Great teachers have great ideas. Together with you, the Hilliard Education Foundation wants to bring those ideas to life and help teachers and students do more! Each year, the Foundation will choose the best ideas and award grants to make them happen.

TEACHERS and STAFF
Keep reading to find out more information about applying for a grant.

PARENTS and COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS
Give now to support creativity and passion in our teachers and students!

We WILL fund:

  • New, innovative or unique learning opportunities for students
  • Projects not supported through traditional funding sources
  • Requests of $10,000 or less (this is an increase from previous years)
  • Opportunities with clear linkages to district-approved curriculum

We WON’T fund:

  • Author Visits
  • Transportation costs
  • Staff salaries, stipends or substitute costs
  • Consumable supplies (i.e. t-shirts, food)
  • Purchase of equipment to simply expand a current program with no new element
  • Continuation or repeat of an existing program (artist-in-residence excluded)
  • Individual Professional Development

Special Grant Opportunities
The following grants are provided by donors who have designated additional specific criteria. You must meet all the criteria above and the following to be eligible for these grants.

  • The Jessica Grové Fund for the Performing Arts. This grant will support High School performing arts programs.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS/TIMELINE

  • Summary Page (aka Letter of Intent) – Last Friday in January  
    • Review our 2025 Grant Guidelines to make sure your idea is eligible.
    • Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) – a one page summary of your idea – anytime throughout the year but no later than the last Friday in January.
      Your LOI will be reviewed and feedback given the first week of the following month.       Letter of Intent Form
  • Grant Application – February 28, 2025
    • The LOI isn’t a prerequisite to applying for a grant but is intended to provide feedback to applicants while preparing the grant application.
    • All grant applications must be received no later than February 28th. HEF Grant Application.
  • Notification of Award – April 30th
    • Applicants will be be notified of funding decisions by April 30th.
  • Next Steps after receiving a Grant
    • Applicants who are awarded a grant should submit a completed  Payment Request Form in order to receive funding.
    • Applicants should not pay for grants and then seek reimbursement from the Hilliard Education Foundation. Doing so will lead to forfeiture of the awarded grant.
    • Funds must be requested within one year of a grant award.

Congratulations 2025 Grant Winners

In 2025 the Hilliard Education Foundation awarded five grants with a total of almost $40,000 awarded and impacting thousands of students in Hilliard schools.


Teaching Tech Standards through LEGO
Avery/Crossing/Scioto Darby Elementaries
The grant will purchase 30 Spike LEGO® Essential kits for Innovation and Discovery Centers at Avery, Crossing and Scioto Darby Elementary Schools. These kits will be used to teach design thinking, coding, and computer engineering fundamentals through hands-on activities aligned with Ohio Technology Standards. Around 1300 students from grades K-5 will participate, fostering STEAM education, literacy, mat and social-emotional development. The kits include curriculum, unit plans, educator support, and an iPad-compatible learning system.

Enhancing Sensory Spaces for all Learners
HCSD Preschool
This grant will upgrade the sensory space in the preschool (with specific special needs support), with the goal of creating a more supportive and engaging environment for all students. The project aims to introduce a variety of sensory tools, movement opportunities, interactive technology elements and adaptive seating to help students develop essential classroom skill, including emotional regulation, communication, focus and social interaction. The upgraded room will also incorporate STEAM challenges through immersive activities designed to encourage exploration and critical thinking.

Decodable Classroom Library
Heritage Middle School
Heritage MS is creating a classroom library of decodable texts for struggling readers in grades 6-8. Many students in this program read below their grade level, with some reading several grades behind. The project seeks to provide high-interest, lower-reading-level books in a variety of genres to increase students’ confidence and reading ability.

 

Ready for More Innovation to Drive Change
Hoffman Trails Elementary
This project will integrate hands-on learning experiences using a variety of resources, including LEGO Education kits, a Prusa 3-D printer, Ozobot coding robots and Dash robots. Students will have the opportunity to engage in real-world applications of STEM concepts through activities such as designing and printing 3D solutions, programming robots, and exploring engineering and coding challenges. This initiative aims to foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, innovation, and collaboration among students, while also providing teachers with professional development to effectively implement these new tools and teaching methods.

Journalism & Broadcast: Studio & Field Equipment
Bradley High School
Bradley High School is creating a Journalism & Broadcast Network to provide students with hands-on experience and prepare them for careers in journalism and broadcasting. The network will live-stream sporting events with commentary and interviews, cover performing arts and extracurricular activities, and showcase student achievements to foster community engagement. Funding will be used to purchase equipment for a broadcast studio and mobile reporting, including cameras, lighting, audio equipment, and editing tools.