The Bedford Education Foundation funds innovative ideas and initiatives that enhance learning and enrich educational experiences across Bedford Public Schools.
1. Grant Criteria
The Bedford Education Foundation grants support ideas that introduce new approaches, expand or enhance existing practices, use alternative methods to meet curriculum framework requirements, or leverage technology to improve learning.
The Bedford Education Foundation also provides opportunities for educators to pilot equipment, programs, and technology not currently used in Bedford Public Schools. If a pilot is successful, future funding for ongoing use should be requested through the Bedford School Department.
What Makes a Strong Proposal?
Your proposal should:
- Be innovative and creative and reflect the Bedford Education Foundation mission.
- Define clear goals, activities, and outcomes with a way to evaluate the project’s success.
- Be educator-initiated by a teacher or administrator.
- Include a clear budget and use district-approved vendors. IKEA and Walmart are not approved vendors; building secretaries can help identify approved vendors.
- Be sustainable, with a strong likelihood of continuing without additional Bedford Education Foundation funding.
- Align with school priorities, including school improvement plans and the Superintendent’s goals. Support from the Director of Curriculum and Instruction is required.
- Include technology approval, when applicable. Proposals involving technology equipment must be submitted to the Systems Administrator at least 10 days before the grant deadline to confirm compatibility with Bedford Public Schools’ technology
Our Grant Committee will consider the overall strength of each proposal. Proposals that positively impact larger portions of school population may be given priority. In addition, we try to ensure an equitable distribution of grants among the four schools.
What Can Be Funded:
Eligible expenses may include:
- Training related to implementation of the proposal
- Consultants’ fees
- Equipment, supplies, and materials required to implement the proposal
What Cannot Be Funded:
The Bedford Education Foundation does not fund:
- Items that the BEF has previously funded, unless the grant proposal clearly explains how the initiative is significantly different than the previously-funded project or addresses a different audience or age group.
- Travel will not be funded.
- Proposals for items that are typically funded within the school budge
- Salaried positions
- Basic school curriculum development
- Refreshments
- Decorations
- Projects more appropriately funded elsewhere (e.g. PTO or Athletic Association)
- Furniture
2. Grant Recipient Obligations
Grant recipients are responsible for the following:
- Follow Bedford schools’ purchasing procedures and complete all grant-funded purchases prior to June 1 of the current school year.
- Submit a list of all co-sponsors to the Bedford Education Foundation.
- Assist the Bedford Education Foundation in publicizing their projects to parents and teachers by including the following statement when issuing statements and/or press releases describing the project, and when presenting the result of the grant in any public forum: “This project is made possible (in whole or in part) by a grant from the Bedford Education Foundation.”
- Provide information to the Bedford Education Foundation on grant implementation and its outcome, including a digital picture of the project or its use in the classroom. You will receive The Final Project Report for your completion in the spring. Please note that this follow-up report must be completed in order for you to be considered for a new grant in any future Bedford Education Foundation grant cycle.
Ready to Apply?
Please complete and submit the Bedford Education Grant Application. Email your application as an attachment to grants@bedfordeducation.org.
