Mini-Grant

Dear Mini-Grant Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in The West Springfield Partnership for Education Mini-Grants for Educators Program. The West Springfield Partnership for Education is an independent non-profit educational foundation established to focus human and material resources towards improving the quality of education and towards strengthening community support for the West Springfield Schools.

Application Guidelines:

The application deadline is Wednesday,  December 18th, to apply for a mini-grant for the 2023-2024 academic year. The mini-grants are awarded to educators who propose creative and innovative programs that enrich the educational experience. We encourage all West Springfield certified teachers, administrators, and educational specialists employed full or part-time by a West Springfield public, parochial, and private schools, and pre-schools to apply. Paraprofessionals may apply as a co-applicant with a certified teacher. The Mini-Grant Committee will review the applications and notify grant recipients by the end of the school year. Mini-Grants will be awarded to each recipient in the January of 2024. The Mini-Grant recipients have the entire new school year to complete their projects.

Project duration is January 2025-June 2025

Mini-Grant Recipients are encouraged to share photos and/or student work with the West Springfield Partnership at one of our meetings held throughout the school year. Recipients also agree to send a letter to the parents of each student participating in the mini-grant’s activities to explain the project and the source of funding. Mini-grant recipients also agree to the release of information about their project for publication. All mini-grant projects must remain in the public domain.

Information on the Funding/Use of Grant Money:

The Mini-Grants are $300 grants awarded to individual or teams of educators collaborating on a grant project.

Please Note:  Speakers, trips, and transportation cannot be paid for with mini-grant funds.

The Mini-Grant Committee will consider the following in their decision:

• • Creativity and Originality of the project: Does the project reflect an innovative approach? Has this project been funded in the past? Requests to “Re-do” previously funded projects will not be automatically declined, however, the reasons behind the request must be very strong.

  • Support for the Partnership’s Mission:  Will this project improve the quality of the educational experience?

  • Community Connection: Will this project involve the community in a way that will strengthen or encourage support for education?

Any questions, including assistance with the grant application, should be directed to the following Review Committee contact person:

                       Lisa Aubin, Mini-Grant Chairperson email: aubin@wsps.org

Thank you again and good luck.

Sincerely,

The West Springfield Partnership for Education

Mini-Grant Committee