Deadline Looms for $30,000 Academic Enrichment Grants
Applications for the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation's Academic Enrichment Grants are now being accepted, and the deadline is just a month away. The foundation provides grants of $10,000 per year for up to three years ($30,000 total) for educators who have workable ideas for improving student learning, either by supplementing classroom curriculum or by engaging students in after-school activities.
So far, of the 350 available slots for applications, only 76 have been filled. (The submission period ends when when 350 applications are received.)
According to the organization, "The Academic Enrichment Grants provide funding for programs that nurture the intellectual, artistic and creative abilities of children from low-income households." The foundation offered these three guidelines for applicants:
- Applicants should have a unique idea for a project that will "supplement your regular classroom curriculum or after-school activity,"
- Applicants' students should "have ideas for enrichment activities or a need for strengthening their academic experiences"; and
- Applicants should have "facilities, expertise and community endorsement" but be in need of additional funding.
In past years, two to five applicants received grants under the Academic Enrichment program.
Complete details, including a sample application, can be found at mccartheydressman.org/academic-enrichment-grants. (It's worth noting that MDEF also offers Teacher Development grants, which are also funded at $10,000 per year for up to three years.)