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Youth Education & Improvement Grants
A Funding Program of the City
of San José Go Green Schools and Youth Watershed Education Programs
Goal and Purpose of the Grants
Go Green Schools Grants
The goal of the San José Go Green Schools Grants Program is to promote environmental stewardship in the current student generation. Grants are intended to foster school-wide and in- classroom recycling and other environmental actions and environmental education. This program was established in 2006 to encourage environmental practices and programs involving students, parents, teachers, principals, custodians and district level administrators in San José K-12 public and private schools. It is intended that these grants help establish, maintain or expand on-campus recycling or composting programs or other sustainable environmental programs. Grants are intended for projects that work directly with and benefit K-12 students. Grants are not intended for school facility upgrades or equipment for water or energy conservation. Financial assistance is available for those needs from other sources.
Youth Watershed Education Grants
Youth Watershed Education Grants are designed to promote understanding
and stewardship of the Santa Clara Basin Watershed among South
Bay youth (in grades K-12) by supporting innovative projects
for youth education, curriculum development, adoption and implementation
of published watershed-based curricula, and teacher/youth leader
training. Project development should address at least one of
the following key concepts: watershed protection, wastewater
treatment, South Bay water conservation, or water-monitoring.
The goals of the Youth Watershed Education Grants Program are
to
provide
educators
and
youth leaders with resources to pursue age-appropriate, watershed
educational activities that encourage hands-on, interdisciplinary
learning; to foster creative and self-sustaining pilot projects
that can later be shared and replicated by a wider audience of
youth educators; and to encourage partnerships and collaborations
among existing organizations that promote stewardship of the
Santa Clara Basin Watershed.
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Eligible Projects/Examples
- Innovative classroom projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship
- Environmental action projects for youth
- Environmental education curriculum implementation (existing or new), including interdisciplinary approaches
- Environmental education training for educators (K-12) or youth activity leaders
- Hands-on experience and involvement with the environment as related to curricular activities, such as field trips to local creeks or wetlands, assemblies, and presentations
- Supplies and equipment to promote recycling and other environmental programs on campus (e.g. digital camcorders or cameras to create environmental films promoting recycling or other green practices)
- Production of an environmental short film (5 minutes or under) with purchase of video equipment and supplies; production must be student-led, student-written, student-directed, and student-produced
- Supplies and equipment designed for reuse and waste reduction (e.g. refillable water bottles and reusable lunch containers)
- Reusable promotional items made of recycled materials (e.g. posters, caps, tee-shirts, water bottles, mugs, school supplies, magnets, and reusable lunch equipment)
- Student, teacher, custodian, school administrator and parent award items and award event supplies to recognize individuals or groups who were part of the program’s success
- Materials for the construction, planting, and/or maintenance of school gardens including composting, edible landscape, tree plantings, and native, drought tolerant, or non-invasive bulbs and plants
- Litter removal projects
- Projects involving two or three schools working collaboratively to cross-mentor each other in green practices
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Projects that will not be funded
-
Purchase of supplies or equipment not related to proposal objectives
- Costs of receptions
- Events where fund-raising is a primary purpose
- Deficit or debt reduction efforts
- Ongoing operational costs
- Project components already fully supported by other programs
- Funding to individuals
- Program activities affiliated with a sectarian organization
- Program activities for youth outside the San José/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant Tributary Service Area (San José, Santa Clara, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga)
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How much funding is available for each project?
Grants and scholarships can range from $500.00 to $5,000.00. Please make sure that the amount you request is appropriate for the prject you describe. Projects that demonstrate a clear correlation to the stated goals of each grant/scholarship program will be given a funding priority. If awarded, your application may receive partial funding, not the total amount requested.
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Who is eligible to apply for a grant/scholarship?
The applicant/project manager must be affiliated with a school or a charitable, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization (e.g., PTA or educational foundation) serving youth in grades K-12 within the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, or Monte Sereno. 501(c)3 community based organizations that serve K-12 students within these cities are also eligible to apply. (501(c)3 status is required for funding). No paid contractors, or other paid employment or contractual services are eligible.
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What is the funding cycle?
Grant recipients will be informed of the award on or before November 23, 2010. If the project needs to extend through the summer, awarded funds may be used for this purpose. Any unused funds will need to be repaid to the City of San José no later than August 30, 2011.
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What is the deadline for applying?
Applications must be received by 12:00 p.m. (noon) Pacific Time on October 18, 2010. You are encouraged to transmit your application well before the deadline. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE REVIEWED OR CONSIDERED FOR AWARD.
Applications Due By |
Awards Announce By |
Project Begins By |
Project Ends By* |
October 18, 2010 |
November 23, 2010 |
January 1, 2011 |
August 30, 2011 |
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How do I apply? Who do I contact with questions of for more information?
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
AWARD. DO NOT SEND A PRINT APPLICATION BY U.S. MAIL OR VIA
EMAIL. Complete the designated online application form
through the City’s WebGrants system. The online
application will be available on September 13, 2010. It is
the responsibility of the applicant, prior to the Application due
date and time, to verify successful transmission. You are strongly
encouraged to attend our grant writing workshop on Wednesday, September
22, 2010 (4:00–6:00 pm at City Hall, Room 1047 on the 10th floor).
This workshop will also be an opportunity for staff to review your
grant
application and provide feedback as well as
show
you how to apply online through the new WebGrants system. Attendance
is NOT mandatory in order to apply for a grant, but you will receive
credit toward your application’s evaluation total.
For more information or questions please contact:
City of San José Youth Education & Improvement Project Grants Program
Environmental Services Department
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 10th Floor
San José, CA 95113
sjgreenschools@sanjoseca.gov
408-975-2533
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How will grant/scholarship awards be decided?
The Grant Award Team will review the application for applicant eligibility, appropriateness of project funding amount request, and the degree to which the project meets one or more of the following funding criteria:
- Project can be completed within timeframe specified by the grant cycle
- Degree that the project is sustainable for years beyond the grant cycle
- Level of qualifications, expertise, and experience of identified key personnel in areas relevant to the proposed work
- Probability that the project will significantly increase environmental stewardship activities
- Degree that Applicant's approach develops and strengthens a fundable environmental program
- Quality, breadth, potential effectiveness, and long term impact of the specific activities proposed by the Applicant
- Ability of the project to directly connect children with nature
- Ability of the project to implement environmental education curriculum
- Degree that Applicant's approach implements environmental practices and education
- Ability to promote partnerships with other area schools and/or environmental organizations for environmental purposes
- Ability to promote sustainable energy concepts and benefits to students, educational institutions, schools districts and the greater community
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What are the reporting requirements?
Grant/scholarship recipients will be required to submit two reports,
one mid-way through the project (due the last Friday in March) and a
final report (due the last Friday in July). The mid-year report should
be no more than one page and summarizes the progress of the project to
date as well as includes a timeline for the remainder of the project. The
final report should discuss the outcome of the grant project and a summary
of grant award expenditures incurred.
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