What is the Shakopee Educational Endowment Foundation’s Teacher Grant Program?
Each year, Shakopee teachers and staff submit grant requests for enrichment projects that align with the Foundation’s mission “to preserve and enhance the quality of education in the Shakopee School District by funding projects that provide innovative learning opportunities for our students.” SEEF grants make creative ideas a reality and enhance student learning across all schools and curriculum areas.
Who is eligible to apply?
Individuals or groups applying to receive grant funding must be SPS teachers or staff members or work in partnership with a staff member (e.g., student-led projects). Applicants may apply individually or as a group (e.g., grade/age level, department, or school).
How do I apply?
Review Grant Guidelines & Criteria to ensure your project idea complies with Foundation requirements. It is also helpful to review your idea with your principal or supervisor. Complete the grant application Google form by answering all the questions, listing or attaching a specific budget, and agreeing to the grant proposal submission requirements. Submit by the application deadline. Proposals for technology-based projects must be submitted at least one week before the application deadline to allow time for possible revisions. A technology-based project is anything that can be plugged in and interact with the building network, hardware, or software.
Are there certain types of expenses SEEF won’t approve?
Yes, non-permissible expenses include transportation for students or staff, childcare expenses, classroom furniture and furnishings (i.e., rugs and pillows), food or beverages, prizes and incentives, and classroom amplification equipment. Grant funds cannot be used for professional development opportunities and substitute teachers. (Compensation for professionals such as artists-in-residence is permitted.) Grant projects exceeding the $2500 limit without a prior request for special consideration and projects requiring the Foundation’s ongoing funding to be successful are not eligible for funding.
When I include budget figures on the application, should I ask for the project’s minimum or maximum cost amount?
It is essential to ask for what you need for your project to succeed. The application specifies that your budget items be listed in order of priority. If you indicate that partial funding is acceptable, your prioritized list will be used to determine which items in your project will be funded.
Is there someone I can contact to vet my idea?
If you want to discuss your idea before completing the application, you may contact the following:
SEEF Board of Directors: ShakopeeEdFoundation@gmail.com
Paulette Rislund: 952-564-7689, mprislund@comcast.net
Kathy Busch: 952-451-2513, kathypbusch@comcast.net
What is the process for deciding “yes” or “no” on a grant application?
SEEF board members review grant proposals individually using the Foundation’s Grant Review Scoring Rubric to help reviewers stay consistent, minimize personal bias, and provide a valuable reference for everyone involved. The board looks for three elements in its evaluation: innovation, educational need, and student impact. Proposals rich in all three are most likely to be considered for funding. If questions arise following review, the applicant or appropriate administrator is contacted for clarification.
The board meets as a group to discuss rankings based on the rubric, find out further details about proposed projects, eliminate proposals that do not meet SEEF requirements, and discuss the merits of applications. Determinations are made about funding projects based on the current year’s budget.
Do you have any special advice for grant applicants?
- Some application questions require more thought and longer answers. Consider writing your responses to those questions in a separate file and then pasting them in the Google form when you are ready to complete the full application. (Use the SEEF Grant Application Overview to choose which questions to complete in advance.)
- The summary statement of the application should reflect a final product SEEF can use in promotional communications.
- SEEF has funded many projects using plastic totes over the years. If your project needs bins of any kind, please check with your administration before including totes in your budget to see if there are any in storage at your school.
- To get a sense of what the board is likely to fund, browse through the list of grants we have supported found on our website.
If my grant is approved, how do I access funds?
You will receive a notification via email, followed by a detailed letter with instructions for executing your grant. You must work through your building’s administrative assistant using district purchasing and SEEF grant reimbursement procedures. SEEF writes one check to the school district to cover all invoices for all the grants we approve. We do not pay any grants individually.
When are decisions announced?
Grant awards will be announced by November 1st.
What happens to grant equipment and materials purchased with SEEF funds?
Materials or equipment purchased as part of a grant become the property of the school and the district, not the individual receiving the grant. SEEF can provide labels upon request that say, “Funding provided by Shakopee Educational Endowment Foundation.”
How can I promote my grant award on Facebook?
If you communicate and post pictures about your SEEF grant on a personal or school Facebook page, please tag SEEF’s Facebook page (Shakopee Educational Endowment Foundation) to help us better promote your grant and the work that SEEF does. Please follow our page on Facebook for information and important dates about the Foundation.