Grants
For over 30 years, we’ve funded innovative projects across all schools and grade levels in the Manchester Essex Regional School District. Our grants help students reach their greatest potential by enhancing the school curriculum with opportunities that can’t be funded through the tax-supported school budget.
Teachers, administrators and students may apply for grants during our two grant cycles, which open in September and January. Grant applications are due before the designated grant deadline. If you’re MERSD staff member and want to apply for a grant, please email grants@spauldingeducationfund.org.
Our Fall 2026 Grant cycle will open Monday 8/31/26 and will close on Wednesday 9/30/26.
If you have an idea for a grant that cannot be accommodated by the grant cycle timeline, email us at grants@spauldingeducationfund.org.
We evaluate grant applications with several criteria in mind:
How does the project enrich the approved academic curriculum and support the district's strategic plan and ongoing priorities?
Innovation and Educational Value
Impact and Collaboration
How will the project benefit students across schools and grade levels? Who could you work with to ensure the project has the greatest possible impact to MERSD?
Replicability and Sustainability
If successful, how could learning opportunities be replicated and expanded? How could this project be sustainable in the future (adoption district-wide, alternate funding, reuse of materials, etc.)?
*Spaulding grants are not intended to support salaries or stipends. Funding may be available for short-term project work.
If you’d like to apply for a grant, please email grants@spauldingeducationfund.org
Examples of Recent Grants
Theater & Arts
A “Shakespeare & Company” artists-in-residence performing arts workshop for students in grades 6, 7 and 8, and a field trip to North Shore Music Theater to see “Macbeth” for students in grade 7.
Environmental
Land and Sea: Team Building and Learning Adventure for Manchester-Essex 5th Graders in partnership with the Essex Shipbuilding Museum.
Life Sciences
Enhancing Life Science Education through Advanced Microscopy - rechargeable lab binocular compound microscopes with digital screens, transforming the way high school students engage with science.
Robotics
Grant to the high school Robotics Team for a computer-numerical-controlled (CNC) router, an automated tool used to cut metal, wood, and plastic for parts that the students design for their competition robot.
