Guidelines for Programs the Endowment Will Fund

The NEF Endowment Fund supports initiatives that encourage innovation and collaboration and have a lasting and continuing impact on the Northampton Public Schools. Proposals may be funded for one to three years. Endowment-funded programs are not intended to replace items which would be expected to be included in the regular school budget. Consequently, programs included in the school budget during the previous five years will generally not be considered for funding. Total funds available for distribution for this year will be approximately $25,000. Proposals which use Endowment funds to leverage and/or combine with other sources of funding or in-kind contributions are encouraged but not required.

Innovation – An Endowment-funded project should represent a meaningful expansion, adaptation, or improvement of current practice or curricula in the Northampton Schools. When appropriate, we may require applicants to demonstrate that an approach or technique is supported by research.

Collaboration – Preference will be given to programs which will affect the school experience of larger numbers of children. Examples are system-wide programs, programs that involve two or more schools, school-wide programs, or multi-grade programs.

Lasting and Continuing Impact – The NEF Endowment favors programs which will produce lasting benefits to the students involved and to the curriculum and/or programming of the school(s) involved. Programs that address documented significant problems in the Northampton Schools are also encouraged. Funded programs must augment and support the Northampton Schools’ district-wide goals. Awards are made in conjunction with the priorities developed by the School Councils and the Northampton School District. Proposals may be submitted by any person or group.

Request for Proposals

If you are interested, send a preliminary proposal addressing the following questions by March 1, 2008:

1. Clear and brief description of the program

2. Who is proposing the project?

3. Who and which schools in the Northampton Public Schools will be the target of the program?

4. When and for how long do you envision the program taking place?

5. Outline of the preliminary budget

6. What is the approximate overall cost of the program?

7. Why would this program be of value to the Northampton Public Schools?

8. What will be the lasting and continuing impact of this program on the Northampton Public Schools?

Preliminary proposals will be screened by the NEF Endowment Fund Distribution Committee. If your preliminary proposal is accepted, Committee Members will work with you in further refining the proposal for final consideration. Final proposals will be selected by the end of this school year.

Proposals should be sent by March 1, 2008 to: NEF Endowment Distribution Committee, P.O. Box 44, Northampton, MA 01061.

Distribution Committee

1.  The Distribution Committee will consist of:

• 1 representative from each school council in the Northampton School District chosen by the council. Representatives may not be employees of the Northampton School District.
• 3 NEF Board members.
• 3 community members who are not parents of current students or currently teachers. These will be chosen by the NEF Board. The Board is encouraged to select a member from the business community, a member from the human service community, and a member from the higher education community.
• 1 student from NHS: the senior class president or his/her designee (one year term).
• 2 alumni of the Northampton Schools selected by the NEF Board.

2.  Distribution Committee members will serve for a two-year term and may be reappointed for one subsequent two-year term. Initial appointments will be staggered between two- and three-year terms.

3.  The job of the Distribution Committee will be to review proposals and make recommendations to the NEF Board for funding from the NEF Endowment Fund.

4.  The Distribution Committee, and/or a subcommittee thereof, may also be the distribution committee for the Small Grants to Teachers Program.

5.  The NEF Board will make the final decisions regarding funding of all projects.

Reporting and Monitoring Progress

1.  Grantees will be expected to provide an annual report to the Distribution Committee describing their accomplishments and their progress towards fulfilling the goals of the proposal. The annual report will also include their plans to further meet the goals and any modifications of the project. A format will be developed for annual reporting.

2.  The Distribution Committee will assign a member to act as liaison to work with each grantee. The liaison will act as a contact person during the term of the award.

3.  The Distribution Committee will report on these activities to the NEF Board at least annually.

4.  The NEF Board retains the right to modify or revise these guidelines.

For More Information

For more information about the NEF Distribution Guidelines, please contact:

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Last Updated: January 15, 2008