GRANT GUIDELINES

WHO CAN APPLY

Teachers, administrators and staff of the Pine Plains Central School District and nonprofits that will fulfill the mission of the fund.

GRANT INFORMATION

SEED is an education enrichment fund for the Pine Plains Central School District in Pine Plains, N.Y. The purpose of SEED is to enhance and enrich the educational experience of the students and teachers in the schools of Pine Plains, N.Y. The fund will use private philanthropic resources to provide grants to support the development of exciting and challenging programs that enhance the skills and opportunities for students.

The fund supports students in achieving their highest goals through a myriad of formal and informal programs that are focused on various academic fields, athletics, cultural programs and community services.

SEED is a community based effort that was established in 2011 to go above and beyond programs normally funded by local, state and federal funding.

ELIGIBILITY

SEED is seeking proposals for the Pine Plains Central School District for projects that will fulfill the mission of the fund. Grants from the fund will not replace public dollars for the school district. SEED seeks primarily to help cover the direct costs of projects (not salaries). Preference will be given to creative educational projects and programs.

Possible projects include, but are not limited to independent study, new programs, residency programs, visiting speakers, library resources, and scientific, athletic, or technical equipment.

Berkshire Taconic does not support organizations that, in their constitution, by-laws, or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.

AWARDS

Grants awarded will generally range from $1,000 to $3,000 for the first several years as SEED builds its endowment. All grant monies must be spent within twelve months of being awarded, or be returned to SEED.

REVIEW CRITERIA

Applications will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Excellence: Is the project or service truly of a high quality? Is it the right time for the project? Does it involve qualified individuals/groups?
• Impact: What is the potential impact of the project or service on the school community? This does not mean the number of people involved, but rather the quality of the impact.
• Ability: Is the project well thought out and feasible? Is there an appropriate timeline and budget?

The SEED board comprised of community members, parents and teachers will review applications. Berkshire Taconic's board of directors will review their recommendations. Please be advised that you may be contacted with follow-up questions about your request.