Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Grant Guidelines: Germantown Student Education Arts and Humanities Fund

The Germantown Student Education Arts and Humanities Endowment Fund is an endowed fund whose purpose is to enhance and enrich the experience of the arts and humanities of students and teachers in the Germantown Central School District (GCSD). We seek to support projects that will promote excellence. Grant applications will be accepted from students, teachers, administrators, parents and members of the broader community.

Eligibility

Grants from the Germantown Student Education Arts and Humanities Endowment Fund will not replace public dollars for the school district. Possible projects in the arts and humanities include, but are certainly not limited to: independent study; new programs; extracurricular activities; individual creative projects, in or outside the classroom; visiting speakers; artists-in-residence; professional development for teachers; library resources, and class field trips. Preference will be given to activities to activities that take place within the school community.

The arts and humanities are broadly defined and include all cultural and humanities disciplines. Not eligible are mathematic, scientific, or athletic projects.

For requests from individuals, preference will be given to projects that lead to a significant impact on the school community.

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 $2,500 for the first several years as the fund 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: Is the project or service truly of a high quality? 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 community? This does not mean the number of people involved, but rather the quality of the impact.
• Ability: Is the project well thought out and feasible?

Applications will be reviewed by the governing board of the Germantown Student Education Arts and Humanities Endowment Fund, made up of community members, parents, teachers, students, the Superintendent and a member of the Board of Education. Their recommendations will be reviewed by Berkshire Taconic’s board of directors.

If you have any questions about The Germantown Student Education Arts and Humanities Fund, email us at grants@berkshiretaconic.org.