Grants - Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
Grants Q1. Why should I apply for a grant?
A1: The entire reason the Hastings Education Foundation exists is to enhance the quality of the Hastings schools by engaging the support of our residents, parents, students, teachers and alumni. We raise funds from the community so that you, as administrators and educators, have resources for the development and promotion of innovative activities and programs that the District is not able to fund.
Q2. I have an idea, where do I start and who can help?
A2: If you have an idea, but aren’t sure if it’s a good fit or need some help flushing it out, feel free to reach out to your principal and or one of the HEF Grant Liaisons. The Liaisons are HEF Board Members who serve on the grants committee and have volunteered to work with teachers and administrators to answer questions, provide feedback, and support teachers and administrators as they navigate the grants process. Liaisons are listed below and would love to hear from you!
- HILLSIDE: Laura Owens, lpersichette@gmail.com
- MS: Kanchan Kinkade, kinkadek@terlatowines.com
- HS: Marisa Mulvihill, mmulvihill@prophet.com
Q3. What kinds of grants do you fund?
A3:We welcome grants for all areas of the curriculum, including extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. Grants may also cover staff and curriculum development, including support for implementation. We cannot fund travel or meals. Coordination with the administration is essential and must be demonstrated in the grant application.
Q4. What is the grant application and approval process?
A4: Teachers must submit a completed grant application to their building principal and, once approved, the application must be submitted and approved by the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, and then submitted and approved by the Superintendent. Once it is approved by the Superintendent, it is then submitted to the Hastings Education Foundation Board. Teachers and administrators can reach out to the HEF Liasons throughout the process to get feedback and ask questions. Liaisons work directly with the faculty or staff who submit the application. Liaisons advocate and answer questions about the submitted grants to the Grants Committee who review the applications and make recommendations to the Board. The Board then votes on the grants, and once approved, the grants are submitted to the Board of Education for final approval. The Foundation has one annual grant cycle for the following school year. The 2021-22 grant application timeline is as follows:
- February 28, 2022: All applications due in Principal’s office no later than 3pm
- March 7, 2022: Applications approved by Principal to be forwarded to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction
- March 14, 2022: Applicants approved by Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction forwarded to Superintendent
- March 21, 2022: Applications approved by Superintendent forwarded to HEF Grants Committee
- May/June 2022: Grants awarded by HEF forwarded to School Board for approval
Q5. How are grants evaluated?
A5:Grants are first evaluated individually according to the following criteria:
- Potential impact across grade, department, or school
- Integration into the school program
- Demonstration of long-term benefits of the project
- Innovation and originality
- Strength of overall need
- Plan for evaluating effectiveness of project
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
- Budget
- Writing Technique
- Repeat grant We then look across all of the grants submitted for a cycle and strive for equity of distribution of grants across each school complex.
All forms must be completed by the end of the day on Monday, February 28, 2022
Please note our schedule:
- February 28, 2022: All applications due in Principal’s office no later than 3pm
- March 7, 2022: Applications approved by Principal to be forwarded to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction
- March 14, 2022:Applicants approved by Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction forwarded to Superintendent
- March 21, 2022: Applications approved by Superintendent forwarded to
HEF Grants Committee - May/June 2022: Grants awarded by HEF forwarded to School Board for approval
Have you received a HEF Grant?
Please fill out this Grant Evaluation Form.
Board Member Contacts
Grants Committee
Please contact a member of the Grants Committee if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you and receiving some wonderful proposals.
Laura Owens (Chair)
Kanchan Kinkade
Marisa Mulvihill
Malaika Sundberg
Dana Unger
HEF School Liaisons
If you have a great idea for your classroom and would like some quick feedback, do not hesitate to reach out to one of the HEF School Liaisons listed below. They are available to answer questions, provide feedback, and support teachers navigate the grants process.
Hillside ES • Laura Owens
Farragut MS • Kanchan Kinkade
Hastings HS • Marisa Mulvihill