Before You Begin
- Watch the short video below for an overview.
- Read all the instructions.
- Recommended: What Makes a Great Mini-Grant rogram?
- [embedvimeo 137168222]
Instructions
- Eligibility & Guidelines
Who can apply?
- Who: Public schools, public libraries, preschools, Head Start programs
- Where: The United States and U.S. commonwealths and territories, including Puerto Rico and Guam
- Limit: Only one application per library or school
- Not eligible: Private schools, parochial schools, charter schools
- Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s:
- Instructions: Read them before you begin.
- Sample form: Use as a guide to plan your program and budget.
- Your account: To access the application form, you must first create an account.
- Your data will be saved automatically as you work, and you can stop and return to the form later. Your contact information will not be shared.
- Your program: Make sure your program follows these guidelines.
- provides an enriched learning experience.
- is supported solely by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.
- costs $500 or less.
- is offered free of charge.
- is implemented during the summer or school year following receipt of the Mini-Grant.
- Your application: Keep a copy for your files.
- Materials: Include only items that will be used in your program.
- Final Report: Submit by June 1 of the school year following receipt of the Mini-Grant.
Don’ts:
- Materials and costs: Including these in your budget will disqualify your application.
- general operating and administrative costs
- transportation
- salaries
- materials, books and equipment unrelated or tangential to the program
- materials, books and equipment intended for reuse outside the program
- production or purchase of merchandise intended for sale
- Dates & Information
- Deadline: Submit by March 31, 11:59 p.m.
- Email: Your application must include a functional email address to which you have free access. You can expect to receive emails from us.
- Confirmation: After you submit, you will receive an email confirmation with a link to your application. If you don’t receive the confirmation, notify us by email.
- Application: You are required to keep a digital copy and a hard copy for your records. Print and save the application when you receive the confirmation link.
- Notification: You will be notified by email about the status of your application on or around May 1—whether or not your proposal has been accepted.
- Checks: Mini-Grant checks will be mailed on or around May 15. Contact us if you have not heard from us by June 1.
- Lost checks: Replacements for lost or expired award checks will be issued with a $25 deduction.
- Final Reports: Due by June 1 of next year—approximately one year after receipt of the award check.
- Final Report
A Final Report is required as documentation of your program. The report may be submitted by mail or email. Please do not request a signature on delivery or an email confirmation of receipt.
These sections are required:
- Report: a letter describing the program in detail, activities, attendance and the response of the participants
- Evaluation: written by you, a colleague or an attending parent or caregiver
- Photo presentation: images of the participating children, their activities, and the final product or production.
- Photos must be digital (jpg, jpeg or png)—even if the images are also included with or embedded in the report.
Please include any of these that apply:
- announcements, flyers and invitations
- newspaper articles
- audio or video recordings of the program
- web links associated with the program
We accept these digital formats:
- documents: doc, docx, pdf
- photographs: jpg. Jpeg, png
- video: mpg4, mpeg4, mov
We reserve the right to display materials contained in Final Reports on our website, social media and media releases (with full credit given).
Outstanding Final Reports may be sent to the Keats Archive at the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, University of Southern Mississippi, where they will be available to scholars of Keats and his legacy.