RFP: Teacher Training Projects for Accredited or Nearly Accredited Preschools in Hawaii Grant

The Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation invites proposals for teacher training projects aimed at accredited or nearly accredited preschools in Hawaii. With grants up to $25,000, the Foundation supports initiatives that enhance teacher quality and retention, ensuring educators receive the necessary training. Eligible preschools must demonstrate commitment to faculty development and provide evidence of tax-exempt status. This initiative addresses the growing demand for well-trained preschool educators, ultimately benefiting children's educational outcomes.

Request for Proposals: Teacher Training Projects for Accredited or Nearly Accredited Preschools in Hawaii
The Castle Foundation has, for well over a century, provided charitable support for preschools that intend to upgrade teacher quality and outcomes for children. Most accrediting agencies require periodic preschool investments in teacher education. Increasingly, parents seeking the best educational venue for their child are asking what continuing education the teachers in their child’s school have and will have. In addition to the public and accreditation expectations for continuing faculty learning, teachers appreciate institutional investment in them. This is important not only for enhanced outcomes for children but also for essential teacher retention.
The Castle Foundation makes substantial grants to organizations in Hawaii and the Continental US to provide substantial instruction to the faculty of numerous preschools. In Honolulu, Hanahau’oli School has been awarded several grants to educate numerous preschools in the latest culturally relevant and responsive STEM instruction.
Generally, grants for up to $25,000 may be available for high-quality preschools with a demonstrated interest in improving outcomes for children. A school intending to include multiple preschool faculty in their training may request additional funds. The size of the multiple-site training grants will depend on the number of teachers served and the expenses related to training. In all cases, preschools planning for educator training grants are expected to show internal financial support; organizational commitment to high-quality instruction must be evidenced through substantial and ongoing support.

Eligibility

The Castle Foundation invites requests from individual Hawaii-based preschools seeking funds for stand-alone training for single preschool organizations. If an eligible preschool has not applied to the Foundation before, include the preschool’s charter, by-laws, and proof of tax-exempt status.If a preschool is close to achieving accreditation or is seeking to retain accreditation from a recognized accrediting agency, it should document its status in the application. Grant requests will be considered only from organizations that are classified by the IRS as 501(c)(3), tax exempt agencies, and not private foundations.

Ineligibility

The Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation is not an international funder and applications are not accepted outside the U.S.The Foundation only rarely funds in the U.S. outside Hawaii. Public or private high schools, middle schools, or elementary schoolsCharter Schools, except for pre-school teacher educationEndowmentsRegular operating costs such as salaries, rents, or maintenanceMore than 30-40% of a total project costPrograms not open to all racial and ethnic groupsProjects in which parents and the community have not been appropriately involved in planning and fundingPublication and media projectsOrganizations outside Hawai‘i which do not serve Hawaii’s needs Teacher and student scholarships for travel, or conference attendanceVideo projectsRegular annual fund drives, sponsorships, or special eventsCapital campaigns to build facilities not related to early educationIndividualsPolitical events, campaigns and sponsorshipsProposals submitted by government entities, such as public and charter schools, will not be considered.