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.
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:
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Innovation and Educational Value:
How does the project enrich the approved academic curriculum and support the district's strategic plan and ongoing priorities?
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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?
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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.
