CEF Student-Led Great Idea! Grant Application 2025-2026
Introduction
The Carmel Education Foundation (CEF) is proud to support Carmel Clay Schools (CCS) students in academic achievement and lifelong learning.
We recognize that students are valuable resources in our school communities and we want to inspire their innovation and passion by funding projects that begin with a great idea and have a lasting impact.
Description
STUDENT LED GRANTS ARE TO BENEFIT A CARMEL CLAY SCHOOLS STUDENT COMMUNITY
A community can be a classroom, grade level, area of the school, student club, a team, or any setting where a group of students will be positively impacted by the great idea.
Projects need to be focused on one of these areas:
● Community Building – activities, lessons, projects or programs that create positive connections between students;
● Wellness – physical or mental wellness projects, lessons/activities to promote health and well-being; or
● Skills for Success – projects that focus on the development of student’s ability to achieve academic and personal success in today’s ever-changing and global society.
Qualifications
GRANT INFORMATION
● Student Ideas Only – The idea needs to come from a Carmel Clay student or a group of students, in grades K-12.
● Meets a Need – The project must meet a need in a school community.
● Individual or Groups – The application may be submitted by an individual student or a group of students in grades K-12. If being submitted as a group, one student will need to be the main contact for the mentor. We suggest no more than five students be involved in the application process. Additional students can help implement the project if the grant is awarded.
● Video Application – Students will create a 3-5 minute video application based on an outline and rubric. Before finalizing and uploading your video for review, please take a moment to check both the video and sound quality to ensure everything is clear and easy to understand.
● CCS Staff Mentor Application - A CCS Staff Mentor (no parents please) will complete the application along with the student applicant(s).
● Budget – Grant requests can be up to $1,500. A sound budget showing what exactly the funds will be spent on and point of purchase is part of the application. Note: CEF is unable to fund any compenstation requests.
CCS STAFF MENTOR
A CCS staff member will sponsor the student(s) applying for the grant (no parents please). This staff member will:
● Guide students in the video application process.
● Complete an application via Kaleidoscope and agree to the grant reporting and media agreement as the mentor.
● Be responsible for administering any funds that are awarded.
● Guide students in project implementation and reporting.
● Obtain approvals from school principal and district technology team, as applicable. Approvals will be verified.
● Assist students in creating a budget worksheet.
● More than one CCS staff member can serve as a mentor, but we need one to serve as primary contact.
APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE
● Review grant outline, video rubric and FAQ's
● Create and upload student video, based on outline and rubric to mentor application by November 3rd, 5pm EST.
● Students have to be involved in all areas of the application including creating the video and budget.
● Receive all necessary approvals prior to completing video and application.
A CCS staff member(s) will sponsor the student(s) applying for the grant. They will guide students in the video application process, complete an online application, assist students with the budget and grant agreement.
Recipients will be announced by December 4th.
QUESTIONS:
Contact Stacey Hetrick, CEF Program Manager, [email protected].
