Long Branch PTA Grants Program

Funding materials, projects, and experiences to support Long Branch

The Long Branch PTA grant program is designed to be a flexible source of PTA funding for Long Branch teachers and staff to sponsor creative programs and/or enhance the educational experience at the school.

 

FUNDING AND EVALUATION PERIODS

The PTA raises money through its events and programs. Each year the PTA budgets a certain amount of the proceeds for the grant program.

 

The PTA only puts a specified amount of money into these grant programs each year. When the money is gone for that academic year, it is not possible to replenish the fund. Thanks to the generous support of the Long Branch PTA community, the PTA grant program has a budget of $5,000 for the 2023-24 school year.

 

Grant requests may be funded, in whole or in part, by a business donor, with the mutual consent of the donor and the staff recipient. This is a great way for local businesses to support their neighborhood school, and to stretch PTA funds further.

 

Grants may be submitted at any time during the school year. The PTA will have a permanent agenda item at every meeting to consider and approve applications that come forward. 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Grant requests should provide a beneficial impact to a wide range of students (e.g., an entire grade, multiple grades, or the whole school) and a long-term or sustainable benefit to the school. Grants can be used to enrich classroom learning, support cultural arts program, school visits, field trips, and items and activities that benefit a large number of students.

 

The funds are intended to cover areas not covered by existing APS budgetary allotments or dedicated funds. Grants cannot be used to pay for items already purchased, something that will only benefit a small number of students or an individual teacher, capital expenses, IEP materials, professional memberships or training, or curriculum materials which are the responsibility of APS.

 

Typical grant requests range from $100-$500 but can be exceeded under appropriate circumstances. All grants over $500 will be reviewed by the entire PTA for consideration.

Grants Process

  • The PTA allocates funds for grants in September as part of its annual budget. For the 2023-2024 school year, the PTA has budgeted $5,000 for grants.

  • Grants may be requested by any individual staff member or team of educators at Long Branch.

  • Teacher or staff member completes the Long Branch PTA Grant Application Form.

  • The PTA president submits the application to the Long Branch principal.

  • The principal reviews the application to see whether or not there are already APS funds allocated to the school to pay for the program or idea. If so, she allocates the money required to implement the program from the APS budget funding.

  • If no APS funds are available, the principal or PTA president presents the application(s) to the PTA Executive Committee (at a PTA executive committee meeting or via email). If the request is under $500, the executive committee votes to approve. 

  • If the request is over $500, the PTA President makes sure the item(s) is (are) included on the agenda for the following PTA meeting.

  • During the next PTA meeting, the application(s) is presented to the membership. The requestor attends the meeting to present the items and answer questions.

  • If the PTA membership votes to fund the application, the PTA will pay directly for the item or service whenever possible.

  • Grant recipients will have to provide to the PTA Treasurer the name of a third party organization to whom the grant check should be issued or, if the grant recipient is requesting that the check be issued directly to him or her as a reimbursement, a copy of an invoice indicating that the recipient has already paid for the approved materials.

  • If paying directly is not possible, the PTA Treasurer provides the Long Branch School Treasurer with a check to fund the program. The Treasurer creates sub-accounts for each grant in the APS accounting system, and deposits the funds into the appropriate accounts. The sponsoring teacher or staff member is reimbursed using these funds, following APS accounting and audit procedures.

  • After the program has commenced or completed, the teacher or staff sponsor is encouraged to report back to the PTA on the program’s success.

  • Grants are voted on at all PTA Meetings with the exception of the June meeting each year.

APPLICATION FORM

Application form

 

 

If you have questions, please reach out to us at president@lbpta.org.

 

Thank you for your continued support of our Long Branch students!

 

2023-2024 Grants funded

  • Counselor conference registration
  • ELEVATE conference registration and travel expenses for Kindergarten teacher
  • Raz Plus one-year subscription for digital resources for ELL
  • Barn Hill Preserve program for K-3 (mobile education program on natural wildlife)
  • Inflatable screen for school use
  • Shirts for 5th grade Dice Club
  • Buses for K & 1st grade field trip to National Zoo

 

2022-2023 Grants funded

  • Counselor conference registration
  • Classroom set of ukuleles 

  • Bins for Kindergarten math manipulatives 

  • School wide author visit
  • Shirts for 5th grade Dice Club