Grant Request Process
Overview
The Alpharetta High School Foundation (AHSF) Grant Submission Process distributes funds raised by the Foundation to recipient organizations at the school. Any organization, club or team may request funds. The AHSF uses the four pillars of the school mission statement – Academics, Athletics, Arts and Altruism to guide the distribution of monies. As a general rule, the Foundation seeks to equitably divide funding to the Academic, Athletic and Arts groups and historically has received fewer requests for Altruism funds.
The grant process is comprised of three constituencies, the requestor, a grant review committee and the AHSF board. Requests will receive one of the responses. Requests can be approved in total, denied in total or modified based on interactions across the constituencies.
The AHSF will annually publish a calendar of dates that will be used to consider requests. These dates will be at the beginning of the school year and at the beginning of second semester. The calendar will include the dates at which time formal submissions can be submitted, dates for proposal reviews, dates for board review and decision making, dates for communicating results and dates that funds will be provided.
Most requests will be considered on this semi-annual basis but the board reserves the right to entertain one off requests it deems to be of an urgent matter. Decisions about request anomalies are purely at the discretion of the board.
The three constituencies carry specific roles and responsibilities. This document attempts to outline most of those duties.
Requestors
Any requesting organization should consult the AHSF web site for a complete set of grant request documents. These include a copy of this process description, the Foundation funding guidelines and the formal grant request form. Groups should read the materials carefully and tailor the request to conform with funding guidelines, proper number of outside bids and insure that external funding sources are secured prior to continuing.
If the requesting organization is making a change that materially alters a Fulton County School facility, the organization must complete all necessary Fulton County School facility alteration requirements prior to making the request. Mr. Scheifflee can provide guidance on this process but be advised that this can entail significant lead time on proposals. Failure to complete this process at the outset will render the request rejected until a future grant period.
The requesting organization should gain internal agreement on the request from their organization including lining up booster or other external financial assistance as delineated in the Foundation Funding Guidelines. Once internal conditions are determined the organization may complete the funding template. The funding template should be completed and turned in by the grant committee deadline dates. Requesting organizations should be prepared to move forward with their requests in a timely manner.
The requesting organization representatives will meet with the grant committee to review their proposal and answer any questions.
Grant Committee
The grant committee will be comprised of seven members. Four of the members will be AHSF board members not employed by the school. Three members will be school faculty or staff.
The principal serves as an advisory member to the grant committee but does not vote on requests. The principal helps the committee by reviewing the requests, assisting in understanding the context of requests, provides insight on strategic fit with school objectives and whether other funding sources such as FCS may be more appropriate.
The grant committee receives copies of all grant requests and meets to review them. The committee will likely ask to meet with the requesting organization representative to answer questions about the proposal. The review meetings will take place on a single day to better honor the time commitment of the members.
The committee will review all proposals and make a recommendation to the AHSF board regarding the entire slate of proposals. The committee will respond to requestors after the board decision and funding is provided promptly.
AHSF Board
The AHSF board has the sole authority to make grant decisions. The board will meet prior to the grant period to determine the level of funding available for the grant period. The board reserves the right to use its discretion in determining specific areas of focus. In some cases, donors stipulate funding to specific categories and those directives will be honored.
The Alpharetta High School Foundation (AHSF) Grant Submission Process distributes funds raised by the Foundation to recipient organizations at the school. Any organization, club or team may request funds. The AHSF uses the four pillars of the school mission statement – Academics, Athletics, Arts and Altruism to guide the distribution of monies. As a general rule, the Foundation seeks to equitably divide funding to the Academic, Athletic and Arts groups and historically has received fewer requests for Altruism funds.
The grant process is comprised of three constituencies, the requestor, a grant review committee and the AHSF board. Requests will receive one of the responses. Requests can be approved in total, denied in total or modified based on interactions across the constituencies.
The AHSF will annually publish a calendar of dates that will be used to consider requests. These dates will be at the beginning of the school year and at the beginning of second semester. The calendar will include the dates at which time formal submissions can be submitted, dates for proposal reviews, dates for board review and decision making, dates for communicating results and dates that funds will be provided.
Most requests will be considered on this semi-annual basis but the board reserves the right to entertain one off requests it deems to be of an urgent matter. Decisions about request anomalies are purely at the discretion of the board.
The three constituencies carry specific roles and responsibilities. This document attempts to outline most of those duties.
Requestors
Any requesting organization should consult the AHSF web site for a complete set of grant request documents. These include a copy of this process description, the Foundation funding guidelines and the formal grant request form. Groups should read the materials carefully and tailor the request to conform with funding guidelines, proper number of outside bids and insure that external funding sources are secured prior to continuing.
If the requesting organization is making a change that materially alters a Fulton County School facility, the organization must complete all necessary Fulton County School facility alteration requirements prior to making the request. Mr. Scheifflee can provide guidance on this process but be advised that this can entail significant lead time on proposals. Failure to complete this process at the outset will render the request rejected until a future grant period.
The requesting organization should gain internal agreement on the request from their organization including lining up booster or other external financial assistance as delineated in the Foundation Funding Guidelines. Once internal conditions are determined the organization may complete the funding template. The funding template should be completed and turned in by the grant committee deadline dates. Requesting organizations should be prepared to move forward with their requests in a timely manner.
The requesting organization representatives will meet with the grant committee to review their proposal and answer any questions.
Grant Committee
The grant committee will be comprised of seven members. Four of the members will be AHSF board members not employed by the school. Three members will be school faculty or staff.
The principal serves as an advisory member to the grant committee but does not vote on requests. The principal helps the committee by reviewing the requests, assisting in understanding the context of requests, provides insight on strategic fit with school objectives and whether other funding sources such as FCS may be more appropriate.
The grant committee receives copies of all grant requests and meets to review them. The committee will likely ask to meet with the requesting organization representative to answer questions about the proposal. The review meetings will take place on a single day to better honor the time commitment of the members.
The committee will review all proposals and make a recommendation to the AHSF board regarding the entire slate of proposals. The committee will respond to requestors after the board decision and funding is provided promptly.
AHSF Board
The AHSF board has the sole authority to make grant decisions. The board will meet prior to the grant period to determine the level of funding available for the grant period. The board reserves the right to use its discretion in determining specific areas of focus. In some cases, donors stipulate funding to specific categories and those directives will be honored.
