| Frequently Asked Questions - Teachers
Who can submit proposals?
District 203 staff can submit proposals. Fund a Grant accepts proposals only from those
who directly serve the district’s students; however, the proposals may be a collaboration
with a community organization.
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What kind of materials can I ask for?
Teachers can propose any resource that is essential to a student—centered experience—everything from a set of books to a curriculum centered field trip.
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What are the Web browser requirements for teachers?
NEF203.org supports modern versions of most popular Web browsers. The site is designed to run on either the Windows or Macintosh platforms with Internet Explorer, version 5 or higher; Netscape, version 4.7 or higher; or AOL, version 5 or higher.
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Is there a $$ limit on my request?
No. Any grant will be accepted no matter how big or small. The higher the price tag, though, the more compelling a proposal needs to be. And the lower the price tag, the more likely a proposal will be funded. Generally the price tag is less than $1000.
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How can I write a good proposal if I'm not experienced at grant writing?
Our online application form presents teachers with an easy-to-complete process. A teacher needs to fully describe the project to take place and what the request is for, but experience with grant writing is completely unnecessary. In fact, Fund a Grant discourages jargon and formulaic writing. Remember that community members will be reading your description only. The answers to the other questions are for internal District 203 use and will not be posted with your grant.
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What is the most common fault found in teachers' proposals?
Occasionally, a teacher will center the proposal body on the materials needed rather than the student activity to take place. For example, a teacher proposing to get a new classroom computer should not focus on the fact that the present one is in disrepair. That proposal should focus first on the student activity that a new computer would make possible. The resources have no worth of themselves-it's how students will use them.
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How does Fund a Grant handle my proposal after I've submitted it?
NEF works directly with District 203 and verifies teachers' identities, confirms existence of the materials requested, and reviews proposals. If there are any uncertainties, staff will e-mail the teacher follow-up questions. After this process is satisfactorily completed, the proposal is listed on the Fund a Grant Web site.
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What happens if my proposal is funded?
Once a grant is fully funded, NEF distributes the funds to the schools so the staff members can purchase the supplies. NEF will also send the teacher addresses for thank you notes to be written to each donor. Thank you letters that incorporate a student piece are most meaningful to many donors, so please try to include something from your students.
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How long will it take for my proposal to be funded?
Proposals could be filled in a week or over the course of a few months. Smaller grants are more likely to be filled quickly than larger ones. Innovative and creative grants may also be more appealing to donors. It is important to make your grant compelling. Proposals will be evaluated by NEF trustees after 12 months. Teachers will be informed of any action taken at that point. Teachers can view their proposals to learn of partial funding on the website.
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How many proposals may I submit in a year?
There are no restrictions on the number of proposals submitted.
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