Proposals due on or before the 15th of each month to be considered for approval during the next PTO Executive Board meeting. 

PTO executive Board Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month.

Overview – The Cornelius Elementary School (CES) Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) supports creative and innovative teaching and learning initiatives through financial grants. Mini-Grants will be awarded for projects or activities that are to be used to develop and implement instructional activities that motivate and challenge students to learn. 

Programs affecting large numbers of students are preferred. Examples are grade-wide, school-wide or multi-grade programs. Proposal ideas can include interdisciplinary activities, engaging lessons or projects that will reinforce learning through simulations or practical applications of curricular concepts. Extracurricular initiatives that are intended to enhance student learning also may be funded.

Programs are funded on a one-time basis; ongoing programs can apply for funding in the next grant cycle but are not guaranteed funding. We favor programs that create lasting benefits to students, curriculum and programming and/or that explore significant impact to grade wide or school wide communities. We fund programs that augment and support the goals and priorities of the CES PTO and Cornelius Elementary School. Any item purchased with PTO funds will remain at Cornelius Elementary School. The CES PTO Mini-Grants will not fund disposable supplies (glue, crayons, stickers, etc.) or items currently covered by either the CES budget or the CES PTO budget. These grants are not intended to replace regular school budget items, so we will rarely consider programs included in the school budget. In addition, proposals that will leverage additional funding sources are encouraged. Teachers should take this opportunity to apply for outside grant funding to subsidize the cost of their project (such as Amazon Wishlist or Donors Choose).

Resources purchased with Mini-Grant funds must be used during the current school year.

Mini-Grant Application Form and Process – Complete the Mini-Grant Request Form and return the completed form to the PTO Presidents’ mailbox in the teacher lounge. A minimum of two weeks review prior to each regularly scheduled PTO Executive Board meeting is required. Once submitted, the PTO Executive Board and Principal will review and approve (a simple majority vote) at the next calendar PTO Executive Board meeting. Applications for the 2023/2024 school year are available in the PTO mailbox, or can be downloaded. 

Proposals should include an explanation of the work involved in the project and a justification of the work’s academic originality, desired learning outcomes, connection to curriculum, and evidence of outside funding (if applicable). Please outline in your request how you will use the funds if your proposal is not fully funded.

Eligibility – All certified and non-certified CES personnel are eligible to apply. 

Mini-Grant Application Deadlines – Applications must be submitted on or before the 15th of the month to be considered for the monthly grant cycle. PTO Executive Board meetings are held the first Thursday of every month

Approval and Distribution of Grant Monies

1. The PTO Executive Committee and the Principal review and approve the mini-grant applications with a simple majority vote.

2. Approval of grant applications will be based upon the following criteria: availability of funds, availability of other funding resources, short-term or long-term goals of the project, and evaluation of how many students and/or subject areas and/or grade levels will benefit 

3. Grants are judged on a competitive basis and may be fully or partially funded or not funded at all.

4. Requests for partial funding of more expensive projects will also be considered.

5. Upon approval, written confirmation of the terms of the grant will be sent to the applicant.

6. Items approved for grants must be purchased with CES PTO funds using the CES PTO vendor requisition/check request system. 

7. Completed check request forms for grant purchases must be turned into the CES PTO Treasurer. Upon receiving the request, the CES PTO Treasurer will mail the completed order and along with the check to the vendor. You may place your check request form in the Treasurer’s mail box in the Teacher’s Lounge, or submit electronically. 

8. If the item must be purchased by the grant recipient, a completed check request form must be turned into the CES PTO Treasurer at least one week in advance with the final receipt.  

9. Application status will be confirmed in writing once funding decisions are finalized.