Grant FAQs

This page has been updated for Spring 2023

• Who is eligible for an EPAK grant? Generally, teachers with student-facing roles are eligible. Categories include: Pre-K through 12th grade classroom teachers, special education teachers, reading intervention teachers, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, health & wellness teachers, makerspace teachers and school librarians from the schools that EPAK serves (the list of schools can be found here). Other student-facing positions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. (email allocations@epak.org for information.)
• When can I apply for an EPAK grant? The online applications will be available early August through September 15 for Fall semester, and early January through February 15 for Spring.
• What types of items will be funded?
  • Approved Categories for Grants:
    • Materials for class projects such as science experiments, maker spaces, socio-emotional regulation work, classroom culture building
    • Field Trips as allowed by the school
    • Books, supplies, and manipulatives needed for in-person instruction
    • Individual items like whiteboards, coloring materials, headphones–items that would normally be shared materials but cannot be shared for safety reasons
    • Subscriptions or fees to instructional apps and online educational sites for student use
  • EPAK does not fund the following:
    • Salaries, food, or school uniforms
    • Classroom furnishings or decorations
    • Student groups
    • Professional development or similar
    • Incentives and gift cards
    • Postage
    • Personal Protective Equipment or health-related supplies
    • Teach-from-home equipment such as printer cartridges, document cameras and other accessories
• What is the amount of a grant? The current maximum amount of our grants is $750. New Teacher grants are an additional $375.
• How do I write a grant application? Grant applications must contain a clear, concise description of the proposed project. Choose an innovative project that addresses the educational needs of the students that you work with, in up to two content areas. Include a detailed requested budget with specific items and prices related to the project proposal. Contact other teachers or your site liaison for ideas.
• What is a PPR? A Post-Project Report is a brief description of how your project benefited your students, and how grant funds were used. Scans or photographs of receipts are required.
• Why was my application not approved? The selection committee looks for clear descriptions of projects to enhance student learning in the classroom. Occasionally a grant application will not be approved because of missing information, a project that does not fit into the parameters of EPAK’s mission, or ineligibility of the applicant based on prior grant processes. Make sure post-project reports for all previous grants have been approved before submitting a new application. The Allocations Committee will contact you by email with an explanation of an application that was not approved. Please email allocations@epak.org if you have any questions.
• Do I need to spend the grant funds before cashing the check? No! Please deposit checks immediately. They will be voided if not cashed in a timely manner, and the recipient may not be eligible for the next grant cycle. If a check is lost, a $30 stop fee will be taken out of the replacement check. If you do not use the funds by the end of the semester, explain the reason in your Post-Project Report and return unused funds to EPAK.
• My project didn’t work out. Can I use my grant for something else? Requests for changes in use of funds must be submitted to allocations@epak.org and be pre-approved by an EPAK board member.
• What if I can’t find my receipts? If receipts are lost, a teacher must show the materials purchased to their principal or director, who must write an email on the teacher’s behalf to allocations@epak.org stating that the materials were indeed purchased (or field trip taken, etc.).