Pilot Ecolab Micro-Grant Program
Program to Return Fall 2023
Overview
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The Ecolab Micro-Grant Program is an Innovation Office pilot initiative in its second year. It is intended to provide an even more convenient and efficient way to apply for and receive funds that support classroom learning. It is particularly suited to smaller projects or needs.
Teachers and faculty are encouraged to apply for a micro-grant at anytime using a simplified application with a three-question narrative. Grants will be awarded based on eligibility until funding is exhausted. In 2022, funds were fully committed within about a month.
We expect to reopen to Ecolab Micro-Grant applications in the fall of 2023. There may be funds remaining from 2022-32 ETGP projects that we can re-disburse in the future. Any such funds are currently held up in accounting. We will resume issuing grants to pending applications if/when that becomes available to us.Thank you to everyone who applied, and who provided feedback on the process. If your grant is not funded, please consider checking out our application resources, or consider applying for a larger ETGP grant in the spring.
Application & Award Basics
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Applicant Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply?
SPPS teachers, paraprofessionals, and other licensed staff are eligible to apply.A teacher may apply for multiple micro-grants over the course of the year, with a maximum award of $1000 for the year.
Current Ecolab awardees may apply for a micro-grant on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Kerry York-Myles to review your eligibility.
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ETGP Fund Use and Limitations
Ecolab funding may be used for
- Materials and other resources that increase student engagement and understanding of academic content
- Field trip expenses (admission fees or transportation)
Materials requested must be part of a curriculum plan.
All materials or goods purchased with award funds become the property of SPPS. If you receive a grant and transfer to a different school, the grant funds and materials purchased with grant funds stay with the school designated on the grant application.
Ecolab funds must not be used for
- Animal dissection supplies
- Furniture
- Projects that do not directly impact students
- Staff training
- Staff or substitute time
- Technology hardware (computers, laptops, computer hardware, Smart Boards)
The decision of what expenses are not allowable comes from Ecolab and is not negotiable.
If your project includes both allowed and unallowed expenses, please note in the budget and narrative where the funding for the unallowed expenses will come from.
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Apply
How do I apply?
The micro-grant program will go live in the fall of 2023. You can prepare your application content now, though you will not be able to submit it yet.
Save a copy of the Ecolab Micro-Grant Questions in your Google Drive. This lists every question in the application so you can prepare in advance. While this step isn't mandatory, it does serve as a backup for your application data. You will not be able to save a partially complete application, and you will not be able to edit your application once it's submitted.
Once you have your answers ready, go to the Micro-Grant Application (a Google Form). You can type or copy/paste your answers into the application.
Grants Staff will check on applications on Tuesdays, so please be patient in waiting to hear back.
