FIRE Grants - Catholic School and Parish Leadership

Funder: Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education Inc (FIRE Foundation)

Geographic Scope: Catholic schools and parishes located within the boundaries of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph

Purpose: Support Catholic schools in enrolling children with significant intellectual/developmental disabilities or learning differences

Eligibility

• Catholic schools located within Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph boundaries
• Schools planning to enroll a child with significant intellectual/developmental disability or learning difference
• Schools must be committed to fully embracing inclusive education and assuming ownership of the inclusion program
• Schools should apply existing enrollment policies and guidelines (tithing requirements, available space, etc.)
• Preference for schools offering special consideration to children with siblings already attending

Funding Details

• Coverage: FIRE grants may cover 15%-65% of a school's inclusive education budget
• Partner Commitment: FIRE requests engagement of school and parish communities in fundraising endeavors alongside grant support
• Partnership Model: FIRE partners with schools willing to collaborate to build inclusive learning opportunities

Application Timeline

• Grant application process begins: January each year
• Recommendation: Contact FIRE Foundation as early as possible to discuss partnership possibilities

Contact Information

• Address: The Catholic Center, 20 W. Ninth Street, Kansas City, MO 64105
• Email: info@firefoundation.org
• Phone: 816-226-8698

Initial Steps

1. Parents with children with special needs should contact school principal to request meeting
2. Principals, Priests & Special Educators should contact Executive Director of FIRE Foundation to discuss enrollment of student with significant learning/developmental differences who would need additional resources

Application Process

1. Initial Contact: Contact the Executive Director of the FIRE Foundation to discuss your school's desire to enroll a student with significant learning/developmental differences
2. Formal Grant Application: FIRE has established a formal grant application process
   • Process begins in January each year
   • Contact FIRE Foundation early in the year to discuss partnership possibility
3. Required Components:
   • Formal written request outlining the inclusive education needs
   • Documentation of the student's significant intellectual/developmental disability or learning difference
   • School's commitment to fully embracing inclusive education
   • Description of resources needed
   • Proposed fundraising efforts by school and parish community (FIRE requests 35%-85% of funding be raised by school/parish)
4. Submission: Submit to FIRE Foundation
   • Email: info@firefoundation.org
   • Phone: 816-226-8698
   • Address: The Catholic Center, 20 W. Ninth Street, Kansas City, MO 64105