FOUNDATION FUNDING GUIDELINES

  • The Grant Program of the Avon Education Foundation (“Foundation”) operates on an annual basis with grants awarded each May.  However, in its inaugural year, the Foundation shall offer up to six mini grants to be awarded in January.  The Foundation shall adopt a standard application form and a standard project evaluation procedure that shall be reviewed annually.
  • The Foundation shall have a Grant Review Committee that consists of at least two members of the Board of Directors.  The committee will not include any individual employed by the Avon Public Schools, Avon municipal departments, or an elected or appointed town official.
  • The Grant Review Committee shall maintain the anonymity of all grant applications to ensure fairness and alleviate potential bias.
  • The primary criterion for dispensing grants shall be high-quality educational content and the impact on students and/or community members. The project must promote advancement of skills or knowledge and add depth to the curriculum.
  • The Foundation shall fund only those projects that augment and enrich the curriculum, and do not supplant programs traditionally funded by district, state or federal budgets.
  • The Foundation shall not fund books, supplies, honoraria, equipment, professional development, etc., as isolated items unless these items are essential to the project.
  • The Foundation shall give preference to projects which will benefit the largest number of individuals.
  • The Foundation encourages collaboration among grades, disciplines, schools and/or the community.
  • The Foundation shall not typically fund local transportation costs, compensation for substitute teachers, and salaries or stipends for additional staffing as part of an approved project.
  • The Foundation shall not fund any project which it determines in its discretion does not meet the letter as well as the spirit of its guidelines.
  • Qualified educators and grant applicants include teachers, administrators and other school professionals in the Avon Public Schools and other educational providers from municipal departments.
  • A qualified educator, named the Project Director, must be involved in all stages from planning through evaluation.
  • The Project Director must complete and return an Evaluation Report at the conclusion of the project.
  • Projects should coincide with the goals and curriculum objectives of the Avon Public Schools and/or the mission of the Avon Town Council, or educational values of the community.
  • Projects should demonstrate sustainability, where applicable.
  • The project must have clear and well-defined goals and its educational value must be clearly delineated.
  • The grant application must include the project’s implementation timetable and a detailed budget.
  • The building principal of the applicant’s school or the department head of the corresponding municipal department must approve all grant proposals.  Other grant proposals will require the approval of the Superintendent of Schools and/or Town Manager.  All applications which include hardware and/or software acquisitions will require the approval of the APS Network Administrator for compatibility and sustainability assurance. When applicable, Program and Directed Grants may also require the approval of the Board of Education and/or Town Council.
  • Grant recipients must agree to acknowledge the support of the Avon Education Foundation in any printed material or presentations.
  • The Foundation’s Executive Committee must approve all amendments to the original grant project and/or budget.
  • If for any reason a grant recipient is unable to administer the approved project, the grant recipient will return all allocated funds to the Foundation.  The grant recipient may reapply during the next grant period.
  • Funding for a project may include a partnership with other organizations such as PTOs, civic organizations, corporations, etc.