Dominion Educational Partnership

Additional Program Details

Award Categories

Successful grant proposals should represent innovative and promising ideas, teach math and/or science skills, reach a significant number of students and demonstrate broad-based community support. Proposals must align with one of the following target areas:

• Environmental Education: projects to develop math and/or science skills through the study of the environment.
• Energy Grants: projects designed to increase students' awareness of energy efficiency and conservation, energy sources or other energy-related topics.

Grants will be awarded as follows: 

• Mini-grants (up to $1,000) for small projects that enhance the teaching of math and/or science. Please note: mini-grants are not limited to energy and the environment;
• Larger grants (ranging from $1,001-$5,000) for projects involving a few classes/small number of students; 
• Exceptional grants (ranging from $5,001-$10,000) for projects with a broader focus. These projects may: involve larger numbers of children and/or classes; have a school-wide/system-wide focus, or involve the surrounding community. (Note: A limited number of larger grants will be funded.)
  

Eligibility Guidelines & Geographic Eligibility

The Dominion Foundation will award approximately $300,000 in educational partnership grants throughout targeted areas.

Public and private elementary and secondary schools and public school divisions that are registered with the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), institutions of higher education and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations are invited to apply.

Geographic Eligibility

• Connecticut — cities of Colchester, East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, Montville, New London,  North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Salem, Stonington, and Waterford
• Maryland — Counties of Calvert, Charles, Prince George's and St. Mary's
• Massachusetts — Fall River, Lynn, Marblehead, Salem, Somerset, Swansea and Westport
• North Carolina — The counties of:  Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Caswell, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Edgecomb, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrell, Warren and Washington, and the cities of Roanoke Rapids and Weldon
• Ohio — Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Guernsey, Hardin, Holmes, Knox, Lake, Mahoning, Medina, Mercer, Monroe, Paulding, Portage, Putman, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Van Wert, Washington and Wayne
• Pennsylvania — Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Potter, Somerset, Tioga, Venango, Washington and Westmoreland
• Rhode Island — Providence
• Virginia and West Virginia — All localities are invited to apply

Expectation of Grant Recipients

All project coordinators will be notified by e-mail of the Partnership's funding decisions on or before July 16.  Public announcement of the full slate of Partnership grant awards is expected by September 1.

Grant recipients will be asked to:

• Meet with Dominion representatives in August or September to review their proposal, discuss project parameters and receive the grant check
• Complete a mid-year (January) and detailed final report (June)
• Prepare three lesson plans that Dominion can post on its Web site to share with other educators

Project Description

The project description should total no more than five pages (no more than two pages for Mini Grants) and should include items listed below. It is recommended that grant applicants type the proposal using word processing software, then copy and paste:

• an explanation of the project and specific learning activities
• targeted student population
• expected outcomes
• effective evaluation methods to measure achievement
• plans to sustain the program and include a broad community of students

Budget Items and Restrictions

Dominion will consider full funding of amounts requested in each proposal, but reserves the right to fund some proposals partially.  Budget items may include but are not limited to:

• instructional materials and supplies
• admission fees
• transportation costs for student activities
• guest speakers
• teacher staff development specifically related to the project
• substitute teachers required for student or staff development activities
• equipment specifically related to the proposed project

Budget Restrictions

The Partnership does not cover:

• operating expenses
• costs associated with presenting at conferences
• capital drives and building funds
• scholarships, endowments, or overhead costs

Recent Awards

View the most recent awards provided to schools and educational organizations by the Dominion Foundation.

Proposal Evaluation

A panel of community, educational and Dominion representatives will review the applications, based on the following:

• Represent innovative and promising ideas to teach math and/or science concepts, skills or processes. (20%)
• Commit to monitor, evaluate and document progress in student learning throughout the project. (30%)
• Demonstrate careful planning and broad-based organizational and/or community support for the project. (20%)
• Meet a compelling need. (15%)
• Provide a well-defined budget (see budget) and leverages other resources. (15%)

Sample Grant Proposals

View sample proposals that can serve as a guide for developing your proposal.