Applying for a Grant

Traditional
Grant

Our traditional grants

support projects of

any dollar amount or size. Projects that are

creative, innovative,

relevant, effective, and inspiring, and help to

benefit the community.

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Micro
Grant

Our micro grants are

used to support

projects up to $500.

These grants help to

facilitate initiatives that

are creative, innovative, relevant, effective,

and inspiring, and help

to benefit the community.

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Professional Development
Grant

Our PD grants help to

fund learning

opportunities for

educators, beyond the classroom, such as workshops, coursework,

or certifications— that enhance instructional practice and directly

benefit students.

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Impact
Report

Have you received an

NSEF micro, traditional, or

PD award? We invite you

to share your experience

and a few photos.

Your story helps highlight

the impact of this support

and celebrates the meaningful work

happening in our

schools and community.

SUBMIT A REPORT

The North Stonington Education Foundation (NSEF) seeks to fund educational projects that are creative, innovative, relevant, effective and inspiring. The primary criterion for dispensing grants will be high-quality educational content and the impact on students and/or community members. The project must promote advancement of skills or knowledge and add depth to the education programming.

Projects may be directed towards students of any grade level (Pre- K through 12), a single class, a single grade level, or multiple classes or grade levels.
- Projects that were denied funding during the Board of Education budgeting process will not be considered for a grant by the NSEF.
The NSEF will fund only those proposals that augment and enrich the education of the students of the North Stonington Public Schools and do not supplant programs traditionally funded by district, state or federal budgets.
The NSEF will not fund books, supplies, honoraria, equipment, professional development, etc. as isolated items unless these items are essential to the project.
The NSEF will not fund local transportation costs, compensation for substitute teachers and salaries or stipends for additional staffing as a part of an approved project.
The NSEF will generally not grant funds for projects that will later become a required future expense for the North Stonington Board of Education. A good question to ask is, “Will the program be able to sustain itself or be replicated after initial funding?”
At the conclusion of the project, recipients are expected to provide NSEF with a written report of achievements through the grant. They are also expected to attend the NSEF Grants Reception. There may also be an opportunity to exhibit any outcomes or products as a result of the project. Any publicity, pictures, printed materials or presentations generated by the project must credit the NSEF. We request photographs and/or student quotes that highlight your grant/project in use that we may post on our website or include in printed materials for the NSEF.

If for any reason a grant recipient is unable to administer the approved project, the grant recipient will return all allocated funds and purchased items to the North Stonington Education Foundation.

Grants will be reviewed and voted on by the board of the NSEF. Projects may be partially or completely funded.

Members of the NSEF will recuse themselves from voting or endorsing the selection of specific proposals for which the Board member suspects a conflict of interest.

Members of the NSEF will keep all discussion of Grant reviews private. There will be no discussion of the review proceedings or voting with non-NSEF persons.

Grants can be submitted at any time and will be funded throughout the year. Approval will be based solely on merit. Applications are available via the application links above. If you have questions you may email NSEF at grants@nsedfoundation.org.

All purchases need to be ordered by/approved by the North Stonington Education Foundation (NSEF), not the North Stonington Public Schools. Funding for grants will proceed by one of the three following procedures:

1. If the grantee is seeking to purchase an item from an external vendor, send the tax ID (26-0088118) to the vendor, asking for a tax free invoice.

a. The invoice will then be attached to the grant to define the budget.

b. If the grant is awarded, NSEF will send a check to the North Stonington Public Schools Business Manager, District Office, which will then be deposited in a school account.

c. A North Stonington Public Schools check with the invoice will be sent to the vendor.

d. When the items are received, the grantee will bring the packing slip to Business Manager in the District Office, indicating that the items have been received.

e. A copy of the packing slip will be sent to the NSEF to complete the cycle.

2. If the grantee needs cash to purchase an item from a local store (Target, Walmart, etc.),

a. A check for the requested amount will be sent to the North Stonington Public Schools Business Manager, District Office, which will then be deposited in a school account.

b. The grantee can then request a school checks be drawn against the account for specific cash purchases until the funds are used up.

c. With each purchase, the grantee will bring the receipt(s) to the Business Manager in the District Office.

d. Once the funds are used up, a copy of the receipts will be sent to the NSEF to complete the cycle.

3. If a community member is seeking to purchase an item from an external vendor, send the tax ID (26-008818) to the vendor, asking for a tax-free invoice.

a. The invoice will then be attached to the grant to define the budget.

b. If the grant is awarded, the NSEF will send a check to the vender

c. When the items are received, the grantee will send a copy of the packing slip to the NSEF indicating that the items have been received to complete the cycle.

Note: If a reduction in any cost is achieved by the applicant or a NSEF board member’s efforts, the savings are not to be reallocated without prior concurrence with the NSEF.

Funds need to be used within the calendar year they are approved, unless prior approval has been given by the NSEF. Items purchased through an NSEF grant shall remain the property of the organization unless otherwise set forth in the grant proposal and approved by the NSEF.

The North Stonington Education Foundation (NSEF) is pleased to offer grants to educators that help facilitate and reward innovative approaches to learning and support the development of our students and community. The NSEF funds grants that benefit the North Stonington Public School District and are not covered through the normal school budgeting process. Anyone who supports the mission and purpose of the NSEF is eligible to apply for grant funding.

Fall Cycle: Traditional Grants

Application Period: August 15 – October 10
Review Period: October 15 – November 15
Awards Announced: December 1
Final Report Due: June 30 (or upon completion of the project)

Spring Cycle: Traditional Grants

Application Period: January 1 – March 1
Review Period: March 1 – March 31
Awards Announced: April 15
Final Report Due: December 31 (or upon completion of the project)

Professional Development (PD) Grants

Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
Review & Selection: April 2026
Awards Announced: May 2026
Recipient Reports Due: Within 60 days of project completion

Micro Grants

There is no application period for our Micro Grants; Applications are accepted, reviewed, and awarded on a rolling, year-round basis.

Applying for a Grant

Traditional Grant

Micro Grant

Professional Development Grant

Impact Report

Traditional
Grant

Micro
Grant

Professional Development
Grant

Impact
Report