Grant
Questions/Answers
Who can submit proposals?
Lincoln Public Schools and community learning center staff
can submit proposals. Fund-A-Need accepts proposals only
from those who directly serve the city's public school
students; however, the proposals may be a collaboration
with a community organization.
Back to Top
What kind of materials can I ask
for?
Teachers can propose any resource that is essential to a
student—centered experience—everything from a set
of books to summer camp tuition for a promising student.
Back to Top
What are the Web browser requirements
for teachers?
FoundationforLPS.org supports modern versions of most popular
Web browsers. The site is designed to run on either the Windows
or Macintosh platforms with Internet Explorer, version 5
or higher; Netscape, version 4.7 or higher; or AOL, version
5 or higher.
Back to Top
Is there a $$ limit on my request?
No. Proposals can range from $50 to $12,000. The higher the
price tag, though, the more compelling a proposal needs
to be. And the lower the price tag, the more likely a proposal
will be funded. Generally the price tag is less than $500.
Back to Top
How can I write a good proposal
if I'm not experienced at grant writing?
Our online application form presents teachers with any easy-to-complete
process containing a total of 13 fields. A teacher needs
to fully describe the project to take place, but experience
with grant writing is completely unnecessary. In fact, Fund-A-Need
discourages jargon and formulaic writing.
Back to Top
What is the most common fault
found in teachers' proposals?
Occasionally, a teacher will center the proposal body on
the materials needed rather than the student activity to
take place. For example, a teacher proposing to get a new
classroom computer should not focus on the fact that the
present one is in disrepair. That proposal should focus first
on the student activity that a new computer would make possible.
The resources have no worth of themselves-it's how students
will use them.
Back to Top
How does Fund-A-Need handle my
proposal after I've submitted it?
Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools works directly with
LPS and verifies teachers' identities, confirms existence
of the materials requested, and reviews proposals. If there
are any uncertainties, staff will e-mail the teacher follow-up
questions. After this process is satisfactorily completed,
the proposal is listed on the Fund-A-Need Web site. 100%
of the contributions are used to purchase student supplies,
books and support for this program. These educational experiences
are not available for our students without private contributions.
Back to Top
What happens if my proposal is
funded?
Fund-A-Need establishes a fund in the LPS district for the
proposal. Fund-A-Need sends the teacher an address for a
thank you to be written to the donor.
Back to Top
How long will it take for my proposal
to be funded?
Several proposals have been funded within 48 hours of being
posted, while one compelling proposal waited 12 months before
it was funded. Teachers can view their proposals to learn
of partial funding. Proposals will be online for a maximum
of 12 months.
Back to Top
How many proposals may I submit
in a year?
There are no restrictions on the number of proposals submitted.
Back to Top |
