Grant Program
The AAOCC Grant Program is accepting proposals for the 2019-2020 school year. Any AAO community member may apply. Contact the Treasurer with questions.
What is the Grant Program?
Allows any AAO community member to propose or develop projects which further the goals of AAO.
Funds projects that arise mid-year after the annual budget process.
Provides funding options for part-time staff and those without a classroom/restricted account.
Provides funding for activities and supplies to implement these projects.
How is this different from “Staff Grants”?
The former “Staff Grants” program has been rolled into this larger Grant Program. Staff members are encouraged to use their classroom/restricted accounts to pay for incidental, day-to-day expenses and supplies.
Staff requests up to $100/FTE will be approved automatically with a completed Check Request Form and receipts/documentation ONLY if received by (DATE TBA).
Staff requests filed after (DATE TBA) or for more than $100/FTE require a completed Grant Request Form and will be reviewed using the same criteria as other requests.
What is the Application Process?
Any staff member, parent/guardian, or student of the Ann Arbor Open Community may apply by completing the Grant Request Form and returning it to the Treasurer.
Staff requesting up to $100 by (DATE TBA) only need to complete a Check Request Form.
Requested funds are not guaranteed. FiFun will decide whether to approve, deny, approve a modified version, or defer each request. Applicants may appeal the decision to the Treasurer.
Grant requests will be reviewed at least 3 times per year; at the October, January, and March FiFun Meetings. Applicants are welcome to attend.
Funds will be distributed from the Grant Program fund throughout the year. A large request made at the beginning of the school year may be deferred until later in effort to not exhaust the fund early on.
It takes about 4-6 weeks from the time a request is submitted until a decision is made. Please submit requests as early as possible to allow the committee to review all the information.
If approved, a separate Check Request Form will be required for distribution of funds.
What are the Criteria Used for Funding Decisions?
All projects and programs MUST:
Support the educational goals, philosophy, mission and values of AAO. Priority will be given to requests that will benefit the entire AAO community.
Have a chairperson.
Be manageable by AAO volunteers.
Have enough volunteers with sufficient abilities to complete needed tasks.
For staff requests over $100:
Priority will be given to staff members without classroom/restricted accounts or with limited funds in those accounts.
Include quotes from two or more potential sources, if possible.
The AAOCC strongly encourages the use of AAO community & locally-owned businesses. However, to avoid any conflict of interest, or appearance of a conflict:
Care should be taken that one community member is not favored over others.
Goods or services should be received at a fair price.
Do not source products or services from businesses of committee members or their families.