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| Abstract |
A summary that clearly and concisely summarizes the grant request. |
| Applicant |
The school, school district, or school-related organization seeking funds. |
| Announcement |
Press release, booklet, catalog, form or notice that announces a specific opportunity to apply for a grant. |
| Assets |
The amount of capital (money, stocks, bonds, real estate, other sources) controlled by a foundation or corporate giving program. Generally, assets are invested and the resulting income is used to make grants. |
| Assurances |
Legally-binding statements signed by the applicant which states that the applicant will do or refrain from doing certain things. When assurances are required, assurance or certification forms are usually included in the grant application package. The Superintendent is authorized to sign assurances. |
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| Beneficiary |
In philanthropic terms, the donee or grantee receiving funds from a foundation or corporate giving program is the beneficiary. |
| Budget |
Clearly delineated costs to be met by the funding agency. |
| Budget Narrative |
A succinct justification for each line-item in the budget. |
| Budget Period |
Time periods (usually 12 months) into which a project is divided for budgeting and reporting purposes. |
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| Capital Grant |
A grant that generally provides funds for endowment purposes, buildings, construction, or equipment. |
| Cash Match |
Cash contributions made to project by the school, district, or another part, usually at the requirement of the grantor. |
| Continuation |
For multi-year projects, a continuation proposal is usually required for each year the project continues to be funded. |
| Challenge Grant |
A grant that is paid only if the school or district agrees to raise additional funds from other sources. (See Matching Grant; Cash Match) |
| Competitive Grant |
A grant program in which the applicant designs the project proposal and the funding agency ranks the proposals to provide grant awards in a competitive process. |
| Corporate Foundation |
Sponsored by a specific corporation, this is a private foundation whose assets are derived primarily from the contributions of the parent company. |
| Corporate Giving Program |
A grant-making program established and administered within a for-profit corporation. This does not have a separated endowment, and annual giving may be directly related to annual company profits. |
| Cost Sharing |
A requirement that a portion of the project costs be assumed by the school district; also known as matching. |
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| Demographics |
Descriptive data regarding the student population that the project will serve. |
| Direct Costs |
Total costs directly attributable to carrying out a grant project including salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, professional development, consulting services, etc. |
| Digital Divide |
Describes the fact that the world can be divided into those who do and those who do not have access to and the capability to use modern information technology. |
| Discretionary |
Competitive grant programs in which the applicant designs the proposal and the funding agency ranks the proposals received to determine which will receive grant awards. |
| Dissemination Plan |
The methods to be used to share information on all program aspects with targeted populations. |
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| Eligibility |
A statement that will specifically identify eligibility criteria as to who may apply for funding. |
| Entitlement Grants |
See Formula Grants. |
| Endowment |
Funds intended to be invested in perpetuity to provide income for ongoing support of a designated school or other not-for-profit organization. |
| Evaluation |
An assessment plan to determine the degree to which the project has successfully met the objectives; usually includes a formative and summative evaluation. |
| External Funding |
Funds provided for a school project from an agency other than the School District of Palm Beach County. External grants may be provided by a foundation, a corporate giving program, an organization, the Florida Department of Education, or the United States Department of Education. |
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| FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) |
FAQs list and answer the most commonly asked questions on a particular subject. |
| Fiscal Agent |
A nonprofit organization that will legally hold money for another organization. The school district is sometimes the fiscal agent for a designated organization. |
| Fiscal Year |
A 12-month period for which an organization plans the use of its funds; the fiscal year for the School District of Palm Beach County is July 1 - June 30 of any given year. |
| Formative Evaluation |
Activities conducted during the operation of a project for the purpose of immediate feedback to the grantee about status of the project so that revisions can be made, if necessary. |
| Formula Grants |
Funds made available to the school district based on a formula prescribed in legislation, regulations, or policies of the agency; formula grants are non-competitive. |
| Foundation |
A non-governmental, nonprofit, private organization with funds (usually from a single source such as an individual, family, or corporation) and program managed by its own trustees or directors. Private foundations are established to maintain, aid, or fund specific fields of interest (education, religious, social, or other charitable purposes). |
| Fringe Benefits |
Amount paid by the employer for employee benefits such as retirement, health insurance, unemployment insurance, life insurance, etc.; personnel in a grant budget must include costs for salary plus fringe benefits. |
| Future Funding |
An explanation about how the project will be continued after the grant funding expires. |
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| Goal(s) |
The overall, broad purposes of a grant proposal, directly in response to documented need(s). |
| Grant |
Financial assistance in the form of money, property or technical assistance in lieu of money, awarded by a government agency or private organization to an eligible applicant to accomplish a purpose or project as proposed in the application. |
| Grant Period |
As specified in the grant award notice or contract, the period of time during which costs may be charged against the grant or contract. |
| Grantee |
The legal entity to which the grant is awarded and which is accountable for the use of private funds provided; the recipient of a grant. |
| Grantor |
(Also referred to as the funder or funding agency) The legal entity, public or private, that awards grants to the schools or school district. |
| Guidelines |
A set of general procedures set forth by the funder that grant-seekers should follow when approaching a grant-maker. Guidelines are also used by the funder when judging proposals. |
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| Impact |
A statement about the impact the project will have on the participants, the school, the community, and/or the district. |
| Indirect Costs |
Overhead costs incurred in the overall functioning of the school or school district; costs not really identified as direct project expenditures (i.e., accounting services, space, utilities). In the School District of Palm Beach County, indirect costs are established annually as a set percentage of the overall grant budget, and are required when funding is from a federal source, unless specifically prohibited by the agency. |
| Introduction |
A statement that describes the setting, background, and/or history of the school, and sets up the credibility of the project request. |
| In-kind |
Dollar-value of non-cash contributions (which directly benefit a project) by the grantee or another party other than the funder (volunteer services, equipment use, facilities use, staff time or other resources, as distinguishable from a monetary grant.) |
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| Letter of Inquiry |
A brief letter to a Foundation or Corporate Giving Program introducing the school; the project; the need; the request for funding, etc.; that is sent to the prospective donor to determine whether it would be appropriate to submit a full grant proposal. Private grant-makers often prefer that the initial contact be made by letter of inquiry. |
| Letter of Intent |
A brief Letter of Intent to participate in the grant application process. The RFP or guidelines may include a deadline for receipt of the letter of intent. |
| Letter of Support |
Letters of endorsement or commitment to the project from partners, parents, collaborating teachers or administrators, community partners, etc. |
| Link (or hyperlink) |
A link will transport you from one internet site to another with a click of your mouse. Links can be text or graphic. |
| LEA |
The Local Education Agency (LEA) or the school district that will receive and disburse grant funds (the School District of Palm Beach County). |
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| Management Plan |
An organizational chart and associated description of the plan for managing the project, including the resume or qualifications of the project manager or project director. |
| Matching Grant |
A grant that is made to match funds provided by the school, district, or another donor. |
| Methods |
A description of the project activities or strategies to be employed within each objective to achieve the desired outcomes; to meet the measurable objectives; and to achieve the goal(s). |
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| Narrative |
The RFP or Guidelines will often instruct the applicant on how to organize the required project information into a proposal narrative. |
| Needs |
(or Problem Statement) Identification of specific needs or problems in your school that your project will address or solve. |
| Non-Profit |
An organization that operates in a not-for-profit manner and are classified under the tax code as 501(c)(3). Palm Beach County public schools are non-profit, tax exempt entities. |
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| Outcome Objective |
The project plan for meeting your goal(s). This refers to the measurable change in conditions or behaviors as a result of the project implementation. This objective is quantifiable and measurable. |
| Operating Budget |
All non-capital budget items, including regular personnel salaries, fringe benefits, professional development, supplies, administrative expenses, etc. |
| Organization Capability |
The capacity, previous experience, qualified personnel and other; resources which indicate that the applying school can carry out a proposal. |
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| Process Objective |
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| A major project activity/milestone and timeline for its accomplishment; help project staff monitor project activities and management plan. |
| Program Director |
(Or the program manager) The individual designated by the grantee to be responsible for the administration and management of the project. |
| Program Officer |
A staff member of the funding agency who reviews grant proposals, processes applications, or oversees the project representing the grantor. |
| Proposal |
A written application, often accompanied by supporting documents, submitted to a foundation, corporate giving program, or government grant program. |
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| Replication |
A statement about the ability to replicate this project in other classrooms or schools. |
| RFP |
The Request for Proposal (RFP) or guidelines list project specifications, application procedures, deadlines, etc. The RFP guidelines are also used when the funder judges proposals. |
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| SEA |
The State Education Agency (SEA) is the Florida Department of Education. |
| Seed Money |
A grant or contribution used to cover specific operating expenses required to start a new project. |
| Solicited Proposal |
A sponsoring agency may solicit a proposal by identifying the school or organization that they want to fund and invite a proposal. |
| Start-up Grant |
A grant to cover the costs of starting or planning a new project. |
| Summary |
A brief project description that clearly and concisely summarized the request. |
| Summative Evaluation |
Report or Measurement of Final Program Results. |
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| Target Audience |
A specified group or category of persons (i.e., a specific classroom, a set of classrooms, a grade level, the school's student population, the parents, etc.) that the project will impact or serve. |
| Tax-Exempt |
Refers to organizations that do not have to pay taxes. The School District of Palm Beach County and the public schools within the school district are tax exempt. |
| Technical Assistance |
Assistance given by the funding agency in the grant-wirting, operational, or management process of a grant project. |
| Timeline |
A management tool which details the schedule of project tasks to be accomplished, by whom, and over what period of time. |
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| URL |
Uniform Resource Locator: The standard way to give the address of any resource on the World Wide Web. URL 's typically begin with http:// or www. |
| Unsolicited Proposal |
Proposals submitted by the applicant without formal invitation from the grantor agency. Some agencies will include a statement in their initial announcement as to whether or not they will accept unsolicited proposals. |
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