Grants 

Goals of the EEF Grant Program

The Education Enrichment Foundation of Scotch Plains-Fanwood (EEF) is dedicated to supporting continued educational excellence in Scotch Plains-Fanwood schools. We provide grants for innovative and progressive initiatives that enrich students' academic experiences.

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EEF funds equipment, technology, programs, and staff development projects that cannot be covered within existing budget caps and restrictions. We welcome grant applications that further the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education's goals, and all grants are awarded based on the following criteria:

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Innovation & Creativity

The project should distinguish itself from others by being original, innovative, and creative. It should demonstrate a new way of thinking, address a current or emerging need, and enrich the learning experience of students.

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Student Impact Learning

The project should profoundly enhance student learning by fostering deeper understanding, critical thinking, and active engagement. It should provide meaningful, lasting educational value that supports students’ academic growth and personal development, helping them build essential skills for success both in and out of the classroom.

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Assessment

The project should include a clearly outlined plan for documenting and/or evaluating its success. This plan should detail how outcomes will be measured, what tools or methods will be used to gather feedback and data, and how the results will be analyzed. ​

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Sustainability

The project will be assessed on its repeatability, meaning its potential to be successfully replicated in other classrooms, grade levels, or schools within the district.

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Budget

The project will be evaluated on whether the budget is appropriate and aligned with the scope of the project. A strong proposal will include a clear, itemized budget that reflects thoughtful planning and responsible use of funds. The expenses should directly support the project’s goals and activities, and the overall cost should be reasonable given the anticipated impact.

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Grant Cycle

The EEF offers ONE grant cycle each year.  

• This school year, applications are accepted from December through late January.

• 2026–2027 Application Deadline: January 2026 (exact date TBD)

• Applicants will be notified of award/denial before the end of the school year with funds generally to be used the following school year. 

• 2026-2027 EEF Grant Awards Celebration: Date to be announced.

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Our Grant Process

Our grant process is a multi-tiered process where we include many stakeholders in the selection of grant recipients.

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Our Grant Process – Step By Step

• STEP 1 – Grant applicants complete the SPF Educator Grant Application by the specified deadline.

• STEP 2 – The EEF Board of Trustees carefully reviews all grant submissions in collaboration with the Superintendent and/or Assistant Superintendent. 

• STEP 3 – The Board of Trustees votes on the grants recommended for funding and the winning grants are presented to the Superintendent for final funding approval.

• STEP 4 – Grant applicants are notified whether their project will be funded by EEF. Once approved, the fulfillment process begins to ensure that programs, tools/technologies, and supplies are provided prior to the start of the following school year.

• STEP 5 – The selected grant recipients are invited to attend an EEF Grant Awards Celebration.

 

Grant Criteria, Eligibility & Considerations

The EEF Board of Trustees carefully reviews and screens every grant request and welcomes innovative, impactful proposals. Small-scale projects with the potential to expand to other schools or grade levels are considered just as carefully as larger-scale initiatives. Grants may be submitted by district administrators, teachers, staff members, or individuals, and collaboration across schools, grade levels, and departments is strongly encouraged. Grant applications should be for projects and programs that will be implemented in the NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, not for the current school year.

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The EEF Will Consider Funding:

• Grants that are innovative and creative in their approach to teaching and/or learning.

• Grants that enhance the academic program, curriculum, guidance, or counseling functions of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools.

• Grants that enrich—but do not duplicate or replace—the existing curriculum and educational structure.

• Grants that align with the goals of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education and have the support of a building supervisor and/or appropriate curriculum personnel.

• Grants that impact a broad number of students and offer lasting or sustainable educational value.

• Grants that implement new or experimental methods of instruction.

• Grants with measurable outcomes that allow results to be evaluated (see post-evaluation procedures) and that may be replicated if successful.

• Grants that require one year of funding. If additional years are needed, a new application must be submitted for each year and will be subject to the same review process.

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The EEF Will Not Fund:

• Grants without the approval of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education.

• Grants that replace or relieve existing responsibilities for public funding of school programs. EEF grants are not intended to substitute for normal budget growth or maintenance.

• Applications requesting funding for curricular materials (e.g., classroom sets of textbooks or other resources requiring Board of Education approval/adoption) will not be considered.

• Stipends for teacher time that exceed the amount typically paid by the Board of Education for curriculum development.

• Substitute teachers, food (including catering and meals), travel expenses, or consumable items (such as standard classroom supplies).

• Non-specific expenses (All grant budgets must be clearly defined, with individual items listed).​

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Previous grant awards have ranged from $150 to $4,200. More than one grant may be awarded. Here is our most recent list of grants awarded.​

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All grants are co-funded by the EEF and the Currie/Vagelos Fund.

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