Classroom Grants
EEF Classroom Grant Program for the 2013-14 School Year
Proposals are now being accepted for the 2013-2014 school year. Proposals must be received through the US mail or hand delivered to EEF’s office by 5:00 PM, Friday, March 1, 2013.
SUBMIT signed original PLUS 15 COPIES to the EEF office. Incomplete or handwritten proposals will not be considered.
ONLY TUSD staff working directly with students are eligible to apply. Staff may collaborate with students and parents to apply for grant funds but only TUSD staff working directly with students may be listed as lead educators and team members on the grant application.
EEF’s mailing address: 3809 E. 3rd Street, Tucson, AZ 85716
Hand deliveries: EEF’s physical office is located on the 2nd Street side of St. Mark’s Church, in the 3800 block of 2nd Street between Dodge and Alvernon, just south of Speedway. Faxes or e-mails are not accepted.
The purpose of EEF's Classroom Grant Program is to provide funding for classroom or library projects that expand curriculum beyond the standard educator delivery and student learning experience. ALL of EEF’s Classroom Grant projects substantively enrich classroom experiences, teach critical thinking skills, promote creative problem-solving, stimulate a lifelong interest in learning, model effective communication and collaboration, and explore concepts, ideas, and principles beyond the core curriculum.
EEF Classroom Grants do not cover the cost of basic needs such as clothing, shoes, eyeglasses, general school supplies, or food. If you are a TUSD educator seeking assistance in these areas, please contact EEF’s office directly for information about EEF’s programs that address these needs and how you can access them.
Classroom Grant Application Form PDF
Proposal Categories
(select one category ONLY; EEF reserves the right to recategorize your proposal)
EEF General Fund Classroom Grant
Multiple grants up to $500 for projects that do not fall within any of the following categories, but that enrich classroom experiences, teach critical thinking skills, promote creative problem-solving, stimulate a lifelong interest in learning, model effective communication and collaboration, and explore concepts, ideas, and principles beyond the core curriculum.
Central Arizona Project (CAP) Environmental/Water Use Grant
Multiple grants up to $1,000 for projects that focus on water issues, the effects of water on our environment, water conservation, and environmental issues.
Jacob Eisner Memorial K-6 Creativity Grant
Up to $500 available to K-5 teachers for projects that develop elementary school children’s creativity.
Ray Davies Humanitarian Classroom Grant
Up to $500 available for projects that focus on humanitarian or human rights issues.
Library Power Grant
Up to $500 available for projects that incorporate collaborative planning and teaching by librarians and teachers utilizing library resources.
TFCU Diversity Classroom Grant
Up to $500 for projects that explore the role of ethnic and cultural diversity in creating a healthy, vibrant community.
Judith Schwarz Library Grant
Up to $2,500 available for grants for school libraries for projects to develop library resources; travel to the American Association of School Librarians national conference and held in Hartford, Connecticut in November 2013 is eligible in this category.
Ora S. & Jane Davies Kindergarten Classroom Grant
Multiple grants up to $500 to support educational or cultural programs in a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten classroom.
Neff & Vance Foundations Field Trip Grant
Multiple grants up to $500 available for outstanding projects that prominently include field trips that significantly expand understanding of core curriculum.
Schaefer Poetry Grant
Up to $250 available to support a project utilizing the writing of poetry by students in grades preK-12.
Friends of Kartchner Caverns Grant
Up to $500 to fund field trips to Kartchner Caverns State Park for students in grades 1st – 12th.
Ecosystems of the Desert Southwest Grant
Up to $2,200 available to support projects and field trips studying the unique ecosystems of the desert Southwest, particularly Mt. Lemmon, Catalina Mountains, Sabino Canyon, Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, Camp Cooper, Rillito River Basin, Camp Ft. Lowell, Saguaro National Monument.
Velma Castaneda-Titone Memorial Grant
One $500 grant to PreK-5 Elementary School Teachers.
Memorial fund established for Velma Castaneda-Titone, retired TUSD principal and Tucson educator
In honor of Velma Castaneda-Titone, retired TUSD principal and Tucson educator, a memorial fund has been established which will support a classroom grant and a college scholarship. For a personal reflection on Ms. Casteneda-Titone's contributions to educating Tucson's youth, read Ernesto "Neto" Portillo Jr.'s column in the AZ Star. Click the "Donate" button below if you would like to this fund contribute through EEF's PayPal account. Donations can also be mailed to the foundation at 3809 E. Third St., Tucson 85716.
Proposal Guidelines and Pointers
- Proposals must be for projects taking place during the 2013-14 school year lead by TUSD educators actively teaching in a classroom setting.
- EEF’s Allocations Committee reviews and evaluates all proposals on an annual basis and notifies recipients in late March. Grants are funded in early August.
- Proposals are awarded on a competitive basis according to the strength of their originality and thoughtfulness, available funding, and the clear articulation of their specific learning goals as they relate to curriculum enrichment.
- Clearly state the proposed project’s learning objectives and discuss how you will achieve these objectives and how you plan to assess your effectiveness in achieving these objectives.
- Be sure your budget is clear and understandable. Funds must be spent as stipulated in the proposal budget. All expenditures must be supported with physical receipts. Any undocumented expenditures will be treated as compensation to the teacher/librarian and may be reported to the IRS by EEF per audit requirements.
- Funds must supplement, not replace, state or local funds; funds cannot be used to compensate teachers or other TUSD staff.
- New and continuing projects will be considered.
- Priority will be given to projects with potential impact beyond the initial grant period and with opportunities for inter-classroom sharing, cross-curricular collaboration, and community involvement.
- Parent and community linkages strengthen a proposal.
- Proposals must be signed by the educator and by the school principal. Teams of educators may apply but a lead educator must be identified in the proposal.
- If a teacher’s position or school site changes, the award may become invalid. The educator MUST contact EEF if there are any changes.
- Application forms are available online at www.eeftucson.org.
- Proposals (signed original plus 15 COPIES) must be typed and received through the US mail or hand delivered, by 5:00 PM, Friday, March 1, 2013. Faxes or e-mails not accepted.
EEF’s Classroom Grant Program is sponsored by:
- Central Arizona Project
- Donald Pitt Family Foundation
- EEF General Fund (with support from TUSD employee payroll deductions and other individual EEF donors)
- EEF Ray Davies Lifetime Humanitarian Achievement Award Luncheon
- Friends of Kartchner Caverns
- Jacob Eisner Memorial Endowment
- Wandrey Memorial Fund
- Neff Foundation
- Vance Foundation
- Ora S. & Jane Davies Endowment
- Dr.’s John and Helen Schaefer
- Schwarz Library Fund