IDEA Grants
2021-22
Any Spotsylvania County Public School employee may apply.
Parents, community members, and students may submit project proposals in collaboration with a Spotsylvania
County Public School Employee. Schools can also choose to choose to work together on proposals.
Applicants may request funding up to $2,000 per proposal, though smaller proposals are encouraged.
Applicants and their School Administrators must review and acknowledge the Terms and Conditions outlined in
the Idea Grant application.
Complete application packages must be electronically received at the foundation’s email address
(aksullivan@spotsylvania.k12.va.us) by the announced due date and time (see application instructions).
All required components of the application must be included and legible (see application instructions for specific
requirements). Only complete application packages will be forwarded to the Grants committee for review.
The IDEA Grant is a competitive grant. The Grants Committee will review each proposal carefully to determine
allocation of available funds. Specific selection criteria is listed below. Each proposal will be judged on its merits;
funding (if any) will be awarded based on that review.
Grant funds will be directly dispersed to the selected applicant’s school.
Purpose
The Spotsylvania Education Foundation supports efforts to enhance the quality of education in our public schools
through innovation and creativity. The Foundation seeks proposals that present promising ideas for achieving the
district’s curricular goals, enhancing students’ personal development, and/or encouraging links with the community.
Selection Criteria
The Grants Committee will base their review on the following criteria:
1. The proposed project enhances and improves student achievement in the following ways. (70 points
total, each sub-question is worth 10 points)
a. Stimulates and motivates students to achieve academic excellence
b. Engages students as active participants in the learning process
c. Encourages specific improvement in students' skills and attitudes
d. Nurtures the students' desire to learn and create
e. Supports Virginia standardized tests and/or other Division goals
f. Addresses an underserved need
g. Has a lasting benefit, opposed to a one time event
2. The proposed project can be replicated. (10 points)
Can be easily and inexpensively adapted for use by other employees/or schools
3. The proposed project includes collaboration with others. (10 Points)
Collaborative efforts across disciplines and between school administrations, teachers (other
employees), students, parents and/or community are encouraged.
4. Budget is clear and effectively supports the proposal. (10 points)
Includes a complete itemization of expenses, including shipping
Reflects expenditures that directly support the proposed activities.
Establishes a base for continued activities that will not require future foundation funding.
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Grant Guidelines
Innovatively Developed Educational Activity
All forms can be found on SEF's website (https://www.sef4education.org/) under Grant Opportunities.
Please download this fillable PDF on your computer before entering information. Save your file often as you
complete the application.
A complete application packet must be submitted electronically to Angie Sullivan at
aksullivan@spotsylvania.k12.va.us by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 17, 2021. No hard copy applications
will be accepted. Application materials maybe be scanned and submitted as one document or separate
documents can be attached and submitted in the same email.
The information collected in the application will help the selection committee award grant money to the
projects that most closely meet the foundation's selection criteria. Proposals should be succinct and clear of
spelling and grammatical errors. Applicants may find it helpful to create the narrative responses in a word
processor such as MS Word, and then cut and paste into application form.
IDEA Grant Application packets due by 5:00 p.m. on September 17, 2021 must include the following.
1. Instruction page with completed checklist
2. Completed Application Cover Sheet
3. Brief Summary of the Project
4. Project Detail Narratives
5. Budget Form
6. Primary Applicant Certification
7. School Administration Certification
A SCPS Grant Approval Form with both applicant and school principal/department supervisor signatures
along with a copy of entire grant application packet must be sent to rdaniels@spotsylvania.k12.va.us by
September 22, 2021.
Any questions regarding the grant writing process can be sent to Angie Sullivan at
aksullivan@spotsylvania.k12.va.us.
Section 1: Application Instructions
IDEA Grants
Application
2021-22
Application Packet Checklist (all components must be checked): Use the following to ensure all
components are included in application packet due to aksullivan@spotsylvania.k12.va.us by
5:00 p.m. on September 17, 2021.
All IDEA Grant Application Sections 1 through 6 are complete.
School Administration Certification is attached.
I agree to send SCPS Grant Approval form with appropriate signatures and a copy of the
complete application packet to rdaniels@spotsylvania.k12.va.us by September 22, 2021.
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Job Title:
Grade Level:
Phone #:
If the project has more than 3 project leaders/organizers/participants, please list names here:
Additional Project Leaders/Organizers/Participants Name
School/Dept.:
Email:
Name:
Job Title:
Grade Level:
Job Title:
Grade Level:
Phone #:
Education Level
Early Childhood School
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Other:
Please select all that apply:
Grant Category
Business (Marketing, Finance)
Career & Tech
Early Childhood (Pre-K, Head Start)
Fine Arts (Music, Art, Drama)
Foreign Language
Health/Sports/P.E.
Language Arts
Special Needs
Social Studies
Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
Other:
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Name:
School/Dept.:
Email:
Section 2: Cover Sheet
Name:
Phone #:
School/Dept.:
Email:
Title of Project:
Total amount of funding requested:
Primary Applicant (SCPS Project leader/organizer) Information
2. How does the proposed project actively engage students? (is it truly student-centered?)
Section 3: Project Description
Provide a brief summary of the proposed project (average 100-150 words with a maximum
character limit of 1,000). This description (or an edited version) will be used in SEF publications to
include but not limited to the SEF website, social media, newsletters and emails.
Section 4: Project Detail Narratives
Please answer all questions in bold type. Questions in parentheses are meant to help clarify the
bold questions. You may find it helpful to create your narrative in a word processor such as MS Word, and then cut
and paste into this section. All responses have a character limit of a 1,000.
1. How is the project an innovative approach to motivate students? (Will the activity stimulate students on your
grade level, is your idea a new approach to learning, have you developed your own material(s)? If this activity has
been previously funded, what new ideas will be implement or how will your project grow?)
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4. How will this project be an avenue for student creative expression and/or foster a love of learning?
5. List the specific Standards of Learning (number and text) and/or reference other school division goals
the project will address. (SOL, AYP, School Division Strategic Plan, etc.)
3. How many students are projected to be served by your project during the 2021-22 school year?
Please provide a whole number (not a range).
3.a. How will you measure the improvement in skills and/or attitudes as a result of the project?
(Examples include pre and post assessments, changes in discipline or attendance, and student journals.)
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6. What unique or underserved need is targeted by this project?
8. What aspects of the project can effectively and inexpensively be adapted for use by other educators?
7. Provide a brief timeline of activities.
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9. Explain how the project will be a collaborative effort? (Across disciplines and/or between school
administrations, teachers (other employees), students, parents and/or community, etc.)
10. Provide a written description of costs for the proposed project. (How do costs support proposed
activities? If applicable, include information on matching funds or funds from other sources.)
10.a. Does the project require addtional funding to implement in future years? If so, what funding avenues
will you investigate?
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Item Description
Reusable
Quantity
Itemized
Cost
Total Cost
Use this row for estimated shipping and
handling charges, if applicable.
Total Request:
Section 5: Proposed Budget
Please be as detailed as possible. Only include your request from this grant. Requests exceeding $2,000
will not be considered. Columns in red will automatically calculate.
(Do not attach purchase orders or order forms.)
Requests exceeding $2,000 will not be considered. Funds $50 or over not spent by May 27, 2022 must
be returned to SEF.
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Terms and Conditions:
Grants are not intended to replace
school division's funding.
Spotsylvania County Public School employees cannot be financially compensated with grant funds.
Equipment, including technology equipment/software:
Equipment and/or materials (non-consumable items) purchased with grant proceeds become
property of the school system and will be designated for use by the grant recipient.
Proposed purchase of electronic and/or information technology equipment must be approved
by Spotsylvania County Public Schools.
Ownership of these items will remain with the school when the applicant leaves the division.
Equipment and/or materials bought through grant funding which are not used in line with the
written proposal and/or school division policies may be reassigned.
A follow-up summary highlighting the accomplishments of the project, including anecdotes and
photographs of children (with parental photo releases) participating in this activity, will be required
from the awarded grant recipients. This summary is due within 30 days of project’s completion.
Summaries of year long projects must be submitted by June 3, 2022, at the latest. Failure to submit a
completed summary could jeopardize future funding through the IDEA Grant process. Contact Angie
Sullivan at aksullivan@spotsylvania.k12.va.us for Grant Summary Forms.
Documentation of grant funded expenses must be submitted with the Grants Summary Form (e.g.,
receipts). This should include a description of each expense, the amount expended on each item, and
the amount and source of any matching funds.
You may be asked to present your IDEA Grant at the 2022 Excellence in Education event.
Spotsylvania Education Foundation must be recognized on any publication and or
announcements related to funded proposals. This requirement is necessary to ensure continued
growth of SEF through public awareness and public support.
Funds $50 or over not spent by May 27, 2022 must be returned to the Foundation.
If you have received prior funding through an IDEA Grant for this project/proposal, future funding will
depend upon evidence of continued growth, innovation and efforts to seek other sources of funding.
Please check box and type in your name and date below to certify that you agree to
the terms and conditions as stated and that all information entered into this
application is correct.
Primary Applicant Name:
Date:
Section 6: Primary Applicant Certification
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A complete application packet must be submitted electronically to Angie Sullivan at aksullivan@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 17, 2021.
A SCPS Grant Approval Form with both applicant and school principal/department supervisor signatures along with
a copy of entire grant application packet must be sent to rdaniels@spotsylvania.k12.va.us by September 22, 2021.
Note: Don't forget to complete
checklist on the Application Instructions page before submittin
g.
Any questions regarding the grant writing process can be sent to Angie Sullivan at aksullivan@spotsylvania.k12.va.us.