WHY DO WE NEED APPROVAL TO APPLY FOR FUNDS?
Tacoma School District Approval to Apply is a Process established to make sure we are submitting the best possible applications to funders.
- All grants require the “Grant Application Approval Request” form completed and signed by a cabinet member prior to submission to the grants office.
If you are interested in approaching a Foundation or Corporation, please get preliminary approval from your supervisor to make sure your ideas fit with the curriculum and TSD programs
Get approval from the grants office with a formal signed Approval Form to make sure we don’t have multiple schools unknowingly applying for funding to the same funder and competing against each other. Targeting grant requests is important.
Grants are about building relationships.
The school or program staff are more likely to be successful in building the funding relationship with the corporate or foundation staff, so should be taking the lead in developing these proposals.
- All proposals for $50,000 or more require Board approval forms to be completed.
All proposals where the funding agency requires agency Board approval, must also be approved by the Board of Directors at the earliest date possible, and no later than the first available Board meeting after submission.
Grants are a “contract” for the school district promising some activity for money from a funder. We need “formal” approval from the Board to make a financial commitment for proposals $50,000 and over. The Board needs to approve those requests. They require specific forms signed by the Superintendent to be presented at School Board Meetings. And it is necessary to allow ample time to get it on the Board agenda.
THE PROCESS: For Seeking Approval for Grant Applications
Complete internal forms for submitting the proposal for school board approval prior to actual submission. Plan well ahead to complete this step. The Grants Office must meet a deadline established by the Board to have your grant proposal placed on the agenda.
At a minimum, the grants office needs your completed Board packet (with cabinet level signatures) three full working days prior to established due dates for School Board agenda items. You or representatives from your team are expected to be available to attend the Board meeting to answer any questions the Board may have about your proposal. This process could take two months.
The board requires the following 4 internal forms. The Grants Office can provide help you correctly fill out these forms.
- Action memo to the Board
- Project Summary Form
- Goals and Objectives Summary Form
- Budget Proposal