buy equipment like vehicles, motorcycles, office equipment, computers, phones, tablets, copiers, and stereos. Salaries or supervision costs for the supervising organization. Contingency estimates also do not qualify. Labor, salaries, operating costs, printing material, fuel, or land. Payment for pesticides and herbicides Proposals that have a purely police, military, or cultural emphasis. Religious projects unless they genuinely assist the whole community without regard to religious affiliation. Personal businesses. Scholarships, donations, start-up money, loans or honorariums. HIV/AIDS projects. Projects that focus on refugees or displaced persons. There are specific U.S. bilateral or multilateral assistance programs designed to address those needs. Projects that the community cannot continue after the SSH funding cycle has ended. Projects that have received prior SSH funds. To remodel or renovate an existing facility that is in disrepair because of neglect or lack of money. Office supplies such as pencils, paper, forms, and folders. Projects that are partially funded by another donor or from the Government of Uganda. Funds cannot be commingled with funds from other donors, international organizations or other U.S. government programs. SSH funds may not be used to buy previously owned equipment, luxury goods, or gambling equipment. Activities that are the responsibility of the government, for example, building hospitals. Activities that could potentially create tension within the community, harm community members, or damage the environment. Sports equipment or uniforms for a national sport team. Musical instruments or uniforms for a national orchestra or dance company. Surveillance equipment. Abortion-related facilities and services. Payments to government officials. Ceremonies, parties, celebrations, or representational expenses. C.4 Other To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) Number or evidence of applying for a UEI. Any selected organization will be required to have a UEI for the grant to be issued. Organizations can register for a UEI at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration . Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain these registrations. Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award Management (SAM) (www.sam.gov) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR,1986 Comp., p.189) and 12689 (3 CFR,1989 Comp., p. 235), Debarment and Suspension. Additionally, no entity listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM can participate in any activities under an award. Lastly, applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. PROJECT EXAMPLES D.1 Elements of successful projects The project is initiated by the community. The project benefits the greatest number of people within the community. The project plan contains pre-established long-term goals and a coherent plan to keep the project running in the future. A capable project manager who is a long-term resident in the community is responsible for the project. The project is assisted by a non-biased umbrella organization, such as a religious mission or a local NGO that provides guidance and arbitration on issues when necessary. There is strong coordination and communication amongst the grant-recipient group, local leaders, and local government representatives. The project makes use of materials and supplies that can be maintained by the community, and the use of materials that will not harm the environment. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION E.1 Address to Request Application Package Applicants can find the required application forms on the U.S. Embassy Kampala website at https://ug.usembassy.gov/embassy/kampala/grant-programs/?_ga=2.158558194.912728234.1709815691-399122090.1698829609 or on www.grants.gov under the announcement title Small Grants Ambassadors Special Self-Help Program, funding opportunity number DOS-KAM-AMBSSH-FY22. E.2 Content and Form of Application Submission Complete applications must include the following: Complete the SSH 2024 application (Annex A) Completed Budget package (Annex B). Includes: Detailed line-item budget. Budget Narrative; and Activity logical framework with project timeline. A copy of the organizations registration certificate, if available. A letter of approval for proposed project from the local development committee, tribal authority, and/or local town or district council. Original pro-forma invoices/quotations from the intended suppliers. Three quotes for each item are required. Download: Detailed NOFO: Ambassadors Special Self-Help Program 2024 Download: Budget Template: SSH 2024 BUDGET Download: Application Form: SSH2024-APPLICATION-FORM All application materials must be submitted in English. Please make a copy of your entire application for your own records. Submission Dates and Times Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Africa Time (EAT), on June 4, 2024, and must be made electronically to [email protected]. Please submit the application package in Word and Excel format; do not submit as a PDF. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION F.1 Criteria Only complete applications will be evaluated. The Proposal Review Committee will evaluate proposals according to several criteria, including: quality of project idea and impact on target group; community participation and contribution in the project design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation; project outreach/impact (i.e. cost per beneficiary); feasibility of successful project implementation/impact (over a 1-year grant period); sustainability; and transparent and participatory beneficiary selection process. Organizational capacity and past performance will also be considered. F.2 Review and Selection Process The Small Grants Office strives to ensure each application receives a balanced evaluation by a Review Panel. The Small Grants Office will determine technical eligibility for all applications. Proposals that meet the evaluation criteria and move on to the next level will be informed of next steps in the application process. Non-eligible applicants will be notified that they are not being considered for funding. CONTACT INFORMATION For technical submission questions related to this solicitation, please contact the Small Grants Office at [email protected] or +256 (0)414 306444. Applications and additional guidelines are available at https://ug.usembassy.gov/embassy/kampala/grant-programs/?_ga=2.158558194.912728234.1709815691-399122090.1698829609 OTHER INFORMATION Applicants should be aware that Small Grants Office understands that some information contained in applications may be considered sensitive or proprietary and will make appropriate efforts to protect such information. Issuance of the NOFO and negotiation of applications does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government. The Small Grants Office reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of the project evaluation requirements.

The CONSOL Energy Excellence in Education Fund offers small grants aimed at supporting teachers and/or schools in enhancing classroom activities or teacher professional development activities directly benefiting students. Preference is given to projects not covered by the school budget or those that would require out-of-pocket expenses by teachers. Grant awards range between $250 to $500 per request. Applications are accepted year-round on a first-come basis, with specific deadlines for committee review. Grant renewed every year. Grant Spring Annual deadline: June 1st

The CONSOL Energy Excellence in Education Fund offers small grants aimed at supporting teachers and/or schools in enhancing classroom activities or teacher professional development activities directly benefiting students. Preference is given to projects not covered by the school budget or those that would require out-of-pocket expenses by teachers. Grant awards range between $250 to $500 per request. Applications are accepted year-round on a first-come basis, with specific deadlines for committee review. Grant renewed every year. Grant Fall Annual deadline: October 1st

Sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greene County, the EITC Innovative Education Grants support innovative, advanced curriculum projects in public schools. These grants are aimed at projects that enhance the curriculum or academic program but are not part of the regular academic program. Past projects include computer labs, GIS software, and more. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual Spring deadline: June 1st

Sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greene County, the EITC Innovative Education Grants support innovative, advanced curriculum projects in public schools. These grants are aimed at projects that enhance the curriculum or academic program but are not part of the regular academic program. Past projects include computer labs, GIS software, and more. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual Fall deadline: October 1st

This program provides funding to public school districts and area career and technical schools for necessary improvements to their facilities.

This program provides financial support to Colorado schools and local educational agencies that are struggling academically, helping them develop and implement improvement plans to enhance student performance.

This program provides funding to Alaska's public school districts to improve student achievement through the development of clear educational standards and community partnerships.

The Quality Schools Grant Program, initiated in 1998, aims to enhance student achievement by systematically improving Alaska’s public schools. The program emphasizes the development of clear standards across various categories, including Student Standards (covering a wide range of subjects), Professional Standards, and Family, School, Business, and Community Networks, among others. Each Alaska School District is encouraged to allocate the provided funds towards initiatives that align with these categories to foster academic achievement. District entitlements are determined by multiplying the district’s adjusted ADM by $16, totaling approximately $4 million in annual allocations. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual deadline: May 1st

The Perkins CTE Reserve Grant, under the authority of the Wisconsin Perkins State Plan 2020, allocates secondary reserve funds to support the development, implementation, promotion, and monitoring of career pathways at the regional level. These pathways are aligned with state-identified high-skill, in-demand occupations or industries. The grant's objective is to increase the number of students accessing, participating in, and completing these career pathways, with a focus on equity and access for special populations. The grant has evolved over four years, initially focusing on creating the necessary infrastructure for regional career pathway development and then emphasizing student engagement, equitable access, and completion of career pathways, including career-based and work-based learning experiences.

This grant provides financial support for innovative educational programs at Eastview Elementary School in Lake Geneva, WI, that go beyond standard funding to enrich the learning experience for students.

The ESF Focused Support Grant aims to provide resources and support to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to ensure campuses identified for improvement fully implement the Foundational Essential Actions in the ESF. This initiative seeks to significantly and sustainably improve student outcomes by supporting LEAs with Title I served campuses identified for federal improvement. The grant supports engagement in an ESF Diagnostic leading to a Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP) and collaboration with a Vetted Improvement Program (VIP) to enhance educational practices. The grant period extends until September 30, 2026, emphasizing substantial and supplementary support to identified campuses to foster educational excellence and equity.

The Colon Community Schools Grant Fund is offering grants to administrators, coaches, and teachers within the school district. The grants aim to support additional academic enrichment or enhancement programs for students, with a priority given to the arts, drama, and special education. The funding organization is not specified in the provided information. The grant program has two competitive cycles per year, with applications accepted from June 1st to June 30th and from December 1st to December 31st. Unfortunately, no contact information or award details are provided in the input. Eligibility criteria for applicants outside of Colon Community Schools are not mentioned either.

This grant provides funding to educators and coaches within the Colon Community Schools district to enhance academic programs, particularly in the arts, drama, and special education.

This grant provides financial support to educators in the School District of the Menomonie Area for projects that enhance learning and academic achievement, particularly in history, culture, and the arts.

The School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) provides funding assistance to school districts that are undertaking a major new construction or modernization project. Projects must meet eligibility requirements. School districts are responsible to secure local funding for construction projects. If eligible, the State provides partial funding based on formulas, allowances, and costs related to certain aspects of a construction project called recognized project cost. The enrollment projection methodology excludes the number of students residing outside the school district who are enrolled in alternative learning experience (ALE) programs under RCW 28A.232.010. The current Student Enrollment Cohort Projections - Report 1049 are available in ICOS.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for teachers at Title 1 schools in Boulder to take their students on cultural field trips, enhancing their exposure to the arts and creative careers.