Mini-Grant Funding Guidelines

All Mini-Grant proposals must be submitted to the Hilton Education Foundation per the process listed below.

Application Process

Please use these guidelines to complete your application. Address all portions of the application simply and directly to enable the Hilton Education Foundation Mini-Grant Review Committee to have a clear understanding of the request. All applications must have the approval of the appropriate building-level administrator and, for technology purchases, the approval of the Director of Learning Through Technology.

Click here to download the application in .pdf format.     Click here to download the application in .doc format.

NOTE: Please limit attached pages to no more than one additional page for the program/project description and one additional page for the budget.

Include a program/project description.

• Purpose, goals and objectives of the program/project:
• Describe the purpose of the program or project…the why.
• Describe the goals and objectives of the program or project…the what.
• What students and schools are served by this program/project?
• Describe the age or grade or specific student or school characteristics…the who.
• How will the effectiveness of the project/program be measured (i.e., test scores, attendance rates, increased parental involvement)? 
• Describe the type of activities that will be involved and when they might be taking place…the when.
• Describe the way in which you will measure student success and what methods and tools will be used…the how.
• Evaluation/Final report on the program/project
• A final report is required at the conclusion of the program/project or no later than the end of the school year. The final report should summarize and the program/project as well as the important outcomes of the program/project.
• How will you share what you have learned with Hilton Education Foundation and others (i.e. presentation, student work, etc.)?
• Budget
• Prepare an itemized list of proposed purchases and expenses.
• All funds must be applied to the program/project as outlined or returned to the Hilton Education Foundation for use by other teachers.
• A detailed list of the money spent on the program/project must be provided in the final report.

Mini-Grant Funding Criteria

Teachers, staff, and administrators employed by the Hilton Central School District are eligible to apply for mini-grants. Student groups may apply under the supervision of a Hilton Central School District staff member. All Mini-Grant proposals must be submitted to the Hilton Education Foundation using the application form.

The purpose of the Foundation's Mini-Grants program is to provide educators in the Hilton Central School District with an alternative way to obtain funding for educational initiatives, projects or other specified needs. The focus of all Mini-Grants should be the direct benefit of the education of students with preference given to proposals that reach the greatest number of students and offering the most promising outcomes.

Mini-Grant proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Proposal is consistent with the vision, mission and goals of the Hilton Education Foundation.
• Proposal represents an expense that would not ordinarily be funded through the Hilton Central School District's annual budget.
• Proposal closely aligns with the New York State Learning Standards and the Hilton Central School District's academic standards.
• Proposal is cost effective, with respect to the overall cost and number of students being served.
• Proposal has potential for the transfer of knowledge and/or application, such that others could replicate or build upon the program/project and extend its use.
• Proposal demonstrates QUALITY and VALUE. It has a high likelihood of success, clarity of purpose and/or possesses creativity or cutting-edge attributes.

NOTE: Requests for technology, audio-visual items, or other equipment should be prepared with the guidance of district specialists. This will assure compatibility with other district-owned equipment, completeness of the application, timeliness of specifications and price quotations. Technology requests must have the approval of the Director of Learning Through Technology.

All materials funded by the Mini-Grants become the property of the Hilton Central School District.

Funded Mini-Grant Projects

Project Title: Smart Slate
School: High School
Proposed By: Nicole Coppola
Target Group: Students at Hilton High School
Purpose: Brings the ability to every student to "write on the board" to share ideas, solve problems, and contribute to the class from their desks.
Date: 2010
Funding: $384.00

Project Title: Constitution Day
School: High School
Proposed By: Annette Wattie
Target Group: Students at Hilton High School
Purpose: Sharing the US Constitution and the freedom it affords for public discourse.
Date: 2010
Funding: $500.00

Project Title: Senior Project
School: High School
Proposed By: Tric Hess, David Heiss
Target Group: Seniors at Hilton High School
Purpose: Supporting the Senior Project Initiative for High School Seniors to excel in research, writing and public speaking.
Date: 2010
Funding: $400.00

Project Title: Spreading Sunshine
School: Northwood Elementary School
Proposed By: Laurie Steele-Sperber
Target Group: Students at Northwood Elementary School
Purpose: 
Date: 2010
Funding: $300.00

Project Title: APUSH Annual Conference @ Strong National Museum of  Play
School: High School   
Proposed By: Annette Wattie
Target Group: Hilton High School
Purpose: 
Date: 2010
Funding: $255.00

Project Title: Special Education Physical Education Equipment
School: Village Elementary School
Proposed By: Shannon Ingles
Target Group: Special Education Students at Village Elementary School
Purpose: Inclusive physical education.
Date: 2010
Funding: $255.00

Project Title: Sustained Silent Reading
School: Merton Williams Middle School
Proposed By: Angela Boccuzzi-Reichert
Target Group: Students and Staff at Merton Williams Middle School
Purpose: Once a month at Merton Williams the entire building (staff and students) read for half an hour. We would like to extend this to everyday during study halls, where the first half of each study hall will be reserved for Sustained Silent Reading.
Date: 2009
Funding: $250.00

Project Title: Annual Silver Nickel
School: Hilton High School
Proposed By: Julianne Gitsis
Target Group: All students at Hilton High School
Purpose: The Silver Nickel holds an annual writing contest to recognize students’ original writing in the areas of poetry and prose. All submissions for this contest are also considered for inclusion in the annual literary magazine (Silver Nickel) published by a local printer and distributed throughout the Hilton community. Students enrolled in the Digital Media Classes submit designs for the cover of the publication.
Date: 2009, 2010, 2011
Funding: $250.00

 
Project Title: Principal's Checkbook
School: All Hilton Central School District Schools
Proposed By: Hilton Education Foundation
Target Group: Universal Pre-K through Grade 12
Purpose: Providing help to students in need
Date: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and ongoing
Funding: $1,000.00

 
Project Title: Digital Photography Project
School: Quest Elementary School
Proposed By: Sue Genthner, Art Teacher
Target Group: 5th - 6th Grade
Purpose: Project is meant to supplement Quest Technical Resources for greater use in classroom as mean to expand literacy opportunities in Language Arts/Arts.
Date: 2007
Funding: $350.00

 
Project Title: Operation Local Soldier
School(s): Northwood, Quest and Village Elementary Schools
Proposed By: Amy Jensen Helmer
Target Group: All students in the Hilton School District
Purpose: To encourage volunteerism and citizenship in our young community members.
Date: 2007
Funding: $250.00

 
Project Title: Book Trailer @ Your Library
School(s): Merton Williams Middle School
Proposed By: Angelo Boccuzzi-Reichert
Target Group: 7th and 8th Grade
Purpose: To integrate technology and media literacy with ELA standards.
Date: 2007
Funding: $333.50