Classroom Grants

Classroom Grants support academic excellence and innovation, community and school partnerships, and matching funds for external grants. These grants are awarded in the fall and spring of each year.

Geographic Scope: Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS), Zionsville, Indiana

Eligibility:

• Open to educators at Zionsville Community Schools
• Can be submitted individually or collaboratively

Focus Areas:

• Academic excellence and innovation
• Community and school partnerships
• Matching funds for external grants
• Creative classroom projects including STEM, arts, literacy enrichment, robotics, makerspaces, and more

Award Information:

• Recent awards range from approximately $757 to $5,400
• Fall 2025 total awarded: $25,910.29 across 10 projects
• Funding sources include Duke Energy Foundation and Community Foundation of Boone County

Application Process:

• Applications submitted through new online ZEF grant portal
• Applicants can save work, collaborate with colleagues, and submit electronically
• Final reports must be completed online

Contact:

• Phone: 317.733.4805
• Address: 900 North Mulberry Street, Zionsville, IN 46077

Background:

• ZEF celebrates 30th anniversary and $2 million milestone in grants funded
• Has awarded over $2 million to fund more than 1,100 projects across the district

How to Apply for a Classroom Grant

1. Access the Application Portal
   • Click the link on the ZEF website to access the new online grant application system
   • Create an account if you don't have one
2. Review Required Documents
   • Read the Classroom Grant Guidelines to understand eligibility and restrictions
   • Review the Classroom Grants Rubric to understand evaluation criteria
   • Incorporate all rubric areas into your application
3. Complete the Application
   • Applications can be worked on over time and saved
   • Invite colleagues to collaborate on applications if desired
   • Submit electronically through the portal
4. Required Materials
   • Completed application form
   • Project narrative addressing rubric criteria
   • Budget information
   • Project overview (one to two sentences for press releases/social media)
5. Submit Application
   • Submit by deadline: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 5:00pm
   • Spring grants are for Summer/Fall semester projects
   • Fall grants are for Spring semester projects
6. Post-Award Requirements
   • Grant recipients must submit a Final Report online
   • Complete report within four weeks of project completion or one year of grant award
   • Failure to submit will impact eligibility for future grants

Grant Writing Support

• Get Grant Writing Tips available on the website
• Contact Catherine Moser at x11500 or zef@zcs.k12.in.us for questions