The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:
The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) is pleased to announce they are accepting applications for the Watertown School Grant Program. This program focuses solely on Watertown’s public schools and seeks to support activities that improve instruction and learning. For the first time WCF is partnering with Life Science Cares to fund STEM grants. The application form is available online.
Eligibility
Applicants must be public entities or nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
Organizations implementing programs within a school(s) are welcome to apply. It is also required that applicants review their proposed project with the school principal or department chair before applying.
NOTE: Grants will not be provided to individuals; applications from teachers must be submitted in partnership with their school or school’s PTO to serve as the fiscal agent and administer the awarded funds. If a grant involves bringing people from outside the Watertown School Department into a school, it should be submitted by the principal or someone in district leadership to ensure the proper clearance for those people.
Grant Amounts
Grant requests of up to $2,500 will be considered, though the average amount awarded will likely
range from $500 to $1,000. Where partnerships of two or more schools or organizations are involved an award of up to $5,000 will be considered.
Grant Types
Applications can be submitted for individual classrooms, grade-level initiatives, afterschool programs, school-wide efforts, and system-wide plans. Preference will be given to proposals that extend beyond one classroom and enrich the learning environment. Examples of past support include:
• Supplemental materials or books (e.g., student book clubs, school gardens)
• Equipment (e.g., musical instruments, supplemental lab or engineering equipment)
• Special events and speakers (e.g., anti-discrimination or drug and alcohol prevention programs,
author-in-residence)
• Student Programs (e.g., college readiness, student newspaper, art and science afterschool)
• Experimental School or District wide initiatives (e.g., the Buck Institute’s Project-based
learning professional development for K-8 teachers, Picture-in-Writing materials and training
for all three elementary schools)
Applications seeking support for field trips, snacks, furniture/desks, buses, teacher travel, or
individual professional development will not be funded. The grant budget cannot include
stipends for anyone currently employed by the Watertown Public Schools.
Grants should focus on activities for the spring and fall of 2022 but, can be extended into the following school year if necessary. Priority will be given to those proposals that involve partnerships and collaboration.
Timeline
October 25, 2021 Request for Proposals Posted
November 22, 2021 Applications Due to WCF
December 20, 2021 Applicants Notified of Grant Decisions
December 15, 2022 Reports Due to WCF
Submission Instructions
• Applications must be completed online.
Questions?
Email info@watertownfoundation.org
*This application is for school-based educational grants only. Educational programs that are not
school-based can apply for a Watertown Community Foundation Program Grant in the spring of 2022.
The Watertown Community Foundation, a public, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, works to build and sustain a vibrant, close-knit community in Watertown – now, and for future generations. To accomplish this, WCF raises funds from individuals, families, businesses, and foundations; awards grants to non-profits and community projects; and builds networks of donors, grantees, program participants, and stakeholders.
Since its inception in 2003, WCF has awarded over $1,400,000 in grants to programs and organizations serving Watertown. This year, WCF has partnered with Life Science Cares to fund STEM-related grants. Watertown-based life science companies Arranta Bio, C4 Therapeutics, Forma Therapeutics and Landmark Bio have contributed additional funding for STEM grants and representatives from each company will participate in grant review.
WCF Board of Directors: David Siegel and Darshna Varia, Co-Presidents; Robert Airasian; Albrik Avanessian; Emily Barclay; Jennifer Davis; Eleanor Donato; William B. Ford; Heather Leary; Mary Ann Mulligan; Antonia O’Hara; Maria Panaggio-Phillips; Anthony Paolillo; Christine Parker; Lora Sabin; Robert Shay; Curtis Teixeira; Elaina Themistos; Lauren Coughlin Unsworth; Kathryn White; Alishba Amin and Mona Houjazy, Student Board Interns