Business Education Partnership
Rutherford County, Tennessee

Mini-Grant Application

Online Submission

Fill out the online form below by 4:30 PM on Sept. 9, 2011 to apply for a mini-grant:

Name:

Home Address:
(Street Address + City, State Zip)

Your Phone:

School Name:

School Phone:

Email Address:

Name of Project:

Amount Requested:

Grade Level Served:

Number of Students Involved:

Number of Teachers Involved:

Project Completion Date:

Goal (15 points):
What is the goal of your project? Your goal must be clearly stated with a defined objective which shows how it will enhance curriculum, expand students’ learning beyond the classroom and have specific future benefits for the students.

Creative / Innovative Approach (40 points):
How is your project unique? Does it involve multiples disciplines? Does it get students involved in further applications such as life skills, an academic competition, or continued independent study?

Description / Itemized Budget (30 points):
You MUST include an itemized budget with your BEP/Nissan Mini-Grant application or it cannot be considered. Use the model below to display your budget with the cost of each item (add lines as necessary). Include 1) a descriptive narrative with a basic time line of the overall project, 2) how many students will participate (one classroom, many classrooms, one school), 3) how will the money be used (one time project, seed money, entering a competition), and 4) how these items in this project will enhance student performance.

Example:

Item                                              Item Cost

____________ _____                      ______

____________ _____                      ______

____________ _____                      ______

____________ _____                      ______


Evaluation (15 points):
How will you measure achievement of your goal? How will you evaluate student learning and involvement in the project (tests, quizzes, final projects, essays, journals , etc)? What is the future of the project— are the purchased materials reusable for future students? Can you share this project idea with other teachers to use in their classrooms?

Description:
Please provide a ONE-PARAGRAPH summary of your grant proposal. The paragraph should be a clear, concise restatement of the main points of your Goal, Creative/Innovative Approach, Description/Itemized Budget, and Evaluation.

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Due Date: 4:30 PM on Sept. 9, 2011

 

Mini-Grant Guidelines

Please read the following guidelines. They shall govern Spring 2012 Mini-Grant applications. Any grants not following these guidelines will be disqualified.

  • Any teacher who is directly involved in the instruction of students in the public schools of the City of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County may submit a BEP/Nissan Mini-Grant proposal.
  • Mini-Grants will be awarded in Fall 2011 to be used in Spring 2012.
  • A maximum of TWO (2) proposals per teacher can be submitted.
  • The BEP will NOT accept identical grants from multiple teachers. Teachers working on a group project must write a grant for his or her individual part of the project. This does not guarantee all parts of the project will be funded.
  • Requests must be submitted TYPED on the formal BEP/Nissan Mini-Grant application format. ONE (1) additional sheet can be used for the “Project Description”. OR you may submit online.
  • An itemized budget must be included where indicated in the proposal. Vague budgets will not be accepted, and application will not be processed.
  • Grants will be awarded in the sum of up to a MAXIMUM of $500.00 per proposal.
  • Criteria to be considered:
    - Goal 15 points
    - Description 30 points
    - Evaluation 15 points
    - Originality/Innovation 40 points
  • Grants are NOT intended to fund classroom technology, school supplies or other equipment tied directly to teaching regular curriculum. Mini-Grants are meant to creatively enhance concepts already being taught in curriculum.
  • Judges look for proposals that offer creative ways of teaching curriculum and bringing the classroom into the “real world.” They are more likely to fund proposals that are real-world based, creative, hands-on, and provide seed monies for a program that is self-perpetuating and less likely to fund proposals that are solely curricular/textbook-based.
  • An evaluation of awarded grants, summarizing evidence of the project’s success, must be provided to the BEP by May 15, 2012. Evaluation Forms will be provided to grant winners.
  • To be considered, all grant applications must be delivered by 4:30 pm on February 3, 2011 to the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce in Murfreesboro or mailed to:

    Business Education Partnership
    Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce
    3050 Medical Center Parkway
    Murfreesboro, TN 37129

  • Online applications are available at rutherfordbep.org/minigrants
  • Address questions to Lee Rennick, BEP executive director, by calling (615) 278-2008 or emailing lrennick@rutherfordchamber.org