WEST BLOOMFIELD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INNOVATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY, ACADEMIC TOOLS AND ART PROGRAMS

     2025-2026

The purpose of the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation Grant Program is to provide staff with a source of funding to assist them in planning, developing and implementing the Portrait of a Graduate’s Four Cs—Collaborator, Communicator, Contributor, and Critical Thinker-using innovative technology, academic tools, art programs, and other projects for which funds are not available through WBSD. A committee comprised of foundation members and administrators will award grants to the projects that best meet the following major criteria:

Eligibility Requirements

1. Grant applications must be submitted electronically. The proposal shall be a maximum of  three pages plus a detailed budget and cover Sheet.   Deadline is Monday, October 13, 2025 at 3 p.m.  Late applications will not be accepted. 

2. The budget must include all expenses for the project. Applicants will be   responsible for indicating which items will be funded by the grant, and which items will be covered by other funding sources. It is the responsibility of the applicant to identify additional expenses, such as professional development, curriculum stipends, sub costs, etc. The applicant must have his/her principal or central office administrator approve the budget prior to submitting the grant application.
3.   Each applicant must submit one application which includes the grant application form, grant proposal narrative, rubric and budget.  (See forms below)
4.   All sections in the grant application must be complete.
5. The proposed project must be related directly to the WBSD Portrait of a Graduate’s Four Cs—Collaborator, Communicator, Contributor, and Critical Thinker
6.   WBEF will not fund purchases made prior to the approval of the grant.
7. Funding requests for capital improvement projects or expenses considered WBSD/PTO responsibilities cannot be funded.  Some examples of items that will not be funded are: online licenses/subscriptions (RAZ Kids, IXL, etc.) classroom furniture (flexible seating, specialty items), and core instruction resources (textbooks, consumables, teacher materials). Food will not be funded. 
8.   Failure to submit a written evaluation recap (photos and 2-3 sentences) by June 1, 2026 will result in the omission of the recipient from future grant consideration.
9.   Proposals will be accepted from all WBSD teachers, staff and administrators. While not a requirement for submission, projects featuring collaborative efforts among teachers, classrooms and schools are highly encouraged.
10.   Grant proposals will be denied if all eligibility requirements are not met.

  
Proposal Criteria

The grant proposal committee will meet to review the proposals and provide a ranking of the grants addressing the criteria listed in the rubric including, but not limited to, the following:

1. A concise statement of the purpose of the proposal.
2. A demonstration of the importance of the project, its direct or indirect impact on student needs,  innovation and /or creativity, alignment with the WBSD Portrait of a Graduate’s Four Cs—Collaborator, Communicator, Contributor, and Critical Thinker and/or school building improvement goals.
3. A statement regarding the number of students impacted, including the number of  students with specialized needs that will benefit from the project.
4.   A plan of operation, including schedules for purchasing, implementation and evaluation.
5.   A description of the collaborative nature of the project.
6.   An explicit, detailed, accurate line-item budget that includes all expenses for the project.
7.     An evaluation plan with clearly defined and concise objectives.
8.   If applicable, an indication that efforts have been made to obtain supplemental funding.

Consideration WILL NOT normally be given to projects which:

1. Are capital improvement projects or expenses considered WBSD/PTO responsibilities. Some examples of this are online licenses (Raz Kids, IXL, etc), classroom furniture (flexible seating, specialty items) and core instruction resources (textbooks, consumables, teacher materials).
2. Include primary expenditures for travel, equipment or a salaried position (this does not include guest teacher) unless those expenditures are just one component of a broader project which meets funding criteria. Any equipment or materials purchased with WBEF grant monies remain the property of West Bloomfield School District with priority use given to the grant writer/recipient.
3. Are not academically related; i.e. clothing for performing groups, athletic equipment, food, bus transportation.
4. Are political in nature.

 Post-Grant Reporting

1.     All evaluation reports must be submitted to WBEF prior to June 1, 2025. Failure  to submit a written evaluation will result in the omission of the recipient from future WBEF grant consideration.
2.     Funds not expended on activities specified in the grant must be returned to the foundation prior to June 1, 2025.
3.   WBEF will work with the WBSD to review documentation regarding the distribution of grant funds.
4.     If a grant winner changes schools or leaves the district before the grant is fulfilled, WBEF must be notified immediately to determine the disposition of the grant. Items purchased will remain the property of WBSD. 

Please use the Application Guidelines Proposal Rubric for 2025-2026 for the specific criteria that will be used to evaluate grant applications.   

The members of the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation Board wish to express their sincere appreciation to those who apply for grants. A well-written grant is a powerful tool in persuading businesses, foundations and corporate leaders to support our schools. We shall be ever vigilant in our efforts to fulfill our mission:   To educate students to be their best IN and FOR the world.

West Bloomfield School District Educational Foundation

5810 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48324

(248) 865-6454   www.wbef.org

 Questions contact: Andrea.frank@wbsd.org