Interschool Council Mini Grant Program 2025/26 Guidelines 

 

APPLICATION: 

1. The goal of the Interschool Council (ISC) Mini Grant Program is to support creative and innovative approaches to teaching and to support the personal and academic development of LMSD students. 

2. Applications for the 2025-26 Mini Grants will be accepted from October 1-31, 2025.

3. All applications must include a detailed budget not to exceed $1,000.  General categories with only a dollar amount will not be considered.  For example, “Books: $250” or “Supplies: $100” is not acceptable.  Please include a list of specific books or supplies to be purchased. Screenshots, photos, and links to items are welcomed and help the review committee visualize the project.

4. Budget items that are NOT funded:   

   1. Office equipment 

   2. General school supplies 

   3. Document copying 

   4. Mailing costs 

   5. Consumable items (e.g., food, beverages and subscriptions)

   6. Transportation, lodging or conference fees 

   7. iPads or laptops 

   8. High School Senior Projects 

   9. Items that pose safety hazards 

5. Staff is limited to submitting two grant applications total, either individually or with others, per award year. Staff may submit a grant application with LMSD colleagues.  Applicants are encouraged to work together across disciplines and schools to submit grant applications.  

6. Applicants must consult with their building principal(s) or supervisor(s) before submitting an application.

7. The Interschool Council awards grants that impact both small and large groups of students. The number of students impacted is only one factor considered when applications are reviewed. 

8. Grant applications must be submitted using this Application Form by 5pm on October 31, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

 

AWARDS:

1. The Review Committee includes the Interschool Council (ISC) Mini Grant Co-Chairs, ISC Co-Presidents, a Home and School Association (HSA) president, a Committee for Special Education (CSE) representative, a representative of the Education Foundation of Lower Merion (EFLM), an LMSD principal, and LMSD administrators.  

2. Additional information may be required during the evaluation process. If that is the case, an email will be sent to the application’s primary contact.

3. Proposals may be fully funded, partially funded or not funded. All awards will be rounded up to the nearest dollar. Grant funds will be available for reimbursement after the LMSD Board of Directors has approved the awards and the awardees receive their award letters. 

4. Each mini grant award comes with a commitment to submit feedback and, if possible, photographs. Awardees will be contacted in the spring to provide updates on implementation and feedback. 

5. The Interschool Council may use information concerning mini grants in electronic newsletters or other communications to the public as examples of how it fulfills its mission. 

6. The Interschool Council reserves the right to reject future mini grant applications from recipients who fail to submit a completed Feedback Form or photos.

 

REIMBURSEMENT:

1. Purchases for reimbursement can be made either directly by the staff or can be purchased through LMSD.  Reimbursements are to be submitted via this Reimbursement Form.  Reimbursement will be paid from receipts ONLY.  Quotes are not an acceptable form of receipt. 

2. Items specified in an application’s budget are the only items approved for reimbursement by the ISC Mini Grant Program. If a change or substitution is required (i.e., a certain product is no longer available), prior approval from the Mini Grant Chair(s) is required for reimbursement. 

3. Items purchased for reimbursement through an ISC Mini Grant are the property of LMSD.

4. Should the total dollar amount of the items bought exceed the approved amount of the mini grant awarded, the difference may or may not be reimbursed depending on available funds.

5. Should circumstances change, it is the responsibility of the applicants to contact the Mini Grant Chair(s) before making changes.

6. Requests for mini grant reimbursements must be submitted to the Interschool Council Mini Grant Program by June 1, 2026.  After June 30th, any unspent funds return to the ISC Mini Grant Program. 

 

Revised 9/2025