PURPOSE
The Educare Foundation is a non-profit organization, founded in 1995, which provides financial
support to the Mankato Area Public Schools which goes beyond the normal operating budget to fund
programs and activities that enhance educational opportunities for all students, encourage teachers
to explore new ways of learning and provide a vital link between the community and the classroom.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Individuals or teams of individuals employed by Mankato Area Public School District 77 who are
involved in the instruction of students, K-12, are eligible.
ELIGIBLE PROPOSALS
Instructional approaches or projects that meet the selection criteria.
DUE DATE
Visit Educare website at www.educarefoundation.org for deadline details. Supporting materials are
due in the Educare Foundation Office on or before the deadline. There are no exceptions. Late
applications will not be considered. Grant applications must include required signature
SELECTION CRITERIA
Grants will be awarded depending on the degree to which the proposal:
- Addresses important target areas. Target areas are defined as core subject tutoring,
technology aided learning, world language competency and high expectation learning
programs. - Encourages and develops 21st Century Skills. Twenty-first century skills represent the
necessary student outcomes for the 21st century, that is, students need to obtain Learning
and Innovation Skills (creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, etc.),
Information, Media and Technology Skills, Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes (global
awareness, financial literacy, etc.), and Life and Career Skills (initiative and self-direction,
among others). - Represents a creative or innovative approach to the accomplishment of objectives. (It should
address a new project as opposed to one accomplished or under way, or one being repeated
from a previous year.) - Is collaborative. This can be across classroom, grades and/or schools.
www.educarefoundation.org Ver. 9/18 - Is clear and logical, including: (a) objectives; (b) description of instructional procedures and
methods; (c) sound evaluation procedures incorporated in the proposal; (d) an itemized
budget - Is replicable and has the ability to be self-sustaining.
- Will affect ongoing curriculum improvement.
SELECTION PROCESS
- Electronic versions of the application and guideline files are available for download at
www.educarefoundation.org. Printed copies of the application and guidelines may be obtained
by request from the school principal offices or at the Foundation Office: 10 Civic Center Plaza,
Suite 2, Mankato, MN 56001. - Signed applications must be received at the Foundation Office no later than the posted deadline
on the application and our website. Your grant request will not be considered if the application is
not signed properly. - Applications will be reviewed by the Educare Grant Application Review Committee comprised of
Educare Foundation directors, campus administrators representing elementary, middle and/or
the high schools and a member of the School Board. - Each grant application submitted will be evaluated by the committee using a grant evaluation
form. The committee will: decline, approve with modified funding or approve with full funding. - The Grant Review Committee will forward its recommendations to the Educare Foundation
Board of Directors for approval - Following approval by the Educare Foundation Board, approved grants are presented to the
Mankato Area Public Schools’ Board for formal acceptance. - Applicants will be notified of decisions, officially, the second week of May.
- Grant Application Review Committee members may conduct site visits during project
implementation to observe progress.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF GRANT RECIPIENTS
Grant recipients are responsible to:
- Prepare a completion report as required by the Foundation Board, including a final report of
expenses and an evaluation of actual versus planned outcomes. This information is helpful
with future grant evaluations. A request for this information will be made of you in late
September with an early November deadline. - Use grant awards for purposes specified in the grant applications.
- Awards must be used within two years of award notification. Any unused or excess grant
funds after two years will be expired and return to Educare.
www.educarefoundation.org Ver. 9/18
HELPFUL HINTS FOR WRITING GRANT PROPOSALS
- It is strongly recommended that you consult the district technology department, before submitting
your request if you are seeking funds for technology-aided learning or devices. - Proposals should directly involve students as fully as possible.
- Grants may be used to compensate experts who come to work with students, but usually not to
pay teachers or staff. - Funds can be used to purchase equipment or to provide field trip transportation, but should be
integrated with curriculum materials and activities to make a complete project. - Proposals that incorporate matching funds or community resources will be looked on favorably.
(Students or PTA groups might raise matching funds, for example. Community organizations may
donate needed equipment, services or free admission to events.) Such contributions are a sign
of commitment to the project and will multiply the effectiveness of the grant award. - Encourage interdisciplinary or team teaching projects or those that involve various age groups.
These often have greater impact than single-classroom efforts, fill needs unmet in the regular
curriculum and encourage more grant applications in the future. - Good ideas can be lost through poorly written proposals. Be specific in expressing your ideas and
ask others to critique your proposal prior to sending the information to the review committee. - There are excellent web sites with tips for writing winning grant proposals.
Educare Initiative Grant Application
If you have any questions, contact the Educare Grants Committee at grants@educarefoundation.org
or call the District Office at 507-387-1868.