Grant Application

Background

The Maranacook Education Foundation fosters innovation and excellence in the Maranacook communities and schools by seeking resources and funding initiatives that will benefit learners of all ages.

In support of this mission, the Foundation has established a grant program to provide financial support to initiatives benefiting learners of all ages. This program is open to schools and community non-profit organizations in the communities of Fayette, Manchester, Mount Vernon, Readfield and Wayne.

Grants of $250-$1000 will be awarded based on the following identified areas of need and interest:

• Projects that augment or enhance existing curricula and virtual learning;

• Projects serving a currently underserved segment of the community;

• Projects that connect school and community or provide collaboration between school and larger community;

• Projects that build the educational infrastructure of the communities;

• Projects that promote the health of the community;

• Projects that break down barriers to education

Eligibility

Schools – Teachers or non-teaching personnel from the schools within RSU #38 and Fayette may submit proposals. Collaborations between teachers/school personnel are encouraged. Though there is no limit on the number of applications that may be submitted from any one school, to ensure that grant dollars are distributed widely, the Foundation will strive to ensure that grants are equally awarded to individual schools within the same grant cycle.

Community organizations – Not-for-profit, tax-exempt, community organizations may submit proposals. Collaborations among community organizations and between community organizations and schools are encouraged. Community organizations may submit multiple applications, but the Foundation will not award more than one grant to any individual organization within the same grant cycle.

Ineligible activities or expenses

• Costs of items normally included in a school or organization’s operating budget

• Continuing education for educators

• Educator salaries

• Existing obligations, or to replenish other resources used to pay for such expenses

• Indirect or overhead expenses

• Grants submitted and awarded in previous years that contain the same activities, outcomes and goals

• Due to safety and health concerns, bean bag chairs, area rugs, pillows and other furniture with cloth or fabric may not be included in your grant proposal.

Selection Criteria

• Project ties clearly to one or more of the six identified areas of Foundation interest

• Project fosters both innovation and excellence

• Project goals are clear and achievable

• Project plan is well thought out including activities, timeline, and involved personnel

• Budget clearly categorizes use of grant funds, and is reasonable

• Sufficient funding is in place for the project to be successful

• Project has potential for longer term impact beyond the grant period, through continuation, expansion or replication in other areas

Review Process

All grant requests will be reviewed by the Grant Review Committee of the Foundation, whose members are made up of representatives from educational, business and civic sectors. The Committee will use a rubric for scoring each proposal against the above-listed objective criteria, and make funding recommendations to the Maranacook Education Foundation Board of Directors. All committee and Board members follow the Foundation’s Conflict of Interest Policy and are excused from discussion and/or vote on a proposal for which he or she has a conflict of interest. Notification will be sent to all applicants following award decisions.

Timeline

• Proposals due: October 25, 2024

• Grant Review completed: November 15, 2024

• MEF Board approves awards: November 22, 2024

• Grant Award notification: December 2, 2024

• Projects may commence: December 3, 2024

• Final Report due: Within two weeks after the close of the project or one year from the award date

  
  

Submission Information

Submissions are due by October 25, 2024  at 5 PM. Please use our online form provided in the above link to submit grant applications. As made clear in the application, grants from school personnel must be approved in advance by their principal or supervisor. We do this to ensure budgetary compliance as well as awareness of any facility or insurance issue that may arise because of the proposal. For community organizations, please email Rick Wilson (r.wilson195510@gmail.com) a copy of your IRS tax determination letter proving 501c(3) status.

Questions?

Please contact Rick Wilson at r.wilson195510@gmail.com or 207-242-0855 with questions about the MEF Grant program.