Once or twice a year the PTO will provide an opportunity for all teachers, staff and students to request funds for items that could make a difference to our school community. The budget for the grant program for 2025-2026 is up to $6,700. There is a limit on each grant request of $750 or less per grant. If you have a funding idea for the PTO that exceeds this limit, please email the PTO board for discussion. The deadline for Spring submissions is April 10, 2026 and all requests must be approved by the school principal before submission.
The Brown PTO Grant program is designed to award funds for projects, programs, and materials that enhance the school curriculum and environment at Brown School that would not otherwise be funded through the traditional school or district budgets.
Any Brown School teacher, staff, student or PTO committee chair may submit an application. A student application must be co-sponsored by a Brown School employee
Late applications will not be considered
If the request is identical or very similar to a previously funded project, prior success and an ongoing need must be demonstrated
For any application that proposes a project or intervention in a curriculum or in the classroom, a letter of support from the principal is required
In order to assess each grant request fairly, the person or persons requesting the grant must present their proposal at the PTO board meeting following the submission deadline
Proposals that include compensation for employee and/or volunteer time, or for meals and/or beverages will not be approved
All grant requests should be for programs, projects or materials that enhance Brown School. Priority will be given to grant applications that:
Have a clear purpose
Address a specific need of the Brown School community
Benefit a large number of Brown School students
Address closing the achievement gap in the Brown School community
Have no other avenue for funding (district, school, corporate, families, etc.)
Are innovative and introduce an initiative not already present in our school
Have matching funds from other sources
Have letters of support for the project
Proposal led by a current student or students
The Grant Application will be submitted to the PTO Board through an online form. Before submitting please receive approval from the school principal to make sure it falls within the St. Joseph Public Schools enrichment measures.
Applications will be reviewed by the PTO Board and then presented to members at the PTO Meeting following the application deadline. This gives members the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to the board.
The Executive Board and one additional non-board member will review all applications by applying the scoring process outlined in the Grant Scoring Rubric. The board has the right to contact applicants with questions or requests for more information during the scoring process.
The board will either grant or deny the application at the next PTO meeting and notify applicant(s) of the same.
Once a grant is approved, grant recipients must submit receipts for reimbursement to the treasurer of the PTO within 30 days. After that date, the unused money will roll into the following year’s funds unless grant recipients submit a special request to the PTO to extend the deadline.
Grant money will only be dispersed for expenses outlined on approved grant applications. If the price increases within the 30 day window please notify the board of the change.
All approved applications will be announced and promoted through PTO publications.
Items purchased with PTO grant money will become the property of Brown School.
To view previous applications and grants awarded, please view the Grants Awarded Page.
Please email any questions to brownelementarysj.pto@gmail.com