AFE invites applications for grant programs available to teachers and school personnel

Learn more about AFE Grants!

The Albany Fund for Education and the Office of Professional Development hosted a Google Meet on Tuesday, November 21, 2021 to go over the different types of grants available to educators and school personnel in the Albany City School District. The session was recorded, and is available for district employees through My Learning Plan. If you have questions about grants, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email or phone.

Resource Grants

Resource Grants – a new grant opportunity from AFE – allow teachers to request funding for specific one-time classroom needs or to support field trips. Resource grants do not require a community partner, and can range from $50 – $500. Resource grants require sign-off from the building principal in order to ensure equitable distribution of funds.

Resource Grant Example: Teacher wants to replace the classroom incubator used for her annual chick hatching project.

To apply for a Resource Grant application, click to download an application in pdf format or Word format.

Partnership Grants

Partnership Grants support classroom projects and programs implemented with the involvement of a community partner. Awards range from $500-$1,500 for individual schools, with grants up to $2,500 for projects involving multiple schools or Albany High School academies. AFE can help line up community partners and flesh out initial ideas for your grant proposal.

Partnership Grant Example: Teacher wants to replace the classroom incubator used for her annual chick hatching project and take her students on a field trip to a farm to release the baby chicks and see actual chickens and eggs. The farm is the community partner.

To apply for a Partnership Grant, click to download an application in pdf format or Word format.

Innovation Grants

Innovation Grants are similar to Partnership Grants, but on a larger scale. Innovation Grants are intended for multi-school or large-scale projects with project budgets of $2,500 or more that introduce new ideas and resources to the District. Innovation Grants may also support pilot programs with a plan for later expansion. The participation of a community partner in Innovation Grants is highly recommended, but is not required. Innovation grants require sign-off from the relevant administrator, who may be a building leader or a district-wide administrator.

Innovation Grant Example: Elementary Science Curriculum leader and teachers want to introduce a chick hatching unit in all district schools. One incubator per school is purchased along with relevant grade level fiction and non-fiction books, the partnership with the farm is expanded, and a professional development workshop on integrating chicks across the curriculum is offered.

To apply for an Innovation Grant, download an application in pdf format or Word format.

 

A Few of Our Recent Grants

  • Hackett Middle School – Choir Recording of “Fall On Me.” Partnership Grant with Cathedral Sound. Funding to record “Fall On Me,” with the 150 member HMS choir. This song was written by two Albany High School Graduates for Christina Aguilara! We thought it would be a great idea to sing a song written by one of our own as we come back together after the pandemic.
  • Philip Schuyler Achievement Academy – “Our Stories Publication.” Partnership Grant with Troy Bookmakers. English Language Learners will write and illustrate a book telling their stories and those of their families. This will engage all their language skills and allow them to take pride in their biculturalism and share their hopes, dreams and aspirations.
  • Abrookin Career and Technical Center – “Career and Small Business Development Workshop Series.” Partnership Grant with Mission Accomplished Transition Services. Mission Accomplished will provide Career and Business education through workshops to the cosmetology and barbering students at Albany High School’s Abrookin Career and Technical Center. In addition to workshops, Mission Accomplished Transition Services will also provide 4-6 career specific business toolkits for students. The toolkits would include items such as barbicide, scissors, combs, personalized aprons with their names on them, etc.
  • Eagle Point Elementary School – “Growing Minds Through Growing Crystals.” Resource Grant to purchase crystal growing kits to provide hands-on science opportunities for 2nd grade students.
  • Albany High School – FLY! Viewing Opportunity. Partnership Grant with Capital Rep. Allowed 390 11th and 12th grade students to view a recording of CapRep’s production of FLY! – a musical production about the famous Tuskegee Airmen, and participate in a virtual talk-back session with actors.
  • District-wide Elementary – “#OwnVoices Asian-American Books.” Innovation grant in partnership with the 518AsianAlliance and The Book House. More than 160 elementary teachers were able to choose a book about the Asian-American experience, written by Asian-American authors, for use in their classrooms.

Any questions applying for grants?

Proposals are accepted, reviewed, and awarded throughout the year. See the grant application for monthly consideration deadlines and address questions to Mari Shopsis, AFE Executive Director, at 518-417-2107, (AlbanyAFE@gmail.com); or Barry Walston, Grant Committee Chair, at 518-441-9877.  An AFE Board member will be happy to discuss an idea with you prior to submitting the proposal. In addition, we ask that you complete and submit the Grant Evaluation Form within one month of completing your project.