Learning Links Grants

The Learning Links Grants provide up to $800 for public schools in Western North Carolina to implement hands-on creative learning projects. Funded by the Ben W. and Dixie Glenn Farthing Charitable Endowment Fund, these grants aim to enhance student engagement and educational outcomes. Successful applications should clearly outline project plans, budgets, and expected impact on students. This initiative encourages community involvement and aims to foster a love for learning, ultimately supporting students through to graduation.

Background
The Learning Links program offers grants up to $800 to public schools in order to provide "hands-on" creative learning projects to their students. The goal of this program is to increase students' enthusiasm for learning and staying in school, ultimately through graduation.
These grants are made possible by the Ben W. and Dixie Glenn Farthing Charitable Endowment Fund and the Cherokee County Schools Foundation Endowment Fund.
Strong applications include:
Clearly defined and realistic project plans and activities. Do not use educational or technical jargon. Be as specific as possible about how the funds will be used.Specifics regarding how the project will be implemented, necessary materials, time frame, people involved and completion date.A detailed budget that is reasonable and logically tied to the project description.
Successful projects in the past have:
Involved parents and/or community volunteersBeen led by a dedicated teacher or team of teachersIntegrated curricula or involved various age groupsServed a single classroom, grade level, or entire school. (Individuals can apply for up to $800 only. Group projects are allowed and can apply for up to $800 per teacher/classroom). A group project is a team project that will serve the same group of students in a classroom, set of classrooms or school-wide activity or club. Please note there is no maximum restriction on requests to fund the same project. Projects that have been funded previously will be reconsidered on their own merits each year they are submitted.
Please note:
There is no limit to the number of applications that may be submitted from each school. Each application form must be submitted by the lead teacher/project coordinator and approved by the school principal in order to be considered for funding.
All field trips must include before-trip preparation and after-trip use of the information.They should also include all students the project is intended for (an individual classroom, a grade level, or school-wide activity or club).
Grants may be made to compensate experts who come to work with students but may not pay teachers or staff. These experts must submit resumes or credentials to justify the requested expense.

Eligibility

Learning Links grants are offered to public schools in the following Western North Carolina counties: Avery, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford and Swain.

Ineligibility

Learning Links grants do not support anything other than "hands-on" creative learning projects for public school classrooms in the counties specified above.Funds may not purchase equipment, videos/dvds or furniture, unless these items are essential to the project and cannot be obtained otherwise. Additionally, grant funds cannot be used to cover the cost of items normally included in the school’s budget.Items that are not typically funded include refreshments, rewards, or incentives.