The U.S. Department of Education has released the latest information regarding the 2015 Innovative Fund (i3) Development Grants. The Investing in Innovation Fund was established in 2009 with the goal of supporting local educational agencies and nonprofit organizations in partnership with educational agencies. All programs applying for the grants must have the goal of improving student achievement and attainment, including expanding practices that improve student growth and achievement. Programs must have a demonstrated impact on closing achievement gaps, increasing high school graduation rates, increasing college enrollment and completion rates, and decreasing drop out rates.
For this year’s i3 Grants competition, organizations have the option to submit a pre-application prior to April 29, 2015. Each pre-application will be reviewed and scored by peer reviewers, and organizations with a highly rated pre-application will be invited to submit the full application for a grant. The hope is that the pre-application process will reduce the burden of submitting a full grant application. However, any organization may apply for a grant regardless of submitting a pre-application.
In 2014, Transform Consulting Group helped the Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) apply for two innovation fund program grants: Investing in Innovation Validation (i3) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL). The grants were sought out with the goal of expanding implementation of the research-based Early Literacy Project (ELP) or SPARK program. SPARK is a core BGCA “wrap-around” program that improves classroom reading achievement through literacy work in three spheres of influence: school, family and community.
Transform Consulting Group applauds BGCA’s leadership in improving the literacy rate of students at high-need schools and working to bridge the school-community-family spheres. Contact us today to learn more about how we help organizations apply for grants and find new funding streams.
