Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Grant Guidelines: Gateway Fund

The Gateway Fund is an endowed fund whose purpose is to enhance and enrich the educational experience of the students and teachers in the North Adams School District (NASD). Gateway wants to ensure the highest level of achievement for the students and enhance their capacity to achieve excellence both in school and in the community.

Gateway is seeking proposals for grants from students, teachers, administrators, staff, parents, nonprofits and members of the community of the North Adams School District for projects that will fulfill the purposes of the Fund.

Eligibility

Grants from the Fund will not replace public dollars for the school district. Gateway seeks primarily to help cover the direct costs of projects (not salaries). Priority will be given to proposals that rely on volunteer efforts and that show additional means of support.

Possible projects include, but are certainly not limited to: independent study; new programs; extra-curricular activities; individual creative projects in or outside the classroom; visiting speakers; artists-in-residence; professional development for teachers; scientific, athletic, or technical equipment; library resources; and class field trips.

Berkshire Taconic does not support organizations which in their constitution, by-laws, or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.

Awards

Grants awarded will generally range from $100 to $1,000 for the first several years as Gateway builds its endowment.

Applicants will be informed of Berkshire Taconic’s decision within two months of the deadline date.

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Excellence: How worthy is the project or service? Is it the right time for the project? Does it involve qualified individuals/groups?
• Impact: What is the potential impact of the project or service on the NASD community? Does the project serve a significant number of students and what is the quality of the impact?
• Ability: Can the applicant complete the project?

Applications will be reviewed by the Gateway committee, composed of community members, parents, teachers, students, the superintendent and the school community. Their recommendations will be reviewed by Berkshire Taconic’s board of directors.

If you have any questions, please contact programs@berkshiretaconic.org.