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Mini-Grants for Teachers

This program provides small grants to elementary and secondary school teachers to enable them to enhance their class curriculum that will make learning memorable for students. With these funds, teachers can buy enriching teaching materials not provided for in school budgets. Since the program's inception in 1998, mini-grants totaling upwards of $584,880 have provided over 552 teachers and thousands of students an enriching classroom experience.

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29 teachers in Lubbock and the surrounding South Plains school districts received mini-grants for the 2023-2024 school year. This program is funded exclusively through local private donations and granted out more than $25,162 in mini-grants to teachers in 2023.

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The final grant report must be submitted from previous years before reapplying. 

To Apply

Click on the following links to obtain an application form and sample materials that are intended to assist you in submitting your proposal:

Already Started on Your Application?

Click the button below to log in and make changes to an existing grant application.

Purpose

Every day teachers are faced with keeping children interested and challenged with few resources beyond basic curriculum. Limited school budgets often cannot support the creative ideas and enriching material teachers want to bring to their classrooms to meet student needs. We recognize that students come from diverse backgrounds, have different learning styles, and can benefit from creative learning opportunities and a deeper grounding in course material. The Mini-Grants for Teachers program brings together the resources of regional funders who have an interest in K-12 education. By working together, we are impacting the ability of educators to create meaningful learning experiences for children throughout the South Plains area.

Eligibility

All South Plains region kindergarten through grade 12 teachers from public schools and non-public schools recognized by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC) and the Commissioner of Education will be eligible to apply. Before applying, please make sure the request is approved through your school. Only one grant will be awarded per individual per year. 

Grant Amounts

The typical grant award is in the $500 – $1,500 range. Depending on the project, the maximum may exceed $1,500.

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: June 1

  • Grants Announced: August

  • Grants Payable to Schools: August

  • Project Evaluation and Reports Due: May of following year

Criteria

A committee consisting of educators, community volunteers and Community Foundation of West Texas Board and staff review applications. Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Impact: Potential to improve student achievement; potential for continuation and/or replication; potential to enhance instructional skills

  • Innovation: Innovative approach making learning memorable; enhance academic objective within curriculum context

  • Planning: Clear plan for project implementation; teacher capability; cost effectiveness and realistic budget;

  • Existing Resources: Grant funding will not supplant existing funding – project cannot be achieved with existing school budget

Excluded Projects

Mini-Grant for Teachers applications will not be considered for:

  1. Renovation of facilities;

  2. Religious activities or teachings;

  3. Equipment that is not an integral part of the project;

  4. Non-academic projects;

  5. Trips out of this region; or

  6. Tuition for special classes

  7. Pre-K Classes

Grantees must provide a written report to the Community Foundation of West Texas at the conclusion of their project. This report must include a financial statement and narrative describing the project and how it benefited students and the teacher. Unused funds must be returned to the Foundation at the end of the school year for which the grant was awarded.

 

If you need more information about the Community Foundation of West Texas or the Mini-Grants for Teachers program, please contact Priscilla Rodriguez​ at priscilla@cfwtx.org or by calling (806) 762-8061. 

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