Mini Grant Guidelines

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MINI GRANTS GUIDELINES

The majority of PTO grant funding is awarded each spring for the following school year.

However, a portion of the funds is reserved for unanticipated mid-year requests from BHS teachers and staff.

Since these funds are limited, mid-year requests are typically capped at $250.

Mini-grants are prioritized based on our mission and the following criteria:

Enhancing the educational experience at BHS
Expanding what can be accomplished within the school’s budgetary constraints
Impacting a large number of students, educators, and/or families
Impacting students from traditionally under-resourced communities
Addressing needs identified by school leadership, staff, students, or families (e.g., equity initiatives, student mental health)

PTO grants support educators’ effectiveness and creativity in meeting student needs. Examples of recently funded mini-grants include:

Books for a Heritage Spanish class book group to support shared reading and discussion.
Materials for the SWS Tutorial Focus Strategy program to help students build organization and study skills.
Scrapbooks for the Justice in Action Field Observation project to document student learning and reflection.
Materials for hands-on learning, such as hydroponic farm supplies for the Welland Farm program and ingredients for a Spanish class cooking project.
Guest speakers and artists, including a poet for the Craft of Writing class and AP
Environmental Science speakers from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
Classroom set-up supplies for new teachers.

Proposed activities and requests should align with the vision, goals, and priorities of a BHS department or program or the school as a whole.

We encourage applicants to discuss their proposal with the appropriate department or program head before submitting.

PTO grants will not support:

If you have a question as to whether your request is eligible, please contact the PTO co-presidents at copresidents@bhs-pto.org

All BHS staff members (teachers, administrators, program coordinators, deans, staff, etc.) are encouraged to apply for funding to support projects, activities, or materials that enhance or extend the academic or social experience at BHS. A limit of one mini-grant per teacher/staff member can be approved per year and multiple applications are allowed if previous application(s) were not funded.
Individual staff members may apply for funding
Collaborative or cross-department requests that benefit multiple staff members and many students are also encouraged with funding up to $500.
New teachers can apply for support in setting up their classroom in their first year at BHS.

Request Submission

BHS teachers and staff may submit requests for unanticipated expenses throughout the school year. Mid-year requests are typically capped at $250.

Monthly Review

Requests received during the prior month are reviewed and discussed by the Board at their monthly meeting.

Quick Notification

Applicants are notified of the funding decision shortly after the Board meeting concludes.

For most grants, funds are provided on a reimbursement basis.

In some instances, the PTO can pay invoices directly, if necessary.

Grant recipients are required to:

Acknowledge PTO funding, including in any public communications related to the grant.
Provide a brief summary of the program’s effectiveness or impact on students at the conclusion of the grant, before a new application will be considered.

For questions, please email us at: copresidents@bhs-pto.org

Since these funds are limited, mid-year requests are typically capped at $250.