Banking on YOUth Classroom Grant Criteria
Grant Criteria
Mercantile Bank's Banking on YOUth Grant Program is designed to provide teachers with an opportunity to expand and enhance their classroom curriculum for all students. The Banking on YOUth grant is to be used to underwrite and support creative and innovative learning methods, which a teacher would not otherwise have the funds to implement.
The Banking on YOUth Grant is open to all certified Quincy and Palmyra public or parochial school educators. This includes all early childhood, elementary, and secondary education teachers. Grant applications for the 2024-25 academic school year will be accepted online through 11:59 p.m. CDT on May 1, 2024.
Grant Award Categories
At least one grant (maximum $500) will be awarded in each of the following categories for a total of six annual Banking on YOUth Grant opportunities:
- Arts & Humanities
- Health & Fitness (Paul Arndt Grant)
- Books & Materials
- Science & Technology
- Field Trip & Transportation
- Special Initiatives
While an application may include elements related to multiple categories, all applications must designate the best overall category for which it is to be considered.
Grants should implement creative ideas by teachers in order to:
- Improve and enhance a classroom's academic environment
- Reach a broad range of students and involve them directly and actively
- Encourage creative and memorable experiences for students
- Complement major goals of the school district
- Build upon school, department, and grade level plans
- Encourage student participation and broaden their involvement in our community
- Develop alternative and effective methods of instruction
Grant application must:
- Be endorsed by the principal of the applicant's school
- Designate a grant consideration category
- Be completed and submitted online at mercantilebk.com
- Include detailed listing of expenses and materials required for the project
- Not exceed the funding requests of $500.00
- Be implemented within the specified academic year for which the grant is awarded
The following types of programs will NOT be funded by the Banking on YOUth Program:
- Programs or projects which are the responsibility of the school (such as in-service or professional development)
- Materials and equipment typically purchased by the school (such as basic classroom supplies and standard technology or audio/visual equipment)
- Capital or building campaigns
- General endowment campaigns
- General operating expenses
- Scholarship or singular-student programs
- Charitable or fundraising events
Grant applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis. Evaluation points include:
- Project goal (anticipated outcome)
- Brief description of proposed project
- Relationship of proposed project to the current teaching assignment
- Description of project, which must include:
- Specific ways in which the program will be administered
- Needed materials and description of how they will be used
- Activities and methods involved
- Tentative schedule
- Completion date
- Personnel involved
Grants will be awarded in May so that programs can be implemented during the following school year. Grant recipients are required to use the money by the end of the academic year for which the grant was awarded.
Please forward your comments and questions to:
Mercantile Bank
Banking on YOUth Grant Program
PO Box 3455
Quincy, IL 62305
217-223-7300
info@mercbanx.com
