The Eagle Fund was established in 1998 by members of the communities that comprise the Southern Berkshire Regional School District as a permanent endowment with the earnings to be invested in educational projects proposed by students, teachers, and community members in the District.

The purpose of The Eagle Fund was to stimulate and celebrate the creative excellence in our students and teachers and to facilitate and support improvements and innovative initiatives at the Southern Berkshire Regional School District using private philanthropic resources. As an endowment fund, the assets of the fund are invested to produce income and growth in perpetuity to provide grants to the school community, keeping it on the creative edge and always improving, especially when the operating budget and other sources of revenue cannot offer that support.

The Eagle Fund is not intended to be a substitute for public support for the school district's budget, but will provide for those programs and purchases that will distinguish the school in terms of the quality of the educational experience offered to students.

For more information: Eagle Fund Website

The Grant Committee of The Eagle Fund, working together with our sister Janet's Fund, reviewed 22 applications from students, administrators, and members of the larger SBRSD community totaling $36,276. The Eagle Fund allocated $9,846 and the Janet's Fund $26,452 to fund 22 projects totaling $36,298.

The funding criteria required that:

• the project stretch students to achieve excellence;
• the project have a long-term impact on the school community;
• the applicant have the ability to successfully accomplish the project.

2007-2008 funded projects:

Eligibility

• Applicants must be students, teachers, administrators, staff, parents or members of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District community.
• Proposals must augment and enrich the educational experience of students in the school district and should not be part of core curriculum.
• Preference is given to proposals that request funds for the direct costs of initiatives rather than staff salaries.
• Preference is given to proposals that provide matching funds through in-kind, volunteer, or cash donations.
• Preference is given to projects that will serve as a catalyst to broader educational opportunities and are likely to have a lasting connection with other school offerings.

The Foundation does not support organizations which in their constitution, by-laws, or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.

Awards
This grant cycle, the Funds have allocated an aggregate pool of approximately $30,000 for all awards. Because we expect many worthy projects to be competing for these limited funds, we ask that all applicants make a special effort to ask only for that amount actually required and to look hard for matching funds through in-kind or other cash donations. We will continue to consider requests for multiple-year funding (up to three years).

How to Apply
Download and complete the Grant Proposal Application (pdf) and send it to Berkshire Taconic along with:

• A narrative description of the project. Include specific information about project goals, how the goals will be reached, a project timetable, and a brief description of the qualifications of the project leader. If you have received grant funds in prior years from the Eagle Fund/Janet's fund for this same project, explain why you believe another year of funding is necessary or appropriate. Please keep in mind that the mission of the Eagle Fund is to fund programs that stretch beyond ordinary school offerings; Eagle Fund monies are not available simply to fill budget gaps.
• A budget containing your project costs. If the budget contains a request for payment of a person's time, indicate the hourly rate and the number of hours projected.
• If this is not a new project, please indicate how it has been funded in prior years and why support from this fund is needed.
• If you are requesting funding for equipment, please indicate why the item(s) is not covered through the school budget.
• Any additional documentation you feel would be helpful to the committee in making its decisions.
• Applications from individuals or groups who are not teachers or school administrators must be approved by a principal or administrator.
  

Review Criteria
The requests will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

• Excellence of the project or service,
• Its impact on the school community,
• Its existing or future connection to other district offerings, and
• The ability of the applicant to carry out the project.
  

Review Process & Notification
Applications will be reviewed by a committee of representatives of The Eagle Fund & Janet's Fund. Members of this committee include SBRSD residents who are active in community affairs, as well as the Superintendent of Schools, faculty members, and students. The Eagle Fund's awards are approved by the Eagle Fund Board of Governors. Their recommendations will be reviewed by Berkshire Taconic's Board of Directors. Applicants will be informed of grant decisions within one month of the deadline date.

Deadline
All applications must be received by Berkshire Taconic no later than 5:00 p.m., April 15th, 2009.

Commitment/Report Requirements
Grant recipients must demonstrate in writing by no later than April 15th, 2009, that funds have either been spent or are committed in accordance with the grant application. Absent such demonstration, awarded funds will revert to the general pool for reallocation in the next grant cycle.

In addition, grant recipients will be expected to make in-person presentations to a joint Eagle Fund/Janet's Fund board at year end and to write a narrative grant report, demonstrating what was achieved with the grant funds.

Questions
Please contact Maeve O'Dea, Program Officer, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation by e-mail, or by phone at 800-969-2823.