PREPARING
TO APPLY

You have an innovative idea that you want to bring to life with grant funding?  Now what?

Start with the Questions

Is there a need or an opportunity that your idea addresses?  What information can you provide that shows there is a need for this project?

Who will be impacted by your program?  Students? Staff? Families? Community members? All of the above?  How will they be identified?  How will you continue to engage them if you receive funding?

What are your planned activities during implementation?

What potential challenges do you anticipate, and how do you plan to address and manage these?

What are your overall goals and objectives of this project? 

Why will this project succeed, and what makes it innovative? How might it serve as a model for other schools or departments?  

How does it support the mission of the Aps Education Foundation?

How will you evaluate the success of the project, and what tools will you use to gather data?

Who will your support team include?  The people who are going to support you, even in small ways.   

Make sure that your principal or department director approves and is ready to support you and your team if awarded.  You should discuss your idea and how it can help your school or department reach its goals.  Also, review what you have so far and discuss if other members of the staff can help and how they can support the grant, too. 

Don’t be afraid of the budget.  Be realistic and remember that it is not set in stone.

We realize that things change, and if awarded, we will always work with you on budget adjustments if necessary.

Finalize your grant application.  Ask someone from outside APS and even outside of the field of education to read your grant before you submit it.  Have them check for simple typos and grammatical errors, but also ask them if your proposal is clear and understandable!

Resources Page: 

Review the Scoring Rubric.  This will help you understand what our grant reviewers are looking for and can be very helpful as you complete your application.

Thoroughly read the Grant Agreement:  Before you apply, make sure you, your grant Team, your principals or department director and your bookkeeper all understand the Grant Agreement. (Note: If you are a district department and do not have an account for the grant, contact the APS Education Foundation Business Manager at apseffinance@aps.edu, before applying.

Review the Evaluation Form:  Know that this information will be requested from you at the end of your grant.  

Proofread your application:  It is highly recommended that you ask a friend who works outside of education to read your application to ensure it is clear and concise.  Check for grammatical errors.  Ensure that you have removed all wording that identifies your school or site in the narrative sections.

Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help.  Feel free to contact the Foundation at apsgrantwriter@aps.edu with any questions or to ask for advice.  

Review and use the template below before you apply online!   Share this with your principal or department director and your Grant Implementation Team.  

Make a copy by clicking the button below and start sharing and writing!