Teachers are some of the most influential people who can help students see the potential in themselves and inspire them to reach their biggest dreams. The Backpack Fund aspires to support teachers in the pursuit of this mission because it is one in the same with ours. We want students to dream big and have access to the resources they need to pursue their dreams.

Students don’t always realize what they are capable of. We created the Allies for Education grant to support teachers in the shared goal of opening students' eyes to new opportunities and having the supplies to reach their biggest dreams.

The Allies for Education Grant is offered in partnership with The Jerome T. Osborne And Georgeanne S. Osborne Charitable Trust.

Information and Guidelines for Applicants

Applicants must be a teacher at a Lake County school to be eligible to receive a grant.

Applicants will be able to propose programs for up to $2,000.

Grant applications are encouraged for programs that promote:

Active, engaged learning
Classroom innovation
A sense of belonging for students
Equitable access to opportunities
Students working toward social good
Community collaboration
Increased student achievement
Memorable student experiences

There are no specific programs which are eligible or ineligible, but student impact should be at the center of grant applications.

The Backpack Fund grants are not intended to replace or relieve existing responsibility for public funding nor are they intended to substitute for normal budget growth and maintenance.

Grants will be awarded according to the following timeline:

May 22 - Applications are due to The Backpack Fund
June - Applicants are notified if their applications have been awarded funds
July - Awards are made to grant recipients

Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

Impact - the program has a meaningful, measurable, and lasting impact on students
Students served - the program serves an impactful amount of students in a meaningful way
Curriculum integration - the program is integrated throughout a curriculum
Feasibility - applicants outline a clear plan to implement the program
Alignment with TBF Mission - the program creates new opportunities for students, expands their worldview, and inspires them to pursue their dreams

Apply Now!

Please contact thebackpackfund@gmail.com with any questions regarding this program.

The Backpack Fund is anticipating 2-4 pages of material. We recommend writing your answers in a separate word processor and copying them to the application form.

Section 1: Applicant Demographics

What is the lead applicant’s name?

What is the lead applicant’s job title?

What is the lead applicant’s email address?

What is the lead applicant’s phone number?

What is the lead applicant’s school building?

What is the lead applicant’s school district?

Include the name and job title of any collaborators on this application

How did you learn about the Allies for Education Grant?

Section 2: Proposed Program

What is the name of the proposed program?

Describe the proposed program. Be specific about what you are proposing using the grant for and how it will integrate into your classes and lesson plans. Make evidence-based decisions where you can by referring to similar successful projects or by presenting data.

Teachers play an essential role in showing students what is possible and providing encouragement for students in the pursuit of their goals. How will the program create new opportunities for students? How is the proposed program complementing existing programs and/or filling in gaps of current offerings?

Lake County is a diverse area with a breadth of students across many demographic measures. How will your program benefit a diverse-range of students in your school? Estimate how many people this program will impact in its first year.

Describe the expected student outcomes of the proposed program. After one year, how will you measure the impact of the program? Are there key benchmarks over the upcoming school year to gauge the success of the program as well as areas of improvement? Accepted proposals will be required to report back on proposed outcomes.

The Backpack Fund’s history cannot be told without the theme of students achieving social good. The organization was founded by four, twenty-year-old alumni of Riverside High School with the goal of uplifting students and families through community support for each other. Through your proposed program, are there opportunities for students to utilize the program for the benefit of the school either inside or outside academics?

Provide a student testimonial about their perceived impact of the proposed program. A direct quote would be ideal for older students or paraphrasing from younger students would also be accepted. Include the student’s name, age, and grade at the end of their testimonial.

Have your school leaders (principal, department head) reviewed, provided feedback, and given approval of this proposal? The Backpack Fund staff will contact administrators to verify their approval of this proposal. Provide name and email for the administrator you have worked with on your proposal.

Section 3: Budget

What is the total amount of money requested? (Up to $2,000)

Budget Narrative: Please briefly explain the items and quantities (where applicable) that you plan to purchase with the funds. Focus on a summary of the items holistically. Descriptions of each item individually will be included in the budget proposal.

Create an itemized budget by creating a copy of this budget template. In the text box below, copy a viewable link to your completed budget.

Will the program require material/maintenance to sustain itself? What is your plan to fund the upkeep of the program? (Clay for a pottery wheel, filament for a 3D printer)

Please provide feedback you have regarding the application process. The Backpack Fund utilizes user-centered design and your thoughtful feedback will be applied to improving the process for future iterations of this grant.