Innovation & Leadership Grants

Donors to Foundations in Education provide the resources for annual competitive grant programs that fund INNOVATION in classroom teaching and provide support for LEADERSHIP formation within Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools.

Innovation Grants support educators’ creative projects or initiatives that may benefit multiple grade levels and have a long-term impact on student learning. Collaboration is encouraged, whether across grades or even among schools.

Leadership Grants promote professional development and leadership formation.

Teachers and administrators in Diocesan-sponsored Catholic elementary, middle and high schools in Fairfield County are eligible to apply.

Previous grant recipients must wait one year before being eligible to submit another grant proposal.

Beginning September 15, applicants must complete and submit the online grant application. Proposals must be reviewed and approved by school principals prior to submission. The deadline to submit a grant application this year is November 8.

Applicants must:

1. Provide the metrics and measures that will be used to evaluate a “successful” grant,
2. Provide applicable supporting documents (i.e. budget/cost estimates for innovation grants and tuition or conference costs for leadership grants),
3. Identify other available funding sources for the project,
4. Agree to release personal images and information for advertising and marketing purposes, and
5. Agree to present on the outcomes of the grant in Diocesan-wide faculty development forums or other suitable venues.

The Grants Committee reviews and evaluates each grant proposal and submits recommendations to the Foundations in Education Board of Trustees for approval.

Grant determinations are subject to the available funding each year. Priority will be given to unique and innovative approaches to teaching that will maximize the impact on learning for our students. All applicants will be notified of their grant application determination by Foundations in Education in January.

To date, grants have ranged in size up to $15,000 and may be made in one year or over several years if the project so requires.

The Grants Committee reserves the right to determine the grant amount and not all projects will be fully funded. Parameters for grant size may include:

1. Maximum impact in Innovation and Leadership,
2. Assistance in meeting diocesan priorities,
3. Consideration for multi-year program development, or
4. Specific priorities set forth by the Office of the Superintendent and/or by the Grants Committee (i.e. – focus on curriculum improvement, Mathematics, STEM, Arts, Robotics, Coding etc).
5. Capacity to secure additional funding

Grant amounts will be recommended by the Grants Committee and approved by the Foundations in Education Board of Trustees.