Round Lake Area Education Foundation
Grant Making Procedures and Policies
2025 - 2026

Grants are requested by application located HERE. Grants will be allocated three times during the school year. Please make sure you follow the schedule to assure consideration of your grant application.

Procedures for Consideration
Staff considering submitting an application for a grant must review the proposal with the principal of their school. The principal reviews to make certain the request supports standard goals for the district, supports student achievement, and is not already funded in the school budget. The principal may also request additional information or clarification as needed. Once the principal approves, the applicant will submit the grant and certify that the principal has approved the request.

After the principal approves the proposal, the grant is submitted electronically for district review and approval. The application will be submitted to the District's Teaching & Learning Department.  The request will be reviewed to ensure the request meets district standards, supports district goals, and that it cannot be funded by a source within the district budget. If the application is approved, it will be submitted to the RLAS-116 Education Foundation Grants Committee and the Education Foundation Board of Trustees for consideration. 

RLAS-116 Education Foundation Grant Ranking Criteria
The Grants Committee will use the following ranking criteria method to evaluate grants.
There are a possible of 10 total points received under the following criteria for grants under consideration.

• 10 possible points for unique and innovative           
• 10 possible points for individual student impact 
• 10 possible points for sustainability, durability, and continuity
• 10 possible points for collective impact of the program - multiple classes/number of  students involved, credit hours earned
•  5 possible points for business and/or community partnerships
•  10 possible points for alignment with Foundation goals and mission

Awards must have a minimum Average of 39 (thirty-nine) or better to be considered. 

RLAS-116 Education Foundation Grant Discussion Procedures
Each member of the Grants Committee reviews and evaluates each application with possible pros and cons of each request; each written report is tallied for total points awarded and comments on pros or cons by each evaluator and an average score is established.  

The time frame for discussion is 15 minutes for pros and cons then an additional 5 minutes to share scores and determine the averages. This time limit may be amended by a vote of the committee. If in person is not possible, scores are shared with the Grant Committee Chair, scores are tallied and if there are huge disparities in scores, the Chair will ask for score explanations from each of the members of the Grant committee.

If a grant applicant is recommended by the Grants review committee, it goes to the board for confirmation.

RLAS-116 Education Foundation Procedures for Approved Grants
When approved, Grants Chairman notifies the following people of the award: teacher receiving award, copying principal, and Deputy Superintendent within 72 hours. 

Grant awardee submits purchase order through the building principal to the District, District pays the invoice. Purchase order is submitted to the Foundation Treasurer for reimbursement.
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The Deputy Superintendent sets up formal presentation at school’s earliest Staff Meeting. Foundation President awards certificate printed by Grants Chairman to the grant recipient at Staff Meeting, explains Foundation Grants to staff and encourages others to apply, reminding them of the mission of the Foundation.

RLAS-116 Education Foundation Grant Application Schedule

Grant Period	Staff Submission Date	District Approval Date	Foundation Approval Date
September/October	Sept 29, 2025	Oct 3, 2025	Oct 18, 2025
February	Feb 2, 2026	Feb 6, 2026	Feb 19, 2026

Grant awardees are notified within 72 hours of the Education Foundation Board's approval or rejection.