Fund-A-Need Questions/Answers

Who can submit proposals?

Olathe District Schools educators and administrators may submit proposals.

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What kind of materials can I ask for?

Teachers may propose any resource that is essential to a student-centered experience... everything from microscopes to bus transportation for a class field trip. Fund-A-Need will not cover salaries, wages, stipends, or honorariums.

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Is there a monetary limit on my request?

Proposals can range from $250-$1,500. The higher the price tag, the more compelling a proposal needs to be. The lower the price tag, the more likely a proposal will be funded. Often, high dollar needs can be submitted using several requests (ex. Title of Grant - 1 of 3, etc).

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Are there any restrictions on what I can ask for on my proposal?

During our introduction of Fund-A-Need, we have restricted proposals containing apps, software that is loaded onto district devices, software subscriptions, and hardware that connects to the district's network. Any item that is funded becomes school district property.

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How can I write a good proposal if I'm not experienced at grant writing?

Our online application presents teachers with an easy-to-complete process. A teacher needs to fully describe the project (within the character limit) but experience with grant writing is completely unnecessary.

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What is the best way to write a proposal?

Teachers should focus the proposal body on the student activity to take place rather than the materials needed. For example, a teacher proposing to get a new set of classroom materials should not focus on the fact that the present items are in disrepair. That proposal should focus first on the student activity that new classroom materials would make possible. The resources technically have no worth - it's how the students will use them.

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How does Fund-A-Need handle my proposal after I've submitted it?

The Olathe Publisc Schools Foundation works directly with the Olathe District Schools and verifies teachers' identities, confirms existence of the materials requested, and reviews proposals. If there are any uncertainties, staff will contact the teacher with follow-up questions. After this process is completed, the proposal is listed on the Fund-A-Need website. 100% of the contributions are used to purchase student supplies, books, and support for this program. These educational experiences are not available for our students without private contributions.

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What happens if my proposal is funded?

 
Congratulations on your fully funded Fund-a-Need grant !  The amount raised will be available on the tenth of the next month.  Please note, Fund-a-Need grants completed in April, May or June will be available on July 10.  The account code for your grant will be sent via e-mail by the Olathe Public Schools business office to you and your school's bookkeeper. 
 
You may make purchases within the established Olathe Public Schools Procurement Guidelines:
  • Purchases will be coded against your building’s Fund-a-Need budget code.
  • If purchases exceed the grant funds available, other building funds must be utilized.
  • If purchases are less than the grant funds available, overages will be returned to the OPSF.
  • At the end of every school year, building Fund-a-Need accounts will be zeroed out. Any unspent funds will be returned to the OPSF. The deadline for purchases is May 15. No extensions will be granted.   
  • Because of issues using tax exempt status, purchases from Walmart.com or Amazon.com are not allowed.  Purchases from physical Walmart locations are approved as long as they are exempt from sales tax.

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How long will it take for my proposal to be funded?

Some proposals could be funded in less than two days of being posted while others could wait several months before being funded. Teachers can view their proposals to check on the progress of funding.

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How many proposals may I submit in a year?

There are no restrictions on the number of proposals submitted. We recommend that you start with just one, obtain success, and then add another. Don't compete against yourself for project donations.

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