Teacher Grant Application

Introduction

The Medway Foundation for Education (MFE) is a non-profit community foundation chartered to fund innovative educational programs for Medway public school children. The total amount of funds available for a given year depends upon the success of MFE’s fundraising and investments.  The Foundation may allocate up to 75% percent of its assets each year for grant awards. 

This packet provides guidelines to the Foundation’s annual grant process and a copy of a grant application.  By following the guidelines, procedures and deadlines outlined in this packet, you will ensure that your application receives proper consideration.

What do MFE grants support?

Medway public school faculty and administrators, parents, students, and community members may apply for funding in support of enrichment projects that benefit Medway public school students.  MFE funds a broad range of projects, from those that focus on traditional academic subjects, to others in the visual and performing arts, and still others that promote multi-cultural and community learning experiences.  Descriptions of recent grants from other town foundations may be found on the MFE web site.

MFE-funded programs should enhance, but not duplicate, the standard public school curriculum.  We look for innovative, creative ideas that fall outside the ordinary school budget, yet promise to augment the curricula in a meaningful way.  The Foundation encourages projects that demonstrate a partnership between teachers, schools and disciplines. MFE grants do not underwrite basic school needs.  If you have questions about whether your project would merit consideration by the MFE Annual Grant Committee, feel free to contact Chairperson Christine DeCristoforo (533-5877 - E-Mail Christine ) for clarification.

Who decides whether a project gets funded?

The MFE Annual Grant Committee reviews grant applications each March. The Annual Grant Committee is a diverse group, comprised of 10 members: six MFE directors and four Medway public school educators (one each from elementary, middle, and high school).  In April, the Committee makes funding recommendations to the MFE Board of Directors, which votes on whether to approve these recommendations. The Grant Committee may choose to offer partial funding at its discretion.  The Foundation encourages collaborative funding and invites applicants to seek partial or additional funding from other sources.

What makes an annual grant application successful?

• The application must be complete and comply with deadlines. It should include a clear, typed presentation of the request on the appropriate forms. The application should be clearly written and understood by non-educators.  It must include all authorizing signatures.

• The proposal should demonstrate creativity and innovation in educational programming and target a significant number of Medway school children. 

• The project may seed an initiative that could be later replicated in other schools or grades or expanded as a large grant, promising to benefit students in future years.

• The proposal may be a collaborative effort between educators, schools, parents or others to reach children in multiple classrooms, grade levels or schools.

• If the proposal includes a request for equipment funding, the application should detail an educational program in which the equipment would be used. Technological hardware requests need to be pre-approved by Medway Schools’ Director of Media and Technology Services.

• The proposal should provide a plan for additional non-MFE funding, if necessary.

• The applicants agree to account for and report on the project once funded.

• The proposal should not seek repeat funding for a previously approved project or retroactive funding for an existing project.

• The proposal should not seek funds for transportation or substitute teachers.