Application Process

Submission Deadline 4:00 PM on Monday, January 20, 2025

The Foundation awards funding via a competitive grant process for educational initiatives. Through the generosity of our donors, the Education Foundation of New Berlin awards funds to teachers, staff, and administrators looking to start new programs or fund existing projects that make a high impact, and go above and beyond what is covered through public funding.

All School District of New Berlin teachers and staff are eligible and encouraged to apply. We accept individual and collaborative applications. Collaborative applicants work together to implement new strategies to improve instruction in individual classrooms, grade levels, departments, or programs. They may involve multiple schools, but they must work on a single program. All projects furthering excellence in education for School District of New Berlin schools and students will be considered; we prioritize innovative approaches to education and projects that clearly articulate a need or opportunity of high impact which is beyond the means of the district’s annual budget. 

Proposals must demonstrate sustainability beyond the life of the grant. Applicants must submit the grant application form online. The Grants Committee will evaluate the quality of each grant request, confirm that applicants have secured all necessary recommendations from the District, and then rank the submissions based on the project, impact, enrichment, procedure, assessments, timeline, and budget.  Once ranked by the Committee, the EFNB Board will vote on whether to fund each request individually, beginning with those receiving the highest rankings and moving down the list until funds for the year have been allocated and/or all worthy applications have been funded.

The EFNB grant may not be utilized for formal graduate study, assembly speaker fees, field trips (unless incorporated into a larger program), transportation, lodging, multi-year requests, classroom/pod furniture, classroom parties, or food. Generally, the Education Foundation of New Berlin will not fund the same grant twice, although an expansion of a previously funded project may be considered.

 To apply for a grant, applicants must obtain the school principal’s approval (multiple schools require each school's principal to approve.) Additional approvals may be required from the Director of Technology if the grant program will utilize any technology and/or the Director of Buildings and Grounds for any submissions requesting equipment requiring installation. Please communicate with Principals, District Leadership, Mathew Newman and/or Brandon Kostolni well in advance of your submission for guidance on your proposal to ensure it fits within the School District of New Berlin educational environment. 

 The Education Foundation of New Berlin will consider requests up to $5,000, all eligible proposals will be considered.  

New this year: 

• The IkeFest Trades Initiative Fund will award $2,500 in grants to enhance New Berlin Eisenhower's Career & Technical Education curriculum, offering students enriched hands-on learning in fields like manufacturing, construction, and health sciences.   

• The New Berlin West Athletics and Activities Fund will award $2,500 in grants to enhance the Viking student and student-athlete experience for sports, activities, and clubs.  

Grant applications or questions must be fully submitted online with proper approval on or before 4:00 PM January 20, 2025. Grant recipients will be notified in mid-February 2025.

Grant recipients are expected to keep in touch on their grant progress as milestones are achieved and may be asked to speak at an EFNB or SDNB event about their funding.  You will be expected to share photos for publicity, social media and press releases. You may also be invited to attend and share information about the grant project and results at a New Berlin Education Foundation meeting or presentation.  Grantees who do not provide requested reporting or responses to requests will be ineligible for future grants.

Preview Application Questions

Preview Sample Budget Worksheet