Grants

Nonprofits Have Until March 20 to Apply for Grant to Deliver Services to Kids

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 03/16/20

Local community nonprofits in the United States that serve children ages 12 and under have been invited to apply for grants this week, specifically to ramp up their work in serving health and nutritional needs and special education support through the current COVID-19 crisis. The program is being funded by the Waldron Charitable Fund, which has committed a million dollars to the effort. The grants can be between $10,000 and $50,000. The funding window is only open until Friday, Mar. 20, at 5 p.m. Eastern time.

According to the organization, applicants must show how they can deliver critical services quickly and to as many underserved children in their local community as possible while still providing social distance in light of the coronavirus.

"Having served schools across the country for many decades, I understand that these institutions provide so much more than academics to the students in their care," said Rob Waldron, who co-heads the organization with his wife, Jennifer Waldron. "I am deeply concerned about the loss of essential services for our nation's underserved children due to school closures, and I hope others will join me in supporting the local organizations doing heroic work to serve students during this challenging time." Waldron is the CEO of Curriculum Associates, an education technology company that produces digital learning materials and adaptive assessments.

To apply for a grant, applicants must e-mail a document no longer than two pages in PDF form to [email protected], addressing the following:

• A brief description of the 501(c)(3) organization;
• What problem it is working to solve;
• How many underserved children will be helped by the efforts;
• How the solution will be distributed while keeping children safe during the COVID-19 crisis; and
• How quickly the service can be provided.

Applications must also include a copy of the organization's most recent Form 990 and annual report, if one exists. A duplicate printed copy needs to be mailed to the attention of Rob Waldron at Curriculum Associates, 153 Rangeway Road, North Billerica, MA 01862.

Because of government procurement rules for K–12 curriculum companies, organizations directly affiliated with a school, such as a parent-teacher organization or local school foundation, are ineligible.