What We Do

• Classroom projects that require out-of-the-ordinary supplies, educational software (for student use), etc. NO Field Trips this Year, No GUESTS in Buildings (they could be virtual)
• Applicants must demonstrate the impact on and the benefit to students. The committee looks favorably upon co-operative grants. No intermixing of classes or big groups.
• Additionally, the committee is concerned with equity. A project that benefits all classrooms in a school building at one level or more will carry more points. 
• The committee reserves the right to make exceptions. 

• Document cameras (Elmos, iPevos, etc)
• Smart boards
• Teacher stipends
• T-shirts
• Alternative seating
• Food (unless directly related to the project)
• The committee reserves the right to make exceptions.

NOTE: Only applicants with a @gips.org email address are eligible for grants.
Before you can use the online grant application you must become a registered user. During the registration process you will choose your own username and password. If you cannot remember your user name that you have created, please contact the system administrator. DO NOT create another account. If you create a duplicate account, the Grant Committee reserves the right to disqualify your application.

Create a new account
At the login screen click To create a new application click here. DO NOT create duplicate accounts. You will be presented with a registration screen. Enter your name and email address. Choose a unique user name and a password of at least 5 characters. We recommend using the email address as your user name. If a user name is not entered, the email address will be used as your user name. Remember that the passwords are case sensitive and fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

If you cannot remember your username or password, use the link to reset your account. DO NOT create multiple accounts or you may be disqualified from the grant application process.To reset your password you must know your username or email address used to create the account.

If you still cannot access your account contact the System Administrator at cwiemers@gips.org.

Complete the Reset Password Page
Enter your email address and/or your username (you must know at least one used to create account). Click the Reset Password button. An email will be sent to your account email address with a link to reset your password.

NOTE: Only applicants with a @gips.org email address are eligible for grants.

Maximum of 5 grant requests per round:
After you have created an account and started/completed the grant application, you can create additional grant applications to be considered during the same grant round. The maximum number of grant requests per round is five. All grant applications can be created with one user account.

Create a new grant application:
Log into the grant application. To create another grant request click on the Add Entry icon.

Open grant application:
Click on the pencil to open a grant application.

View list of grant applications:
Click on Forms in the top grey box. This will navigate back to your list of applications. Click on the pencil next to the application you want to work on.

A green check mark indicates that all of the required fields in a form have been completed and saved.

A red exclamation point is shown when at least one required field in a form is empty or contains an invalid entry. Your document cannot be submitted while any of its forms are incomplete. If you hover your mouse over the red exclamation point, pop-up text will list the reasons that a form is considered incomplete.

A green save diskette is shown when there is a change to a field in the form. You must click on the diskette to save the information. The green diskette may appear at the bottom of the screen or in the upper right of the page.

Each grant application requires a recommendation from your building principal or direct supervisor. You will not be able to submit your grant application until the recommendation has been completed.

Once you enter their information in the Principal Recommendation and Signature page, your building principal/direct supervisor will receive an email with a link to your online grant application recommendation form. Once they complete the recommendation they will not be able to access your application again. The recommendation must be complete before you may submit your application. Monitor closely the progress of your recommendation. It is your responsibility to ensure your recommendation completes the form. The status of your recommendation will be displayed on the “Principal Recommendation and Signature” page next to their email address.

(Notified) - Indicates the recommendation has been sent a form link by email.

(Failed) - Indicates the recommendation email is incorrect and bounced. You must correct the email address. Once the email address has been corrected and the page saved, a new email will be sent to the updated email address.

(Completed) - Indicates the recommendation has completed the form and submitted it as complete.

Before you can submit your application, you must complete all the required questions and your recommendation must be submitted as complete. The Submit button at the bottom of the navigation menu will be clickable when all the requirements have been completed. You will receive an email stating your application has been submitted.

If the submit button is inactive, it means something in your application is incomplete. Check your application again and complete any missing information. Once all information is complete the submit button will activate.

Your application must be submitted before the deadline to be reviewed.

One essay question on the Grant Narrative page asks "Does this project address one or more of the above goals? How? Please describe how this project will provide additional opportunities to students and meets district objectives/goals." Click here for more in depth information about the GIPS Strategic Plan.

Recommendation Forms are Time-sensitive
The applicant cannot submit their application until the recommendation form is complete and submitted. Applicants are competing for grants.

Reminder Emails: A system generated reminder email will be sent every three days until the form is completed.

Confidential: Your response is confidential. Applicants will not be able to see your recommendation form.

Recommendation Form Access Link
Once the applicant enters the recommendation name and email into the application, the system automatically generates a recommendation request email.

Unique Links: Each recommendation request link is unique. The link will only open the recommendation form from the application it is associated with. Multiple applicants may request a recommendation from the same person. Each request will generate an email that contains a unique link.

Save Diskette: Click on the save diskette to save changes to fields. (navigation menu and bottom of page)

Submit as Complete: After all the fields on the recommendation form are complete, click the save diskette and the confirmation page will appear. Click on “Submit as Complete” if you are finished. The access link will be deactivated.

Continue Editing: If you need to exit the form before it is complete, click on the save diskette to save the changes to the fields first. On the confirmation page, click on “Continue Editing” to keep the access link activated. Click the access link in the recommendation request email to access the form again.

Reactivate Link: If you have submitted the recommendation form as complete, but still need to edit the form, contact the system administrator (cwiemers@gips.org).

Grand Island Public Schools Foundation grants are awarded through a competitive process. Each grant application is reviewed by a committee and scored.

Project title and description (6 points)

• Has the applicant clearly followed application directions?
• Has the applicant clearly described the project?

Meets district objectives/grant narrative (30 points)

• Does the project provide a learning experience/opportunity that students would otherwise not receive?
• Is the project high impact, involving a lot of students, or one that could be duplicated across the district so that it would impact a greater number of students?
• Does the applicant explain how the project enhances current curriculum?
• Does the applicant explain how the project meets district objectives?
• How many disciplines are used in the project? Does the applicant describe how the project will impact the different disciplines?
• Does the project sound like an engaging learning experience? Would you or your children react favorably to the project?

Outcome and measures (15 points)

• Does the applicant explain the outcomes?
• Does the applicant have a plan to measure the outcomes?
• Are the outcomes realistic?

Itemized budget (15 points)

• Has the applicant provided an itemized budget as requested?
• Are the expenses reasonable?
• Is there an expense that is not in line with the Foundation priority of providing additional opportunities for our students?

Timeline (6 points)

• Is the timeline reasonable?
• Has the applicant planned adequate introduction and follow-up for the project?