HOW SEF GRANTS WORK — AND WHY YOUR DONATION FUNDS REAL IDEAS

Here's something most people don't know about how schools work: a teacher can have a truly great idea — an idea that could light up a classroom, spark a love of learning, or give a struggling student a totally new way to engage — and still not be able to do anything about it, because there's simply no money in the budget for it.

That's the gap SEF was built to fill.

What Are SEF Grants?

SEF grants are direct funding awards given to members of the Sharon school community — teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community members — for projects that go beyond what the regular school budget can support.

We fund a wide range of work, including:

• Innovative academic projects that bring new approaches to core subjects

• Visual and performing arts programs

• Multicultural and community learning experiences

• Professional development that helps Sharon's educators grow

Grant money can be used for materials, outside consultants or guest speakers, artists and performers, and even training and travel costs tied to a project's goals.

Two Ways to Apply

We run two grant cycles each year.

The Annual Grant Cycle reviews proposals every spring for projects that launch in the following school year. This is the main cycle, and it gives teachers and program leaders time to plan and prepare.

The Intra-Year Grant Cycle is for ideas that can't wait. If an opportunity comes up during the school year — one that fits our mission and can be completed before June 30th — teams can apply outside the regular schedule.

What Has Been Funded?

The results speak for themselves. Recent SEF grants have put a 3-D printer at Sharon Middle School so students could learn robotics. They funded a flexible seating proposal that was literally written by 2nd graders at East Elementary, who used the Playful Learning curriculum to identify a problem in their classroom and design a solution. They helped bring a mural to Heights Elementary.

These aren't abstract programs. They're real things happening in real classrooms, with real kids.

What Does Your Donation Actually Fund?

When you donate to SEF, you're directly funding the grant pool. Every dollar we raise goes back into the community through grants, scholarships, and programming. We're a volunteer-run organization, which means overhead is minimal and your contribution goes a long way.

A $50 donation can cover supplies for a classroom art project. A $250 donation can help bring a guest speaker to a school. A $1,000 donation can co-fund a whole new program.

The grant cycle is open to anyone connected to the Sharon school community. If you're a teacher with an idea worth funding, we want to hear from you.

Apply for a Grant | Support SEF's Grant Fund