Grant Frequently Asked Questions
WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE? The grant application period is from October 5 through November 5, 2023.
WHAT IS THE GRANT AMOUNT LIMIT? Each staff member is eligible for $500 in grant funding.
WHEN WILL WE RECEIVE OUR FUNDS IF WE ARE AWARDED A GRANT? Grants will be awarded before Thanksgiving Break.
DO WE HAVE TO SPEND OUR GRANT AWARD THIS SCHOOL YEAR? Yes, monies awarded must be used by May 3, 2024 or they will go back into the general grant fund. Due to District policy and procedure, the District audit does not allow for cash reimbursements. We will not provide additional funds above the approved grant amount.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A GRANT? You must apply electronically through the Form provided. Please contact Kristin King at 541.517.3303 with questions.
CAN I APPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE GRANT OPPORTUNITY? No, we are allowing 1 grant application per staff member.
CAN TWO OR MORE PEOPLE APPLY FOR ONE GRANT? Yes, if two or more people want to work together on one grant and share the results that is fine. For BEF communication purposes, one of the participants needs to be considered the principal or lead applicant. Each staff member is eligible for up to $500 in grant funds.
DOES MY PRINCIPAL HAVE TO APPROVE MY GRANT BEFORE I SUBMIT IT? Individual school principals will have final veto power over grants. To avoid confusion, it is required that grant ideas are approved by principals before submission.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU SAY THAT THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE “BLIND?” In blind reviews the evaluators do not know who has written the grant or what school they come from. Please do not include individual names or the name of your school or department in the grant description. Reviewers will be voting on the merit of the application alone. This is why well-written and compelling applications are important.
HOW DOES THE GRANT PROCESS WORK? HOW ARE THE DECISIONS MADE? Reviewers rate each grant according to the stated grant criteria. Ratings are tabulated and grants are then ranked. Grants are then awarded based upon the monies available for use.
WHAT TIPS CAN YOU GIVE ME FOR WRITING A “WINNING” APPLICATION? Because the grant reviewers are not professional educators, it is best that acronyms and specialized language or procedures be explained in laypersons’ terms. A simple, but well thought out appeal is best. It should address the evaluation criteria listed at the start in the Grant Details section. Our reviewers appreciate proposals that enrich the educational experience of Bethel students, but are possible within the existing framework that already exists within the various building and personnel limitations. Let them know that you have done your homework and that what you are proposing is really possible with the current technological and personnel limitations. Wording is important. Let the reviewers feel your passion for your proposed project and the impact that it will have on your students and in your school.
I ENTER EVERY YEAR AND NEVER GET AWARDED A GRANT. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? Our reviewers score the applications using the evaluation criteria. Keep the evaluation criteria in mind while writing your grant. Our reviewers have to make difficult choices—there is never enough money to go around—so help them to understand the impact the money will make to your classroom or your students. WILL EACH SCHOOL RECEIVE A GRANT? Because the process is blind, the best written grants will be the ones that get funded. There is no requirement that each school receives at least one grant. However, the more submission from a school increases the likelihood that the school will receive a BEF grant.
WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? Further information can be obtained by emailing BEF Director of Development and Finance, Kristin King at 541.517.3303.
Grant Details The 2023-2024 Bethel Education Foundation Grant submission period is from October 5-November 5 with the following criteria;
Enhance the quality of a student’s educational experience
Lend direct and immediate support to instructional activities and services
Innovative approaches to learning Feasibility of accomplishing the project
Clarity/Quality of application (spelling, grammar, concise)
Merit: The grant review process will be blind; reviewers will not know what school an application comes from so that submissions can be judged on merit alone. Please DO NOT mention individual names or your school by name within the grant description sections.
Principal Approval: Individual school principals will have final veto power over grants. It is required that grant ideas are approved by principals before submission.
Timeline: Applications are being accepted from Thursday, October 5 through Sunday, November 5, and grants will be awarded before Thanksgiving break.
Note: Please note that upon receiving a grant, you will be required to provide Bethel Education Foundation with a report on how your grant was used. This could be a short narrative, pictures, or video that illustrates the impact of the grant on your classroom or department. We encourage you to be creative. If you cannot use the grant in exactly the way it was written, the funds must be returned to the foundation.
Note: Monies must be used by May 3, 2024 or they will be returned to the general grant fund to be awarded in the next grant cycle. We look forward to learning how you will enhance the education of Bethel students in your classroom.
