Mini Grants

OVERVIEW

The Interschool Council (ISC) Mini Grant Program began in the spring of 1992 when two ISC Mini Grants were awarded for the 1992-93 school year. Based on the results of our 30th-year assessment of the program, some changes have recently been made. There will be two application periods for the 2024-25 Mini Grants: one in the spring as was traditional, and another in the fall as will be continued hereafter. The applications will no longer be blinded for review.

The goals of the program remain the same: to support creative and innovative approaches to teaching, and to support the personal and academic development of Lower Merion School District (LMSD) students. All LMSD Home and School Associations (HSAs) generously contribute to the Interschool Council Mini Grant Program annually. For the 2024-25 ISC Mini Grants an additional $2000 has been donated by the Education Foundation of Lower Merion.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMETABLE

 

Fall Applications

 

June 2024 – Fall Invitation to Apply

• The ISC, via LMSD administration, notifies its staff via email about the opportunity to apply for an ISC Mini Grant.
• Application, guidelines and past projects are posted on the ISC page of the LMSD website.
• HSA presidents and ISC representatives are notified that the "Invitation to Apply" has been sent to the LMSD professional staff.

Mid-October, 2024 - Deadline to Submit Fall Applications

• Staff must submit applications on or before this date.  
• Fall Application Form will become available in June.

October 2024 - Fall Application Review and Selection

• All applications are first vetted by the LMSD Administration.
• The Review Committee is comprised of a diverse group of LMSD administrators and parents/guardians.

November 2024 - Grant Awards Are Announced

• All applicants will receive email notification as to the status of their application: fully funded, partially funded, not funded.
• The awardees may begin implementing their grants after they have received their letter and the LMSD Board of Directors has approved the awards.

All Applications

May 30, 2025 – All 2024-25 Mini Grant Feedback Forms Due

• Each mini grant award comes with a commitment to submit a Feedback Form no later than one month after the completion of the funded project and at the latest by May 30th.

June 1, 2025 – All 2024-25 Mini Grant Reimbursement Forms Due

• Reimbursement requests and receipts are to be submitted via this Reimbursement Form.

APPLICATION:

1. The goal of the Interschool Council Mini Grant Program is to support creative and innovative approaches to teaching and to support the personal and academic development of LMSD students.
2. Applications for the 2024-25 Mini Grants will be accepted in the spring (as in previous years) as well as in the fall (new this year). Since both application periods are for the same award year, any particular application can only be submitted once.
3. In an effort to be more equitable in the distribution of funds, priority will be given to proposals from staff or groups who have not been previously awarded an Interschool Council Mini Grant. In future application periods, different suggested themes will be offered.
4. All applications must include a detailed budget not to exceed $1000. General categories with only a dollar amount will not be considered.
   For example, "Books: $250" or "Supplies: $100" does not provide the required level of detail. Instead include a list of specific books or supplies to be purchased.
5. Budget items that are NOT funded:
   • Office equipment
   • General school supplies
   • Document copying
   • Mailing costs
   • Consumable items (e.g., food, beverages and subscriptions)
   • Transportation, lodging or conference fees
   • iPads or laptops
   • High School Senior Projects
   • Items that pose safety hazards
6. Staff is limited to submitting two grant applications total, either individually or with others, per award year. For example, if teachers submit one grant application in the spring, then they may submit, at most, one separate application in the fall.
7. Applicants must consult with their building principal(s) or supervisor(s) before submitting an application.
8. Staff may submit a grant application with LMSD colleagues. Applicants are encouraged to work together across disciplines and schools to submit grant applications.
9. The Interschool Council awards grants that impact both small and large groups of students. The number of students impacted is only one factor considered when applications are reviewed.
10. Spring grant applications must be submitted using this Application Form by midnight on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

AWARDS:

11. Proposals may be fully funded, partially funded or not funded. All awards will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.
12. All applications are first vetted by the LMSD Administration.
13. The Review Committee includes the Interschool Council (ISC) Mini Grant Co-Chairs, ISC Co-Presidents, a Home and School Association (HSA) president, a Committee for Special Education (CSE) representative, a representative of the Education Foundation of Lower Merion (EFLM), an LMSD principal, select ISC members and LMSD administrators.
14. Additional information may be required during the evaluation process. If that is the case, an email will be sent to the application's primary contact.
15. Grant money that is awarded in May for the upcoming grant year will be available for reimbursement after the LMSD Board of Directors has approved the awards and the awardees receive their award letters.
16. Each mini grant award comes with a commitment to submit a Feedback Form no later than one month after the completion of the funded project and at the latest by May 30, 2025. The Feedback Form includes short answer questions to assess the project's success and requires at least two photos of the project "in action."
17. The Interschool Council may use information concerning any mini grants in electronic newsletters or other communications to the public as examples of how it fulfills its mission.
18. The Interschool Council reserves the right to reject future mini grant applications from recipients who fail to submit a completed Feedback Form or photos.

REIMBURSEMENT:

19. Purchases for reimbursement can be made either directly by the staff or can be purchased through LMSD. In rare circumstances, a third-party vendor may be considered for direct reimbursement. The Mini Grant Chair(s) must approve a third-party vendor reimbursement request in advance.
20. Reimbursements are to be submitted via this Reimbursement Form. Reimbursement will be paid from receipts ONLY. Quotes are not an acceptable form of receipt.
21. If funds are not spent all at one time, a maximum of two reimbursement requests can be made during the course of the school year.
22. Items specified in an application's budget are the only items approved for reimbursement by the ISC Mini Grant Program. If a change or substitution is required (i.e., a certain product is no longer available) prior approval from the Mini Grant Chair(s) is required for reimbursement.
23. Items purchased for reimbursement through an ISC Mini Grant are the property of LMSD.
24. Should the total dollar amount of the items bought exceed the approved amount of the mini grant awarded, the difference may or may not be reimbursed depending on available funds.
25. Should circumstances change, it is the responsibility of the applicants to promptly contact the Mini Grant Chair(s) before making changes.
26. Requests for mini grant reimbursements must be submitted to the Interschool Council Mini Grant Program by June 1, 2025. After June 30th, any unspent funds return to the ISC Mini Grant Program.

Revised 1/2024