The Foundation makes three types of grants--mini-grants, special project grants, and diversity grants --all of which are designed to support the efforts of teachers and staff to provide unique, high-quality educational experiences for Haslett students.
Mini-Grants
Each year, $10,000 to $15,000 is distributed by the Foundation through its mini-grant program to Haslett teachers and staff. As the name implies, these are small seed grants, totaling no more than $500 per individual. Sometimes teachers and/or staff are awarded cooperative group grants, which allow them to "pool" their individual mini-grants for programs that cut across classrooms, grades, and schools. Only one application per individual or cooperative group per year is accepted.
Mini-grants must directly benefit students by enhancing instruction. They may be used for something as simple as purchasing additional materials or equipment to perform a science experiment or something as significant as sponsoring Poet, Author, and Artist in Residence programs, Voyager Encampment, and the Weather Station Learning Center. They cannot, however, be used for the purchase of food, transportation for field trips, professional development activities, or to augment depleted supplies (although supplies can be purchased if they are part of an overall project).
Some of the programs started through mini-grants have received state, national, and even international recognition. Other mini-grants have developed into programs that ultimately became part of the district's regular budget after being "seeded" by the Foundation.
Applications for mini-grants are due in March of each school year. Applicants must submit their requests on the mini-grant application form provided by the Foundation. The forms are available on this Web site. Applications must be legible, clear, concise, and provide all the information requested by the Foundation.
Click here for information on how to write a good grant request.
Special Project Grants
Projects that exceed $500 per teacher or staff member may be eligible for a special project grant. These grants typically range from $3,000 to $10,000. The purpose of special project grants is to enhance learning for students. Therefore, proposed grant activities must demonstrate a direct benefit for students, either in an individual classroom setting or through a cooperative effort among two or more classrooms. Of special interest are innovative ideas, projects that integrate different subject areas, and programs that are adapted or modified to fit the unique needs of students.
Previous successful applications were developed around many different topics, including community service, technology, math, social studies, thematic units, multi-age approaches, performing arts, language arts, and science. For example, special project grants have been used to purchase a grand piano and projection equipment for the Performing Arts Center, recording and editing equipment for Vision 22, Smart Boards for elementary school students, new computers for resource rooms, digital cameras and software for the production of the year book, the rock specimen wall by the high school tennis courts, and much more.
Applications for special projects are accepted throughout the school year, although they must be submitted and approved prior to the start of a proposed project. Requests must be submitted on the special project application form provided by the Foundation, which is available on this Web site. Applications must include, at a minimum, (1) the name of the teacher(s) and/or staff member(s) involved, (2) the number of students that would benefit from the grant (or if the community as a whole would benefit), (3) a complete description of the project, (4) any equipment that may be purchased, (5) and the expected benefits or outcomes of the project. In addition, applications must be approved by the Haslett Schools Superintendent prior to submission and include rationale for why the Haslett School District cannot provide funding in its regular budget. They are also required to meet the same criteria as mini-grants (see above).
Click here for information on how to write a good grant request.
Diversity Grants
Diversity grants are treated exactly like special project grants except they are designed specifically to support initiatives that promote staff and student understanding of diversity within our community, the United States, and the world. Applications for special projects are accepted throughout the school year, although they must be submitted and approved prior to the start of a proposed project. All requests must be submitted on the special project application form provided by the Foundation, which is available on this Web site. Applications must include, at a minimum, (1) the name of the teacher(s) and/or staff member(s) involved, (2) the number of students that would benefit from the grant (or if the community as a whole would benefit), (3) a complete description of the project and how it promotes diversity, (4) any equipment that may be purchased, (5) and the expected benefits or outcomes of the project. In addition, applications must be approved by the Haslett Schools Superintendent prior to submission and include rationale for why the Haslett School District cannot provide funding in its regular budget. They are also required to meet the same criteria as mini-grants (see above).
Click here for information on how to write a good grant request.
For more information on Foundation grants, please contact: Sherren Jones, Assistant Superintendent Haslett Public Schools, 5593 Franklin St., Haslett, MI 48840, 517-339-8242.
