The Plymouth Education Foundation's new Grants program will provide seed money to fund innovative initiatives that enhance the educational experience for students in the Plymouth School District. The Foundation's Grants program will directly impact students and help prepare them to become successful in life and make a difference in our community/society.
Grants are awarded to Plymouth School District Staff. Students in the Plymouth School District and members of the Plymouth Community who have Grant ideas are encouraged to contact the Foundation by calling 920-892-2661 ext. 1008 or emailing info@plymouthedfoundation.org to schedule a meeting with the Foundation and Assistant Superintendent/Director of Curriculum to discuss Grant ideas that may be appropriate for PSD Students and/or Plymouth Community Members to partner with PSD Staff.
The Foundation's Grant program is funded by the Foundation's donors. Please refer to the Foundation's Donate page for additional information on how to make a donation to support the Foundation's new Grants program.
Featured grants
Foundation awards $5,500 in major grants
Students benefit from 8 Foundation mini-grants
Foundation grant helps PHS put on Senior Art Show
Earlier grants
• Foundation grants enhance reading effortsThe Plymouth Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 non profit organization who is dedicated to enhancing the educational experience for students enrolled in the Plymouth School District. The Foundation awards grants on an annual basis in the areas of: Academic Enrichment, Extracurricular Activities, Professional Development, and Connecting Students With Their Futures and Community.
The Foundation seeks to promote and fund educational initiatives that enhance innovation, leadership, and excellence for students enrolled in the Plymouth School District, but are not part of the school district’s budget.
Grants are awarded to Plymouth School District Staff. Students in the Plymouth School District and members of the Plymouth Community are encouraged to partner with Plymouth School District Staff to apply for grants.
The success of the Plymouth Education Foundation Grants are focused on innovative educational initiatives that have high visibility, meaningful impact, and led by a passionate individual or team of individuals who are committed to making an innovative idea a reality to directly benefit students enrolled in the Plymouth School District as it relates to academic enrichment, extracurricular activities, professional development, and Connecting Students With Their Futures and Community.
Dear Plymouth School District Staff, Students, and Community:
To encourage innovation, excellence, and leadership in the Plymouth School District, the Plymouth Education Foundation established Grants Funds in 2015-16 to invest in new or enhanced ideas, initiatives, and programs that benefit current and future students in the Plymouth School District today and into the future.
These investments, or Grants Funds, will support and advance the mission of the Plymouth Education Foundation, which is to enhance the educational experience for students enrolled in the Plymouth School District. As well as, support the goals and priorities outlined in the Plymouth School District’s strategic plans, building goals, and curriculum. For more information about the foundation, please visit http://plymouthedfoundation.org. For more information about the district’s strategic plans, goals, and curriculum please visit the district’s Pillars of Excellence. Similar to a venture capital fund, the Plymouth Education Foundation will provide seed funding for educational initiatives that are new or enhance an existing program. The Foundation is looking for innovative ideas that have high visibility and meaningful impact. You may apply for funding, each year, for up to three years for the same grant, but then you must take a one-year hiatus. However, please note, multiple year funding is not guaranteed.
The Foundation’s Grants Funds may be used for a wide variety of educational initiatives including Academic Enrichment, Extracurricular Activities, Professional Development, and Connecting Students With Their Futures and Community.
The Foundation encourages innovative ideas that are new or expand interdisciplinary clusters, build community and industry partnerships, support entrepreneurial student ventures, and prepare students to succeed in life. The Foundation supports educational initiatives that benefit our schools and our community. To be successful, it is important to share these new ideas and initiatives, celebrate successes, and learn from experiences including both the expected as well as the unexpected. The Plymouth Education Foundation encourages participation, collaboration, and sharing the outcomes of the funded educational initiatives to inspire innovation, leadership, and excellence in our schools and our community now and into the future.
2023-24 grant applications:
Innovation, Leadership, and Excellence in the following areas:
Academic Enrichment
Grant proposals will be accepted for projects that creatively enhance the educational experience for students enrolled in the Plymouth School District in any academic discipline. Projects that are sought will be innovative, highly visible, and have meaningful impact reaching multiple classrooms, cross disciplines, or involve more than one school. Projects are encouraged that are new or expand interdisciplinary clusters and build community/industry partnerships.
Extracurricular Activities
Grant proposals will be accepted to support education or training of student and/or coach participants in extracurricular activities are defined as those involving performance, publication, or competition in which students represent the school and do not receive academic credit. These may include interscholastic athletics (but not intramural athletics), school organizations that have competitions, put on performances, or produce publications where the group represents the school as part of the competition, performance, or publication. NOTE: Grant Funds may not be used for operating expenses such as uniforms, equipment, or travel.
Professional Development
Grant proposals will be accepted to support teachers/staff in programs or training that enhance the educational experience and directly benefits students enrolled in the Plymouth School District. Consideration will be given to high quality/credibility of program, total number of teachers/staff attending, degree of speaker/presenter connection to district strategic plan, curriculum, and building goals, and commitment/plan of attendees to share the information in a timely and effective manner with all relevant teachers/staff and students in the district.
Connecting Students With Their Futures and Community
Grant proposals will be accepted for projects that support innovative learning opportunities for students enrolled in the Plymouth School District that excite and prepare them for their futures as career and college ready. Consideration will be given to programs/projects that encourage students to learn from “real life” experiences, to increase their understanding of and challenge their thinking about the world around them, support entrepreneurial student ventures, and help students be prepared to succeed in life and make a difference in the community/society.
Teachers, Staff, and Administrators in the Plymouth School District.
Students and Community members in partnership with a Teacher, Staff, or Administrator in the Plymouth School District. PSD Students and Community Members who have grant ideas are required to first contact the Plymouth Education Foundation Executive Director. The Foundation Executive Director will schedule a meeting with the PSD Student or Community Member, Foundation Executive Director, Foundation Grant Committee Chair, and the PSD Assistant Superintendent/Director of Curriculum to discuss grant ideas that may be appropriate for partnership with PSD Staff.
The PSD Teacher, Staff, or Administrator will be the lead applicant for the Grant.
What type of projects are eligible?
Funds are available for a wide variety of projects including: launching new academic programs, developing
new interdisciplinary clusters, building community and industry partnerships, supporting entrepreneurial
student ventures, or funding new ideas that benefit our schools and our community. Projects are expected
to support the Plymouth Education Foundation’s mission, which is to enhance the educational experience
for students enrolled in the Plymouth School District. In addition, projects are expected to advance one or
more of the Plymouth School District’s strategic plans, building goals, and curriculum. Ideas can include
adaptation of existing strategies to support students in new ways as well as the development of brand new
ideas.
What are the criteria for funding?
Applications will be evaluated based on the potential impact on achieving the goals of the Plymouth
School District strategic plan, support of the Plymouth Education Foundation mission statement, level of
innovation, and potential for success. Projects that include collaboration between schools/interdisciplinary
clusters and partnerships with the community and have high visibility and meaningful impact on students
are encouraged.
Who can apply?
Teachers, Staff, and Administrators in the Plymouth School District.
Students and Community members in partnership with a Teacher, Staff, or Administrator in the Plymouth
School District. PSD Students and Community Members who have grant ideas are required to first contact
the Plymouth Education Foundation Executive Director. The Foundation Executive Director will schedule
a meeting with the PSD Student or Community Member, Foundation Executive Director, Foundation Grant
Committee Chair, and the PSD Assistant Superintendent/Director of Curriculum to discuss grant ideas that
may be appropriate for partnership with PSD Staff.
The PSD Teacher, Staff, or Administrator will be the lead applicant for the Grant.
Are there a set number of grants and amounts to be awarded each year?
There are no set number of grants that will be funded; judges attempt to balance funds through the grant
application judging rubic.
Project funds should be based on the needs of the project. Budget allocations will be based on the quality of
the applications and availability of funds.
The total amount of funds for grants each year is determined by the Foundation’s Finance Committee and
approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors during the Foundation’s annual budget approval process in
May/June.
Can I apply for more than one grant at a time?
While you may submit as many grant applications as you have ideas, the Plymouth Education Foundation
will award not more than two grants per applicant.
What if my program extends over multiple years?
The Plymouth Education Foundation provides seed money for innovation, leadership, and excellence
educational initiatives that have high visibility and meaningful impact and should not be considered a
resource for ongoing funding.
Applicants may apply for funding, each year, for up to three years for the same grant, but then you must take
a one-year hiatus. NOTE: multiple year funding is not guaranteed.
If I am awarded a grant, when will I receive funding?
The District is given the funds from the Plymouth Education Foundation for distribution in June for use the
following school year. Recipients may choose to purchase their supplies immediately or wait until the school
year begins.
Grantees need to carefully track expenses and save receipts for transparent and accountable use of grant
funds. NOTE: Any unused funding needs to be returned to the Plymouth Education Foundation by August
before the start of the next school year.
Grant recipients are required to submit a final report to help the Plymouth Education Foundation ensure
transparency and effective grant making and data collection. If an applicant who is awarded a grant does not
submit a final report, then the applicant may not apply nor will be considered for future grants.
The Plymouth Education Foundation does not reimburse for previously incurred expenses.
If I am awarded a grant, what happens if the scope or intent changes from what was originally stated in
the awarded/approved application?
Any changes made to an awarded/approved grant must be submitted to the Foundation Executive Director
who will provide the revised scope/intent to the Selection Committee for approval.
If my application is denied, may I reapply?
If your application is denied, you may reapply the following year. Although, if there are specific reasons your
application was denied, the applicant will be expected to revise the application based on the Foundation’s
Grant Selection Committee’s feedback.
Are there any types of requests the Plymouth Education Foundation will not fund?
The Plymouth Education Foundation does not fund anything that does not support the mission of the
Plymouth Education Foundation, which is to enhance the educational experience for students enrolled in the
Plymouth School District. In addition, the Foundation does not fund anything the Plymouth School District
nor Plymouth School Board do not deem appropriate and aligned with District strategic plans, building
goals, and curriculum. Please note: we specifically do not fund flexible seating grants, as well as field trip and transportation costs. Judges look carefully at requests for technology and the extent to which they can be
supported by District Information Technology Staff.
Other Questions?
Contact: Plymouth Education Foundation, 920-892-2661 ext. 1008 or
info@plymouthedfoundation.org
Turning Dividers Into Uniters
Applicant: Kelly Drews
Impact: Fairview
Amount Awarded: $3,000
Outdoor Play Area
Applicants: Julie Kohlmann
Impact: Parkview
Amount Awarded: $2,500
Covid Flex Seating
Applicant: Amanda Parks
Impact: Riverview
Amount Awarded: $1,382
Books For All
Applicants: Sara Turenne
Impact: Riverview
Amount Awarded: $1,406
Riverview Auditorium
Applicants: Rachel Simac, Sara Stout
Impact: Riverview
Amount Awarded: $5,500
Battle of the Books
Applicant: Justin Goffard
Impact: Horizon Elementary
Amount Awarded; $615
Science Stations in Agriculture Classroom
Applicant: Tracy Heinbuch
Impact: PHS
Amount Awarded: $12,419.55
Laser Engraver
Applicant: Andrew Harder
Impact: Riverview
Amount Awarded: $14,179
Riverview Auditorium
Applicants: Rachel Simac
Impact: Riverview
Amount Awarded: $5,500
Lego League Expansion
Applicants: Shelly Taylor
Impact: Parkview and Horizon
Amount Awarded: $4,349
Fairview Sensory Path
Applicants: Jen Kiekhoefer
Impact: Fairview
Amount Awarded: $2,100
STEAM Girls Rock! Club
Applicants: Kay Tharp, Lexy Piskule
Impact: Riverview, PHS, St. John the Baptist, St. John Lutheran
Amount Awarded: $1,275
Lab-Friendly Classroom
Applicants: Rachel Laskowski
Impact: Riverview Middle School
Amount Awarded: $4,284
Parkview Secret Garden
Applicants: John Mather, Laura Grunwald
Impact: Parkview Elementary
Amount Awarded: $3,000
Animating Author Alumni
Applicants: Dena Budrecki, Field Lehman
Impact: Horizon, Parkview, Fairview and Plymouth Art Center
Amount Awarded: $1,450
Flexible Seating for 21st Century Success
Applicants: Sanora Stout
Impact: Riverview Middle School
Amount Awarded: $5,273.52
Learning Center Concept
Applicants: Georgia Tucker
Impact: Plymouth High School
Amount Awarded: $5000
Becoming Innovative Resourceful Designing Students(BIRDS) Projects
Applicants: Chris Helmer, Brenda Schwaller
Impact: All Elementary
Amount Awarded: $2444
One Book, Many Families, One Community
Applicants: Lori Brown, Judy Woelfel, Kaitlyn Beck, Jackie Murphy, Cassie Cotter, Lisa Krzyzaniack
Impact: All Elementary and Community
Amount Awarded: $2600
Green Team Compost and Less Landfill Project
Applicants: Bob Mueller
Impact: All District Students
Amount Awarded: $1000
STEM Girls Rock! Club
Applicants: Kay Tharp, Lexy Piskule
Impact: Riverview and PHS
Amount Awarded: $600
Parkview Bird Club
Applicants: John Roehre
Impact: Parkview Elementary
Amount Awarded: $425
First Lego League Jr.
Applicants: Sarah Lee, Shelly Taylor
Impact: Parkview Elementary
Amount Awarded: $4000
Number Ninjas Math Club
Applicant: Heather Gehri
Impact: Horizon Elementary
Amount Awarded: $700
Tools For Schools
Applicants: Adrienne Barrett, Laura Grunwald
Impact: All District Students
Amount Awarded: $2500
Flexible Seating for the 21st Century Learner
Applicants: Pam Holzhaeuser
Impact: Riverview Middle School
Amount Awarded: $4497
Total Awarded: $18,766
Becoming Innovative Resourceful Designing Students (BIRDS) Projects: $2, 531 to applicants Fairview teachers Chris Helmer and Brenda Schwaller to benefit all elementary schools.
One Book, Many Families, One Community: $1,160 to Horizon teachers Lori Brown, Judy Woelfel, Kaitlyn Beck and Jackie Murphy and Horizon media specialist Melissa Costello to benefit all elementary schools and the community.
Personalized Learning Flipped Classroom: $3,750 to sixth-grade teacher Bradley Mey and fifth-grade teacher Kelly Lugonjic to benefit the fifth and sixth grades.
Imagination Building a STEAM Curriculum: $4,481 to gifted and talented coordinator Jennifer Marten to benefit gifted and talented students in grades 1-4 and Parkview students in grades 2-4.
Visiting Artisits and Art Enrichment Series: Applicant was Lisa Keys-Dulmes; PHS impact expected; $3,000 award.
One Book One Community: Plymouth Chapter: Applicants were Community Education & Recreation director Kathryn Murray and Plymouth Public Library director Martha Rosche; expected to impact Community Ed & Rec, Riverview Middle School and PHS; $2,000 award.
Theater Technology and Design Course Professional Support: Applicant was Janet DeJean Newton; PHS impact expected; $1,675 award.
Improved Recycling Attitudes and Practices: Applicants were PHS biology teacher Tina Henriksen and PHS head custodian Bob Mueller; districtwide impact expected; $1,000 award.
