Spark Grants offer frequent opportunities for Helena’s Public School teachers to access funds to provide enrichment opportunities for students. Educators may apply for up to $500 per project and Spark Grants are offered in four cycles per school year. The Foundation awarded  over $12,000 in Spark Grants in 2022/2023.

Like Great Ideas Grants, Spark Grants are selected through a competitive process, but with a scaled-down application form. The goal of Spark Grants is to offer more flexibility and ease of access for smaller projects. Thank you to the many educators who helped us to shape this new program, launched in 2020/2021.

 

Spark Grant Application is now an online form!

For more information and an application, check out our new online form:

Who may apply for a grant?

  • All full or part-time teachers employed by the Helena School District are eligible to apply
  • Multiple educators may collaborate on projects – applications must be signed by all collaborating educators
  • All applications must be signed by the building administrator
  • Other partnering entities may not submit a grant proposal as the primary applicant.

Applying for a grant

  • Educators may apply for both a Great Ideas Grant and a Spark Grant in the same grant cycle for different projects, but
  • Educators may not apply for both types in the same cycle for the same project.
  • Educators may apply for only 1 Spark Grant per cycle

What can Great Ideas and Spark Grants fund?

  • NEW projects only – not ongoing activities
  • Projects for which funding is not available from the HSD
  • Projects that are in-class or field trips
  • Projects that infuse new elements of creativity
  • Projects that extend learning beyond the limitations of the textbooks

Grand funds may NOT be used for any of the following:

  • Monetary awards for students
  • District- provided textbooks and materials, technology, etc.
  • Workshops or professional development fees
  • Stipends for District employees
  • Substitute teachers during the working day unless teachers are with their class involved with the grant project

THANKS TO OUR SPARK GRANT SPONSORS FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR!

   

William and Judy Walter      Hugh and Karen Zackheim     Dr. Rich and Sue Buswell    Dr. Sri Vellanki and Andrew Pida      Sandy Wikle     In Memory of Jan Peccia       Sid Armstrong     Ed Clinch-Edward Jones Investing           Duane and Sue Wright           CWG Architecture In Memory of Jim Brown      Dave and Sandi Ashley      Ed and Mary Barrett  Nancy Cormier      Alvaro Freyre      Mountain West Bank Endowment     Tasha Peterson     Dale Tig Vernon    Chris Christensen    Donna Davis     Sky and Mike Hatten     Rick Johnson     Doug and Julie Mitchell     Tim Speyer     Norma Tirrell     Pat Hunt, In Memory of Chuck Johnson     GardenWerks     Jack Stults and Daphne Crosbie     Cory Wood     Chris Christensen, In Memory of Helen Christensen     Aidan Myhre

Please contact Becca at [email protected] if you are interested in sponsoring a Great Ideas or Spark Grant.