School Program Grants

Grant cycle is closed for 2024

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Supporting the Educational Enrichment of Watertown’s Youth

The Watertown Community Foundation offers grants to organizations for educational enrichment programs run in collaboration with the Watertown Public Schools.

We support projects for individual classrooms, grade-level initiatives, after school programs, school-wide efforts, and system-wide plans, with preference for programs and projects that extend beyond one classroom and invite partnership and collaboration.

Programs and projects supported by School Program Grants in the past have included:

• Supplemental materials or books (e.g., student book clubs, school gardens)

• Equipment (e.g., musical instruments, supplemental lab or engineering equipment)

• Special events and speakers (e.g., anti-discrimination or drug and alcohol prevention programs, author-in-residence)

• Student Programs (e.g., college readiness, student newspaper, art and science after school)

• Experimental School or District wide initiatives (e.g., the Buck Institute’s Project-based learning professional development for K-8 teachers, Picture-in-Writing materials and training for all three elementary schools)

NOTE: We will be unable to fund transportation for field trips, snacks, furniture/desks, buses, teacher travel, individual professional development or stipends for anyone currently employed by the Watertown Public Schools.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, your program must be:

• Run by a public entity, non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Organizations implementing programs with a Watertown Public School are welcome to apply. Organizations with a 501(c)(4) tax status are not eligible for support. Grants will not be provided to individuals.

• Approved by the school principal(s) before applying. Applications from teachers must be submitted in partnership with their school's leadership team. With program approval confirmed, applications for programs may be submitted in collaboration with a school's PTO or other fiscal agent.

NOTE:  If the program brings people from outside the Watertown School Department into a school, the grant application must be submitted by the principal or a member of district leadership to ensure the proper steps are taken for security and clearance.  

Eligible organizations may apply for a maximum of $2,500, though the average amount awarded will likely range from $500 to $1,000. Where partnerships of two or more schools or organizations are involved an award of up to $5,000+ will be considered.    

Timeline 

October, 2025 :            Request for Proposals Posted

November, 2025:        Applications Due to WCF

End of December, 2025:         Applicants Notified of Grant Decisions

November, 2025:         Grant Reports Due to WCF

Submission Instructions

• Previous grant recipients will only be considered after completing the Grantee Reporting Form for the prior year’s grant.

• Applications must be completed online. Click on the “APPLY” button at the top of this page.

• Applicants will receive an email confirmation after your proposal is received.

Questions? Email: info@watertownfoundation.org

*This grant is for school-based educational grants only. Educational programs that are not school-based can apply for a Watertown Community Foundation Program Grant in the spring.