2025 Innovation Grants
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GUIDELINES
Innovation Grants are priority-based grants to support educators, schools, and the district.

Granting priorities are:

1) Focus Schools--Any UCPS school identified by NC as low performing

2) Pathway Schools--Schools in the AgTech Pathway, Health Sciences Academy OR Sustainable Energy Pathway

3) Innovative ideas or projects that focus on the EmpowerEd Framework

4) District priorities of Third Grade Reading, 8th Grade Math, Middle School ELA, High School Biology

KEEP IN MIND:

  • Applications that are detailed and well-written are more likely to be funded. Please avoid the use of acronyms or write out the acronym in parentheses after its first use. Some of our judges are not educators and they are not familiar with the educational acronyms.

  • If you receive a grant and then transfer to another UCPS school OR to another district, your project or equipment will remain at your school/location or within UCPS. 

  • Keep a copy of this application for your records since your school's bookkeeper may need it if you are awarded. We don't have the capacity to supply original applications for each funded project.

  • LIFT and GROW: Your principal will receive a link from Reviewr to "Approve" your project. You may want to alert the principal and have him/her check their spam folder if they don't receive the notification from www.reviewr.com

  • GROW Grant Teams must be comprised of five employees at the same school/location and at least three members must be teachers or work with children on a daily basis. In addition, one member must be an administrator, (Director, Principal, Assistant Principal, or Instructional Coach) but the Team Leader needs to be a teacher. Only one application will be accepted per UCPS School/Location

Sample Questions

  • WHAT'S YOUR BIG IDEA TO GROW YOUR STUDENTS? DESCRIBE YOUR PROJECT IDEA.

  • WHICH COMPONENTS OF EMPOWERED DOES YOUR PROJECT ADDRESS? EXPLAIN WHY

  • DESCRIBE WHAT ITEMS OR EQUIPMENT THE FUNDS WILL PURCHASE.

  • WHAT ARE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THIS PROJECT?

  • WHAT IS YOUR PLAN OF ACTION? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO MAKE THIS PROJECT A REALITY?

  • HOW DO YOU PLAN TO SUSTAIN YOUR PROJECT INTO THE FUTURE?

  • OUTLINE YOUR IDEAL TIMELINE.

  • HOW WILL YOU EVALUATE THE PROJECT?

  • HAS YOUR PRINCIPAL APPROVED THIS REQUEST?

PLEASE NOTE: You will need to have an administrator submit a Building and Grounds Modification Form through SchoolDude if your project is for a garden or outdoor classroom. For questions please contact Danny McManus. 

More details for each grant opportunity are available on our website. Questions? Please contact Amy Sperry, Executive Director at asperry@ucedfoundation.org OR 704-296-0725