Looking for a great grant writing opportunity?

It's Summer... That time to take a deep breath and enjoy a little relaxation.  AHHHH!

Ok.. Ok..  I'm gonna be honest.  I've always been told "I don't SIT well,"... meaning that I have a hard time "doing nothing"... relaxing... You know what I mean!   I'm a multi-tasker, by nature.   I usually take a nice weekend off from "school stuff" at the end of the year, but come the next week...by mind is already excited and locked into gear to start planning how to make next year bigger and better!   

If you are like me, then consider this little "opportunity."  

Join me as I spend the next few days, brainstorming how to bring art activities to life, by submitting an application to Crayola for one of these epic grants.   

Come on people!   We all know we NEVER have enough resources to use with our kinder-peeps... and here is an "opportunity" to get some incredible products/resources for FREE!!!

Those of you who have followed me for a while know that I'm an avid "grant" lover...

And while I'm no professional "expert".. I have dipped my toes in the grant writing pool, and have received over $40,000 of grants for MY classroom over the years!  {True Story} 

Let me tell you, it IS NOT DIFFICULT!   You just gotta' go for it!   In reality, most teachers never apply for grants because they don't think they can "do it"... and/or don't think they have the time.  The truth is, most grant applications are NOT difficult to complete... and honestly, aren't as competitive as you think!  It's true, you can't win 'em all...but if you try, you WILL win some! 

So, start this summer out by trying something new!!!  Who couldn't use some epic art supplies for their classroom next year??

CHECK. IT.  OUT.

Creative Leadership Grants 2014

(Click HERE for the direct link to the grant information on Crayola.com)

The 2014 Creative Leadership Grant program provides grants for innovative, creative leadership team building within elementary schools. Apply now for the opportunity to receive a grant for building your school's creative capacity. Each grant-winning school (up to 20 grants awarded) receives $2,500 and Crayola products valued at $1,000.

 Actual product assortment may vary.

Here's how you can get started now...

• Form a collaborative team to plan innovative ways of infusing creativity throughout the school.
• Brainstorm a leadership program that will enrich the creative capabilities and confidence within the school community.
• Plan how and who will lead this collaborative effort.
• Complete the application.
• Submit your application by June 23, 2014 (principal must be NAESP member).

In collaboration with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), Crayola offers up to 20 grants. The applications will only be accepted from principals who are members of NAESP. If you are not the principal, please collaborate with your school's leader to develop the plan and confirm that he/she is currently a member of NAESP. If not a member, go to NAESP.org to find out how to become a member.

Educators whose schools received this grant in 2013 will not be eligible to apply for a 2014-2015 grant. 2013 winners may apply again in 2015.

The National Art Education Association encourages their members to partner with their school's principal and colleagues to generate grant proposals.

Schools who received this grant in 2013 will not be eligible to apply for a 2014-2015 grant. Instead, we urge you to become a judge to help score new proposals. 2013 winners may apply again in 2015.

Applications should be sent to creativelyalive@crayola.com or faxed to 610-515-8781, Attn: Anita DeChellis. Applications will be accepted until 12:00 Midnight ET Monday, June 23, 2014.

Download your application today!

Review our Judging Rubric

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does the application need to focus on developing a Creative Leadership Team, and does this team need to build the school's creative capabilities?Yes. We look forward to the many innovative ways schools propose building the creative capacity of the school and increasing arts-infused education. Within the plan you could address specific needs and interests of your learning community including creating the team, crafting a common vision, charting a strategic plan, changing behaviors, building creative confidence, creative capacity building, embedding creativity into the school culture, peer observation and coaching, and using authentic assessment to document student achievement. What yourCreative Leadership does and how you envision, implement, and assess the progress should be innovative!
• What type of innovation is required? We urge that each grant application be original and not duplicate an idea that was funded in a prior year. The application changed in 2013 to emphasize creative leadership and capacity building so don’t rely on ideas from past grant winners as clues to funding future proposals. The new grants are less about a project and more about embedding a long-term commitment to arts-infused education and building creative teaching capacity.
• What are examples of Creative Leadership Capacity Building? One example could include building a Creativity Professional Development plan that includes a series of workshops delivered by teachers, for teachers. For inspiration, the teacher-leaders might attend a Creativity Leadership Conference with the plan of delivering similar training to teachers, school-wide.  Another example would be to bring in an arts organization that has expertise in integration art across the curriculum and having a series of training workshops followed up by co-teaching sessions so the information gets embedded into classroom teachers' practices. Organizing grade level creativity teams who have monthly collaboration meetings where they design lessons and coach each other to implement art-infused cross-curricular lessons would be another example.  An interesting idea might be to engage parents in the planning process and provide creativity-oriented books for faculty and parents to read and discuss in book club sessions where their conversations are enriched by guest speakers who specialize in the value of arts integration to increase student achievement. There is no one best way to do this, but it needs to build the schools' creative leadership capacity.  The focus of Creative Leadership Capacity Building is to provide significant, sustainable professional development, not just a one-time speaker or conference trip. The funds could be used to run a series of workshops and other innovative ideas that foster collaboration focused on arts-based interdisciplinary learning.
• Briefly, what is the Champion Creatively Alive Children grant program?Up to 20 grants will be available from Crayola to help educators develop Creative Leadership teams that identify and deliver innovative, promising practices that inspire other educators to increase arts-infused education.    
• What is the grant? The school will receive $2,500 and $1,000 worth of Crayola products to develop an arts-infused education, creative capacity-building, professional development program.
• When will the grants be awarded? The grants will be distributed in November 2014. Finalists are contacted in early October and if they submit the required W9 form and signed photo permission forms, they will be grant winners.
• Do I need to complete the attached photo permission form now? The attached photo permission form is required from Finalists. Finalists will be notified in October 2014. Applicants must agree to obtain and submit signed photo permission forms for each student and faculty member, if they win. However the forms are only completed and collected from Finalists.   
• What if my school does not have an art teacher? If the school does not have a certified Art Educator, the principal should collaborate with the person(s) designated within the school to teach the arts.
• Are Middle Schools eligible to receive a grant? Yes, if the principal is a member of NAESP.
• Are Early Childhood Programs eligible to receive a grant? Yes, if the early childhood program is part of an elementary school program, and if that administrator is the principal of the elementary school and a member of NAESP.
• My principal is a member of the State affiliate association, but not the national (NAESP) - what do we do?   The principal must also be a national NAESP member. Nonmember principals can join now at www.naesp.org.   
• What if my principal leaves during the 2014–2015 school year? The school's new principal should join NAESP.
• Does the proposal have to focus on one of the "What if..." ideas outlined in the application? No, we encourage an original "what if..." that addresses your school's needs.
• What criteria are used to judge the applications? The scoring rubric is available online for applicants to review before submitting.

Somebody has got to win!  

 It might as well by YOU....

 AND ME, of course!  LOL