Thank you for your interest in the Rural Schools Partnership’s 2010-11 grantmaking programs designed to enhance and sustain schools and communities across southern Missouri. Please review the opportunities listed below to decide which grant program best fits your school’s goals, needs or specific project ideas.

The following information applies to all of the grant categories.

Grantees are reminded that final grant progress reports are required as a condition of the grant award. If a final report has not been submitted by the dates indicated with the grant awards, grantees will be eligible for up to two extensions based on circumstances. If the final report is not submitted by the extension deadline, the CFO will request the return of the total grant monies.

Schools that receive a grant in one category are not eligible to apply for a grant in that same category during the following year’s grant cycle. They can, however, apply for grants in any of the other categories.

For more information or questions, please e-mail Julie Leeth, Executive Vice President, or call (417) 864-6199.

Current Grant Opportunities

Youth Philanthropy

CFO’s Philanthropy Initiative will provide start up grants to support the establishment of youth philanthropy/leadership programs in rural communities. This is an excellent way for a school to become a partner in the Rural Schools Partnership. For more information or questions, please contact Bridget Dierks, Director of Foundation Relations, or call (417) 864-6199.

The Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation Regional Grantmaking Program of Commerce Trust

The Coover grantmaking program provides $150,000 per year in grantmaking support for cooperative ventures that enhance teaching and learning through innovative place-based education programs.

The eight to 15 projects funded annually range from $10,000 to $20,000 per project.

The grants are intended to foster the basic tenets of place-based education.

The Rural Schools Partnership encourages proposals that include local matches or other leveraged resources.

Applicants who receive funding will be required to attend the 2011 Rural Schools Partnership Conference planned for May 2011.

The application deadline is April 11, 2011.

The Conco Community Arts Program

This program, made possible by Conco Companies, provides $10,000 for student-led community arts efforts.

The eight to 12 projects funded annually range from $500 to $1,500 per project.

Applications require a primary teacher/supervisor contact, student organization, community partners, project description and project budget.

The application deadline is Oct. 18, 2010.

Student Conservation Grants Program

The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Stewardship Ozarks Initiative provide $10,000 annually to support conservation education grants for student-led conservation activities and projects.

The grant monies available from the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation must align with its organizational mission; funding for other projects such as recycling or energy alternatives is available through the Stewardship Ozarks Initiative’s portion of the grant program.

The eight to 12 projects funded annually range from $500 to $1,500 per project.

Applications require a primary teacher/supervisor contact, student organization, community partners, project description and project budget.

Application information will be available in Spring 2011.

Student Wellness Grants Program

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks provides $10,000 to support student wellness grants for student-led wellness activities and projects.

The eight to 12 projects funded annually range from $500 to $1,500 per project. This program is made possible by the Ed and Virginia Heer Family Foundation Fund.

Applications require a primary teacher/supervisor contact, student organization, community partners, project description and project budget.

The application deadline is Oct. 18, 2010.

Ozarks Teacher Corps Program

Information on the 2011 program will be available after Jan. 1, 2011.

Recruiting, preparing, and retaining outstanding teachers for rural communities

The Ozarks Teacher Corps will develop a cadre of talented teaching candidates who will explore rural education issues, serve as teacher interns in small schools, and commit to teaching in their respective home communities for at least three years.  The overarching purpose of the Ozarks Teacher Corps is to encourage extremely capable and passionate young people to become educators and return to their rural hometowns as teacher-leaders.  This program is made possible by the Chesley and Flora Lea Wallis Trust, a $1.7 million Community Foundation of the Ozarks charitable fund.

The program has been launched in 2010, with a cadre of 16 teaching candidates—8 juniors and 8 seniors.  A minimum of 8 new participants will be added each spring. Over time, the Ozarks Teacher Corps will develop a growing network of educator-activists who recognize the importance of rural education to a sustainable American society.  We also believe that this effort has outstanding potential to attract and leverage additional funders.

The Ozarks Teacher Corps will include the following procedural steps:

• Sophomore-level teaching candidates at MSU, MSU-West Plains, OTC, Drury, Baptist Bible College and Evangel who are committed to teaching in their Missouri Ozarks’ hometowns will apply for acceptance to the program.  Applications due TBA.
• Applicants will fill out an application, write an essay on the value of rural schools, be recommended by their respective teacher education unit head, and obtain an endorsement/commitment from their hometown school’s superintendent.  The endorsement from the school superintendent will be a “good faith” commitment to hire the applicant upon graduation if an appropriate teaching position is available in the hometown district.

By applying, applicants agree to:

• Attend selected seminars on rural education issues;
• Graduate and become certified within a two-year period;
• Serve as a teacher-intern in a small, rural school (preferably their hometown);
• Take advantage of a provided membership with the national Rural School and Community Trust’s Rural School Innovation Network;
• Attend the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ annual Rural Schools Partnership “Place-Based Education Conference;”
• Agree to return to their hometown as a teacher for a minimum of three years.  If no appropriate position is available, recipients may fulfill their requirement by teaching in another rural Missouri Ozarks’ community.

Upon selection, participants will receive a $4,000 per year scholarship for their junior and senior years.  If recipients do not complete their teaching certification or program or honor their commitment to teach in their hometown (or other rural school), the scholarship will be revoked.