SEF Application Process

SEF offers two grant cycles each year. For the fall, applicants must submit proposals no later than October 15th; SEF will notify applicants of its decisions by mid-December. Spring program proposals must be submitted by March 15th; notification will be made by the end of May. Once approved, funds are available through the Board of Education. Proposals may be submitted at any time and will be considered during the next funding cycle. Any proposals received after a deadline will be held for the next cycle.

Grant Application General Guidelines
Grant Application Process
General Application Questions

Grant Application General Guidelines

What types of grants are available?

SEF offers two types of grants – Express Grants (for grants under $500) and Regular Grants (for all other grants). In preparing their requests, applicants should review SEF’s major funding areas and funding guidelines (listed below), as well as the Summit Board of Education’s goals. Completed proposals should be emailed to sefnj@verizon.net and must be sent by the deadline date. Any addendum to an application that cannot be emailed can be mailed to SUMMIT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, P. O. Box 268, Summit, New Jersey 07902-0268.

Please select the type of grant for which you would like to apply.

Express Grant Application
($500 or less)

Regular Grant Application
(more than $500)

Technology Addendum

Grant Progress Report

Who may apply for a grant?

Grant proposals are welcome from any Summit Public School staff. Grants are also welcome from parents, Summit organizations or town residents who are working with a Summit Public School faculty member. SEF has awarded grants to teachers, administrators, specialists, curriculum supervisors, counselors, Summit organizations, parents and town residents. SEF also encourages collaboration across schools, grades and departments.

What are SEF’s Funding Areas?

SEF seeks to promote academic excellence and achievement in the Summit Public Schools. SEF currently welcomes grant applications that work with the Summit Board of Education’s goals and are in the following four broad areas.

1. Communication Skills. These projects develop students’ skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening. They also provide experiences in the performing and fine arts as well as in art appreciation.

2. Critical Thinking Skills. These projects are intended to sharpen students’ thinking skills in all areas of the curriculum. Projects enhance students’ abilities to evaluate, plan, organize, analyze and solve problems.

3. Teaching and Learning Methods and Skills. These projects seek to foster professional growth and development for all staff members, as well as to attract and maintain a staff of the highest caliber for the Summit Public Schools. Projects may include in-service training, workshops, courses and consultations to promote excellence in teaching and educational research. Projects may also develop key learner attitudes—motivation, discovery and creativity—for both staff and students.

4. Performance Improvement and College Preparatory Enhancement. These projects are designed to enhance students ability to maximize their potential and would include courses and incentives for students as well as staff training and consultations.

What will be funded?

SEF welcomes innovative proposals. Small-scale projects with the potential to be expanded to other schools and/or grade levels will be considered as carefully as larger ones.

1. Projects should enhance the academic program, guidance and counseling function, and/or the curriculum or staff development of the Summit Public Schools.

2. Projects should enrich—not duplicate or replace—the current curriculum and educational structure of the Summit Public Schools. For SEF to consider funding a project dropped by the Board of Education, the applicant must have rethought, updated and/or revamped it.

3. Projects should reflect the goals of the Summit Board of Education and must have the support of a building supervisor and appropriate curriculum personnel.

4. Projects should be in areas where it is possible to determine and judge the results by some measure of quality.

5. Projects should be developmental in nature (for example, a pilot for a future program.) It is the hope that successful projects will find permanent funding from the Board of Education or other sources.

6. Grants may be made for new or experimental methods of teaching and learning.

What will not be funded?

SEF will not fund grants without the approval of the Summit Board of Education.

SEF will not fund teacher grants that replace or relieve existing responsibility for public funding of school programs, nor are they intended to substitute for normal budget growth and maintenance.

SEF will not finance equipment unless it is necessary to a particular program. The program must be fully described in the application.

SEF will not give more than the amount the Board of Education pays for curriculum development, when requests are made for a stipend for a teacher’s and/or parent’s time.

SEF will not pay for substitute teachers.

SEF will not grant funds for food, i.e., catering, meals, etc.

SEF will not grant funds for consumable items, i.e., standard classroom supplies, etc.

SEF will not grant funds for teacher’s travel or education unless the Board of Education would traditionally pay for these expenses.

SEF will not grant funds for non-specific expenses. Budgets must be clearly defined and items listed.

Grants will not be automatically renewed, but must be resubmitted and competitively reviewed each grant period. If a grantee reapplies for a project that SEF already funded, he/she must include a completed SEF evaluation.

Grant Application Process

All applications must have the support of a Summit Public School principal or adminstrator. Technology-related applications must also have the support of the District's Technology Supervisor. Applicants should first discuss proposals with their building and/or curriculum supervisors. (Members of the community should work directly with a member of the Summit Public School faculty.)
Applicants must complete either the Express Application (for grants under $500) or the Regular Application. Format guidelines for each of these applications are attached.
An SEF liaison is assigned to each school. They are available to assist with any aspect of the grants process. (See list of current liaisons on the previous page.)
Applications must be signed by a supervisor before being submitted.All technology-related proposals must also be signed by the District's Technology Supervisor. Completed applications should be emailed to sefnj@verizon.net and must be sent by the deadline date. Any addendum to an application that cannot be emailed can be mailed to SUMMIT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, P. O. Box 268, Summit, New Jersey 07902-0268.
Applications will be reviewed by the SEF Grants Committee, and a member of the committee, a “link,” will be assigned to the grant.
After reviewing the grant, the assigned link may contact the applicant for additional information regarding the grant application.
The SEF Grants Committee and then the SEF Board will review all the grants. SEF makes awards based on the merits of each application and the ability of SEF to fund the grants presented. (The SEF Board will set a limit on the funds to be granted based on the total amount SEF has available. The Grants Committee will then prioritize the grants for that period and, keeping within the funding limit, will determine which grants to recommend for funding.)
SEF will present the awarded grants for approval to the Summit Board of Education.
Applicants will be notified in writing of the funding decisions. Grant recipients will receive detailed instructions for accessing funds through the Summit Board of Education at that time. Once a grant is awarded, the total amount of the grant can not be changed.
All purchased materials, equipment and supplies will be the property of the Summit Board of Education.
Grant recipients are asked to include the following statement when publicizing or implementing a grant. “This project is funded by a grant from the Summit Educational Foundation.” Recipients are also asked to apply “funded by SEF” stickers wherever appropriate. SEF will provide these stickers.
Grant recipients will be required to provide SEF with an evaluation of the project no later than one month after completion of the grant. Grant recipients are also requested to discuss the grant with other relevant staff members in the district.
Funds are available for eighteen months from the date of approval. Grant recipients must submit a written request for extension of the eighteen month period to the SEF Grants Committee Chair.

General Application Questions

What is the format of a grant proposal?

The format of the grant proposal is an application form. All the points should be clearly addressed on the completed form. SEF requests that applications be for specific and developed programs. For example, list specific materials and outline lesson plans relating to these materials.

What are tips for writing a good grant proposal?

Thoroughly develop your project, ensuring that it enhances the current Summit Public School curriculum. Proposals should include specific and detailed workplans/lessons.

Discuss your proposal idea with your principal and/or curriculum supervisor before beginning the application process. If your project is technology related, discuss the idea with the District's Technology Supervisor before proceeding.

Obtain support from all teachers and staff who will be involved in your grant. You might ask them to write a letter of support for your grant application.

It is strongly advised that members of the community submitting grants work directly with a Summit Public School faculty member. In these cases, the applicants should be the community member and the faculty member.

Explain how your proposal introduces an innovative approach to the curriculum and/or exemplifies excellence in teaching. Be sure to include a rationale or need for the grant.

Contact your school’s liaison to discuss the feasibility of an idea for a grant several weeks before the deadline. Your liaison can help you further develop your idea.

When developing your budget, make sure it is detailed and comprehensive. This is one of the most important elements of your grant application. The budget should include specific information about how SEF’s funds will be used. This means there must be detail on all expected expenditures (for example the cost of materials and/or supplies including shipping and handling). Please note that once a grant is awarded, the amount can not be increased to incorporate other items (such as storage, shipping…). Any other funding that may be available for the grant or part of the grant should be listed.

Attach brochures, flyers, resumes of potential speakers, and any other descriptive materials that relate to your grant.

When are applications due?

Grant applications must be received via email by the deadline. The deadline for the fall cycle is October 15th. The deadline for the spring cycle is March 15th. Any applications received after the deadline will be held for the next grant cycle. Please send completed grant applications to:
sefnj@verizon.net by the deadline date. Any addendum to an application that cannot be emailed can be mailed to SUMMIT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, P. O. Box 268, Summit, New Jersey 07902-0268.