Asheville City Schools Foundation Innovation Grants

Made possible by the generous support of individuals like YOU!

   Overview

The Asheville City Schools Foundation (ACSF) offers Innovation Grants up to $5,000 for excellent projects that will enhance the Asheville City Schools and that address the objectives below.

 

Objectives

  1. Fuel innovation in teaching and bring fresh, relevant experiences to students. Innovation can be a new response to a challenge, or the replication and expansion of a proven model that exists elsewhere. 
  2. Increase student achievement in core academic areas.
  3. Impact students who are struggling the most and enhance their success.  We support a targeted universalist approach, and fund projects that are structured to provide substantial benefits to marginalized groups in ways that benefit education in general and the student population at large. 
  4. Promote cultural or multi-cultural literacy.  We value diverse community voices, and will fund projects that will enhance the capacity of our students to navigate their own culture, and that of our diverse, connected global community.
  5. Reach a large group of students either this year, or in years to come.  We value community investment and are good stewards of the community assets. Projects should be cost-effective and reach many students within the course of a year, or for many years to come.

Additional Considerations

  • Large projects benefit from collaboration.  Proposals that include collaboration among schools, within schools or community agencies naturally increase the resources available to students and will be given priority. 
  • Multiple funders ensure greater buy-in and increase the chances for success. Projects that bring the committed support of school district or parent leaders with matching funding, will be given priority.
  • All projects must have demonstrable results and a clear plan for evaluation.

 

Application Process

In order to apply for an Innovation Grant, applicants first submit a letter of intent which provides a brief introduction of the proposed project.  ACSF will review the letters of intent and invite selected applicants to complete a full application for consideration. 

Application process timeline:

Application Stage

Date

Letter of Intent Application Released

March 26, 2012

Letter of Intent Due

May 7 by 5:00pm

ACSF Notifies Applicants of Invitation to Submit Full Application

May 11

Full Grant Applications Due

June 13 by 5:00pm

Awarded/Notified

June 15, 2012

 

Directions for Applying:

1. Download the letter of intent form here

2. Submit the letter of intent by 5:00pm on May 7, 201

    - Letter of intent must be submitted as an electronic and hardcopy

    - Letter of intent must be completed on the form available for download here

    - Completed applications should be sent to: The Asheville City Schools Foundation, PO Box 3196, 85 Mountain Street, Asheville, NC 28802.  Applications should be mailed, hand delivered or sent by courier to be received by May 7 at    5:00pm.

3. Selected applicants will be notified on May 11 that they have been invited to submit a full application.

4. Selected applicants submit full grant application by 5:00pm on June 13, 2012

 

LETTER OF INTENT FILLABLE FORM (DUE MAY 7): Download Letter of Intent Form 

Grants will be awarded by check made out to the grant recipient’s school.

If you have any questions please email Kate Pett at Kate@ACSF.org.