Grant Process

If you are interested in applying for an REF grant, please read all of the information below about the grant timeline, evaluation process, and requirements for grant recipients.

Grant Timeline

November – Grant application is revised and prepared for release

December – Grant application made available and announced to staff on website and by e-mail – view the 2023 application

February 21, 2023 – Deadline to submit grant application

February – March – Applications available for review by the grant committee. Grant applications reviewed by grants committee Grant committee meets to make recommendations Recommendations sent to REF for approval

March – Grants approved by REF at monthly meeting

March – Grant winners notified/invited to recognition dinner

May – District Recognition Dinner

Grant Evaluation

Grants are reviewed by the REF Grants Committee using a rubric. The committee recommends which grants which should be funded either partially or in full. The REF board votes on the final approval. All grant applicants are notified of the status of their application. Each primary grant applicant is invited to the annual District Service Recognition Dinner held each year on the second Thursday of May.

Grant Requirements

If grant request is approved, the recipient(s) are expected to do the following:

• Invite REF to the implementation of your funded project. Notify REF by sending an email to ridleyeducationalfoundation@gmail.org. If there is no specific event, let the REF know when the program is in place and when there may be an opportunity for REF to see how it has been implemented.
• Immediately after grant implementation, prepare a letter or notification to the parents of the students who benefited from the grant.The communication should include a note the experience was made possible by a grant from REF. REF must approve the communication before being distributed. The communication may be distributed via electronic mail, or other approved means of notification. The delivery method may depend on the number of students involved and be may determined in consultation with REF.

• Promote as a REF grant funded (in whole or in part) program in all publicity and promotions (e.g. school websites, email, flyers, and signage). Parent Teacher Organizations or Home & Schools Associations are especially important, because their communication structures can be used to help promote the projects and lend endorsement to the REF.
• REF will supply the logo for promotional materials or REF labels to be affixed to all equipment and property purchased with grant funds.
• Gather documentation (e.g. photos, videos, testimonials or other documentation) of the project and send to REF.
• Administer a survey of the program, upon completion, to the relevant parties (e.g. students, teachers, administrators, and parents) to assess the effectiveness and impact of the project. The survey and results must be included in final report.
• Complete and submit Final Grants Summary Report upon completion of grant implementation, but no later than June 30th of grant year.
• Volunteer to assist with one REF fundraising activity during the year in which the grant is implemented.