Blue Valley Educational Foundation

teacher frequently asked questions

Who can submit DonateNow proposals?

Any Blue Valley educator can submit a proposal.

What kinds of projects are funded through DonateNow?

Teachers can propose any project, program, or resource that will substantially improve or enhance the educational experience of Blue Valley School District students through innovative and creative teaching and learning techniques. Proposals must be for projects, programs or resources for which no other school or parent group funds are available, and must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the Application Guidelines.

If I submit a proposal for a Grant of Educational Excellence and do not receive funding, or receive only partial funding, may I submit this proposal for DonateNow funding?

Yes, as long as your proposal meets the eligibility requirements listed in the Application Guidelines.

Is there a dollar limit on what I can ask for?

There is no maximum dollar limit, but grant requests must be for at least $250.

What deadline date should I use when writing my grant?

Please use the 1st day of a calendar month (e.g., September 1) as the deadline for your grant. All grant funds received must be spent by May 15th following the deadline date, and your grant must be fully implemented by June 30th following the deadline date.

What happens once I submit my grant proposal?

The grant application must first be reviewed and approved by your Principal or Supervisor. It will then be reviewed and evaluated by the Assistant Superintendent of Education Services and the Executive Director of the Blue Valley Educational Foundation (BVEF) to insure that it supports the district's curriculum If the proposal requests funding for technology, it will be reviewed and evaluated by the Executive Director of Information Technology Services. You will be contacted if any of the reviewers have questions about the proposal You can view the current status of your grant application by clicking on the GRANTS link on the Grants Welcome page on BVWEB.

What should I tell parents and other potential donors about my proposal?

You should share the web address for donations (see below), the name of your grant, and how students will be positively impacted by the grant. You should also note that donations are potentially tax-deductible, but donors should consult with their personal tax advisors to determine the tax deductibility of a gift.

What is the web address of the DonateNow site?

http://www.bvef.org/donatenow/

Can I accept checks or cash from a donor?

Yes. Any cash or checks that you receive should be sent via interoffice mail or delivered to BVEF, so that BVEF can acknowledge receipt of the funds and reduce the "Amount Needed" on the online grant application. Cash gifts should be labeled with the name of the donor and the school.

What happens if my proposal is funded?

When your proposal is funded, donations will be placed in an account established in the name of your project at the Blue Valley School District, which will contact you and tell you how to access these funds. All questions regarding account balances can be directed to your school's bookkeeper. When your project is fully funded, it will appear under the FUNDED GRANTS link on both the Grants Welcome page on BV Web and on the BVEF website. You will then submit a Project Review that will be posted on the DonateNow site.

Why is 10% of funding allocated to the Blue Valley Educational Foundation endowment fund?

Because BVEF was established to support the needs of the entire Blue Valley School District, it has established a policy that a small portion of all donations received will be contributed to its endowment fund, which benefits all schools in the district.

What is the purpose of the 2% management fee?

This fee compensates BVEF for its work to support each proposal, including the approval process, website maintenance, follow up grant administration, and credit card fees.

How should I publicize a funded grant?

You are encouraged to take photographs of students participating in the funded project, note positive reactions by students participating in the funded project, and inform the school community about the grant implementation through the school newsletter or e-blasts.