The Grant Making Process

The Education Minnesota Foundation’s board and staff conduct research to identify the needs of Education Minnesota members in the fields they support. The board then creates grant applications that support specific goals or objectives, and the majority of funded proposals align with those goals. This is the Foundation’s grant making process:

• Applications are received by 4 p.m. on the due date
• Foundation Director and Assistant review applications and make sure all information is received for a complete application
• Foundation Assistant assigns file number, redacts identifying information and makes copies of the applications
• Applications are mailed to the board for review
• The board approves/denies/assigns contingencies on the applications at the next scheduled board meeting
• Agreement letters/denial letters are sent
• Once agreement letters are received, checks for Classroom-Focused, Professional Development, Bruce Vento Science Educator and IMPACT grants are processed within 2 to 3 weeks
  **Checks for Higher Education Faculty Professional Development and NBCT Scholarship recipients are processed once reimbursement forms are received**
• Checks are accompanied with directions detailing what to do with the check, when to submit interim and final financial reports, and when to submit a final project report
• Once the project or professional development is completed and all final project/financial report forms are mailed to the Foundation, the file is closed

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Do

• Read all grant guideline materials
• Send proposals by the deadline
• Submit practical, action-oriented proposals and include a timeline
• Create proposals that represent creative, unique ideas directly benefitting students
• Research education trends relating to your proposal so you may cite authors and their ideas
• Submit requests for materials that are required for your proposed plans
• Have others review/edit your proposal for clarity
• Use clear descriptions that explain what will be done, by whom and how you will assess your progress
• Include a table or chart of your budget
• Share your proposal with your local or affiliate president before submission
• Seek out former grant recipients for their input
• Keep an eye on your home mailbox after submitting your application—all materials relating to grants are mailed to the applicant’s home address

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Don’t

• Skip anything in the application or try to change the guidelines
• Overlook the possibility of seeking additional funding sources and other resources. If your budget shows other sources of funds, indicate which are committed and which are potential
• sources
• Send supporting materials not required in answering the questions
• Bind your proposal or spend money for special printing
• Submit proposals to continue research or existing programs
• Submit requests for major equipment purchases – apply to your district or other funders for equipment. “Equipment” includes any permanently placed items (e.g., computer hardware) that are not critical to the intended outcomes of the project
• Submit requests for salary replacement for activities that fall within the coordinator’s or other team members’ job responsibilities (for compensation of activities outside regular job responsibilities, it is strongly recommended that requests be matched by school districts or other funders)
• Submit requests for personal educational scholarships
• Wait until the last minute

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What can (and cannot) my grant pay for?

The items listed above are only examples of what is permissible to submit from previously approved grant applications. There are other permissible budget items one may request. If you are unsure about whether something may be fundable, please contact foundation@edmn.org for more information.