Innovative Education Fund Grant Program

Do you have a program that may contribute a solution to improve outcomes for Georgia students? Then consider applying for an Innovative Education Fund Grant!

The Innovative Education Fund Grant Program provides opportunities for organizations to apply for innovative education programs that contribute to improving outcomes for Georgia students. Eligible organizations - traditional public and charter schools, school districts, and nonprofit organizations partnered with public schools and districts - should use the funding to implement or scale innovative projects that deeply engage students. These organizations may apply for $1,000 to $25,000 in grant funding.

What are "Innovative Programs"?

The GFPE defines characteristics of innovative programs as those that are:

Targeting the Root Cause of a Problem: The program should solve a problem faced by a specific population by targeting its root cause in an inventive way.
Inclusive:Programs should be developed for and with students, teachers, and leaders.
Disruptive & Transformative:Programs should have the potential to disrupt and permanently transform "education as usual." The program exists to improve an aspect of or introduce a new approach to education at the classroom, school, or district level.
Contextualized:Programs must be created with consideration of the context in which it will be applied. Depending on the program focus, special attention should be paid to the student/teacher target population, school neighborhood, and/or available external resources.
Collaborative:The program should utilize thoughtfully selected and creative community partners to meet financial and programmatic needs.
A Breakthrough Approach:Is the program rarely-before- or never-before-seen in the context?

The Innovative Education Fund is funded with donations from the PEACH Education Tax Credit.

Who is Eligible to Apply for an Innovative Education Fund Grant?

To apply for an Innovative Education Fund grant, you must be one of the following:

A school administrator, principal, or instructional coach at a charter school or traditional public school in the state of Georgia.
A K-12 teacher at a Georgia charter school or traditional public school who has been teaching for at least three years.
Another type of leadership-level administrator in a Georgia LEA.
A Georgia 501(c)(3) partnering with a Georgia school or school district.

You are eligible for priority points if you are a school identified on the Georgia Department of Education's Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Schools list (5 points).

If you are a teacher at a K-12 Georgia charter school or traditional public school, you must submit a Principal Certification Form along with your application.

Current Grant Programs

The Innovative Education Fund currently features three grant programs:

Innovation Mini Grants: Provides between $1,000 - $5,000 for a yearlong grant designed implement a small-scale innovative education program that has the potential to impact student outcomes.
Innovating Education Prototype Grant: Provides between $10,000 - $25,000 over one year to pilot an innovative education program that has the potential to impact student outcomes and transform teaching/learning practices at the school or district.
Innovating Education Expansion Grant: Provides between $10,000 - $20,000 over one year to scale an innovative education program that has the potential to impact student outcomes and transform teaching/learning practices at the school or district.

Grant Timeline

Grant Application Opens	Grant Application Due	Reviewed & Announced
February 15, 2023	March 15, 2023	Early May 2023

Application Instructions

To participate in the Innovative Education Fund, please follow the steps below:

Watch the "Grant Writing 101" Webinar (recommended, but not required).
Watch the "Innovation 101" Webinar (recommended, but not required).
Watch the “Innovative Education Fund 101” Webinar (recommended, but not required).
Take the “Which Grant Should I Apply For? Quiz:” https://bit.ly/whichgrant
Carefully review the IEF Grant Guidelines, including the eligibility requirements, application components, and the scoring rubric for the program to which you are applying: Innovating Education Expansion Grant, Innovating Education Prototype Grant, or Innovation Mini Grants.
Complete an application using the GFPE Application Portal
Submit your application online by March 15, 2023.
For Innovating Education Prototype and Expansion Grant Applicants Only: The GFPE may invite the applicant and prospective grant team to participate in an interview with GFPE staff and board members during the week of April 3-7, 2023.

More Information

For questions regarding the Innovative Education Fund, please contact Jaclyn Colona at Jaclyn.colona@doe.k12.ga.us or 404-445-9828.