Gloucester Education Foundation General Grant Program

Geographic Scope: Gloucester Public School District, Gloucester, Massachusetts

Program Focus

GEF grants support programs and projects that promote:

• Active, engaged learning
• Innovation
• A sense of belonging for students
• Opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in authentic ways
• Community collaboration
• Increased student achievement
• Involvement of a significant number of students and/or deep impact for a smaller number of students
• Goals and on-going priorities of the Gloucester Public School District (GPSD)

Eligibility

• Applicants: Any combination of parents, students, faculty, administration, and community groups may collaborate
• Requirements: At least one representative from the faculty must be involved in every proposal
• Approval Required: Principal and Superintendent (or designee) approval required
• Beneficiaries: Gloucester Public School District students

What GEF Does NOT Fund

• GEF grants are not intended to replace or relieve existing responsibility for public funding of GPSD system
• Not a substitute for normal budget growth and maintenance
• Typically will not fund items considered school/office supplies
• Grants including funding for services by organizations outside the District must align with GEF's partnership guidelines

Application Requirements

• Grant Report: Recipients required to complete a grant report within 30 days of project completion, including photographs, comments from students, parents, and teachers
• Future Applications: Future applications from recipients who have not met reporting requirements will not be considered until a final report is submitted on the most recently funded project
• Publicity: Recipients asked to publicize projects to parents, teachers, and community; GEF must be properly credited with the statement: "This project is made possible (in whole or in part) by a grant from the Gloucester Education Foundation"
• Materials: Logo should be included on program handouts; copies of all promotional materials should be sent to GEF with post-project report

Contact Information

• Phone: (978) 282-5550
• Email: emailus@thinkthebest.org
• Address: P.O. Box 1104, Gloucester, MA 01931 / 185 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
• Website: thinkthebest.org

Background

Since 2005, GEF has raised more than $12 million in funding for programs in the Gloucester Public Schools. GEF funding impacts every school and every child in the Gloucester Schools and provides innovation and enrichment across academic subject areas.

Application Process

1. Initial Planning: Discuss plans with a GPSD faculty member, GPSD Administrator, and a GEF Board Member
2. Complete Written Application: Complete the grant application form providing all requested information
   • Supplementary material may be submitted, but the provided application must be fully completed
   • Fill all blanks in the form
3. Required Information in Application Form:
   • Name of Program
   • Date
   • Email Address
   • Applicant Name/Title
   • School
   • Amount requested
   • Superintendent confirmation
   • Who will benefit from the program?
   • How many students will the project impact?
   • New or repeat program?
   • Core subject?
   • Description of the opportunity or need the project will be meeting
   • Description of outcomes or expectations of the program and how those outcomes will be measured
   • Description of steps to implement program in chronological order
   • Description of all necessary supplies, personnel, and input needed
4. Obtain Superintendent Approval: Have the application approved by the Superintendent or Superintendent Designee before submission
5. Review Timeline:
   • Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
   • GEF Programs Committee and Board meet monthly to review proposals
   • Special consideration for immediate action available if:
   • It is a matching grant supportive of accessing funding from another source with its own timeline
   • Special request of the superintendent or a board member
6. During Review Process:
   • GEF will contact applicants if further information is needed
   • Applicants may be asked to make a short presentation to the GEF Programs Committee
7. Decision and Notification:
   • Board of Directors votes on the Programs Committee recommendation
   • Decision communicated to Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, School Principal(s), and teacher(s) within 5 working days of Board meeting
8. Fund Distribution:
   • If funded, GEF's treasurer submits payment to the GPSD
   • Applicant accesses funds through the district's specified procurement procedures
9. Reporting:
   • Written report must be submitted at the end of each year of the grant
   • Report format will be provided by GEF