Innovation Fund Foundation Grant Opportunities

COVID-19 Response Fund Grant Program

The Innovation Fund Foundation, in partnership with the Georgia Foundation for Public Education, is now accepting applications for the COVID-19 Response Fund grant program.

The COVID-19 Response Fund (CRF) provides traditional public schools, charter schools, and school districts up to $10,000 to mitigate the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the following areas: school meals, distance/remote learning services and software, facilities/equipment, mental health services, supplemental learning services, professional learning, and services for at-risk student populations.

The CRF is made possible through a partnership between the Georgia Foundation for Public Education (GFPE) and the Innovation Fund Foundation (IFF). The GFPE supports educational excellence for all of Georgia’s K-12 students. Primary funding comes from Support Education/Educator license plates and private donations. The IFF invests in innovative partnerships and initiatives to ignite student achievement. Primary funding comes from the Qualified Education Donation Tax Credit.

COVID-19 Response Fund Timeline 

CRF Application Open

 CRF Application Due Applications Reviewed & Announced By
April 15, 2020 April 30, 2020; 5:00 P.M. Mid-May

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to apply for a COVID-19 Response Fund grant if:

  • You are a school administrator*, principal, or instructional coach* at a charter school or traditional public school in the state of Georgia;

  • You are a K-12 teacher at a Georgia charter school or traditional public school who has been teaching for at least three years*; or

  • You are another type of leadership-level administrator in a Georgia LEA.

In addition, schools identified on the Turnaround Eligible Schools List and school districts located in a low-wealth counties in Georgia will receive priority points on their application will receive priority points on their application.

*Please note that all teacher, school administrator, and instructional coach applicants must submit a signed Principal Certification Form as part of their application.
 

Funding Allowances

The COVID-19 Response Fund will provide Georgia schools and school districts up to $10,000 over one year to implement programs that mitigate the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the following areas:

  • School Meals. Offset costs due to serving school meals (not covered through USDA reimbursements). Cover additional personnel (‘hazard pay’, hours, etc.) or logistical costs (transportation, etc.)

  • Distance/Remote Learning. Cover costs of devices, connectivity (hot spots, wireless, internet service, etc.), printing/preparing learning packets, instructional resources/tools, and other technology costs (hardware, software, assistive technology, outfitting buildings/buses with WiFi, online learning platforms, subscriptions, etc.).

  • Facilities/Equipment. Cover costs of sanitizing/disinfecting buildings, additional personnel costs (‘hazard pay’, hours, etc.), and equipment (gloves, masks, PPE, cleaning supplies, etc.).

  • Mental health. Cover the costs of counseling and therapeutic services and supports (contracted hours, professional learning, programs, etc.)

  • Supplemental Learning. Cover costs of extended learning, remediation, and/or enrichment opportunities for students (summer learning, afterschool programs, additional pay for teachers and staff, extended schedules, etc.)

  • Professional Learning. Cover costs of additional professional learning for school leaders, teachers, and staff (trainings, extended professional learning days, consultants, programs, etc.).

  • At-risk Student Populations. Cover costs of specific activities, services, supports, programs, and/or targeted interventions directly addressing the needs of low-income, students with disabilities, English Learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.

Submission Instructions

To participate in the Rural Innovation Fund, please follow the steps below:

  1. Read the COVID-19 Response Fund Guidelines thoroughly.

  2. Complete an application using the COVID-19 Response Fund Application Site on FormSite.

  3. Submit your application online by April 30, 2020 at 5:00 P.M.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Jaclyn Colona Paige Pushkin
Executive Director, IFF Executive Director, GFPE
404.904.5514 404.656.5594
Jaclyn.colona@gosa.ga.gov ppushkin@doe.k12.ga.us