Programs
Leadership and Professional Development Grants

Our Program

For more than 26 years, the Leadership and Professional Development (LPD) Grants program has been awarding grants directly to pre-K through 12th grade educators (including teachers, counselors, librarians, and other certificated personnel) in the SFUSD to support innovative teaching and learning. The LPD Grants program is founded on our conviction that teachers can be catalysts for change leading to improved outcomes for students; to that end, the program supports innovative learning opportunities for teachers and students alike, incorporating community partners, parents, and classified personnel when appropriate. In particular, the LPD Grants program reaches out to educators and schools who work with underserved student populations.

LPD Grants are awarded directly to teachers for unique and innovative classroom project, teacher learning, community partner, or sustainability grants, and the program supports teams of teachers in leading projects that will help to ensure all students are equipped with competitive and relevant skills to become contributing members of society. This investment in teacher leadership and professional development leads to positive, more equitable outcomes for all students in San Francisco ’s public schools. Ninety-four percent of 2005-2006 LPD Grant recipients reported in their end of year surveys that they observed their students developing specific academic skills in literacy, math, science, arts, and technology as a direct result of participating in grant activities. As one teacher commented, “[Our LPD Grant project] has given us a space to analyze and interrogate our teaching practices as well as come up with new ideas from each other. Often there is only enough time for a discussion pertaining to what we will teach. This project, via teacher collaboration, has allowed us to focus on how we will teach.”

For the 2007-2008 school year the Ed Fund is supporting a portfolio of 14 outstanding Teacher Learning, Community Partner and Classroom Project grant projects at 13 different schools throughout San Francisco public schools totaling $99,872. We are also funding 3 Sustainability grants at 3 different schools, totaling $4,500. To learn more about these grant projects, click here.

Program Goals

The goals for the LPD Grants program are to promote excellent and equitable outcomes for all students in San Francisco public schools by:

  • Increasing teachers' skills and knowledge and improving student learning in areas related to the LPD Grant;
  • Improving student academic performance and social behavior;
  • Developing collaborative teacher learning communities;
  • Building connections with families and the community;
  • Inspiring innovation in teaching and learning;
  • Creating plans to sustain project activities.

Our Grants

Four categories of grants are available to SFUSD teachers, counselors, librarians, and other certificated personnel:

  • Teacher Learning Grants of $6,000-$9,000 are available for teams of six or more teachers and provide for ongoing site-based professional learning communities aimed at improving student outcomes by way of enhancing teacher learning.
  • Community Partner Grants of $6,000-$9,000 are for teams of six or more teachers who initiate and implement a large-scale project in conjunction with a community-based organization, a small local business, or a team of parents or community members. The project must be integrated into academic subjects and must provide students access to places, people, ideas, or opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have, and support student learning objectives.
  • Classroom Project Grants of up to $1,500 are available for teams of two or more teachers to support innovative projects in a particular academic area.
  • Sustainability Grants of $500-$1,500 are for existing grant teams who want continued support from the Ed Fund to sustain their successful grant projects.

Apply for an LPD Grant

To apply for a 2008-2009 grant, click here.

The deadline for the 2008-2009 grant applications academic year has been extended again to April 3, 2008.

Our Support

The Ed Fund has carefully crafted the ways in which grantees are supported from the inception of an idea throughout the implementation of the grant. This support begins in the winter with outreach and assistance to schools, principals, and teachers. Grant writing workshops are provided for teachers to learn about the application process and to have the opportunity to speak with an Ed Fund staff member to develop their ideas. Additionally, workshop attendees are invited to submit a draft proposal, which is returned with feedback from an Ed Fund staff member in time to revise and resubmit. In the spring, a community reading team evaluates proposals and makes funding recommendations (see selection process for more details). Once the school year starts and grant money is issued, the Ed Fund aids in grant implementation by providing logistical training, site visits, and continuous support to grantees. Grant facilitators submit a midyear and final report which reflect on project implementation. The grant cycle culminates with an event where grantees display their work for other teachers, grantees, and the broader community.

Our Selection Process

For Teacher Learning and Community Partner Grants:

A committee of readers composed of educators, Ed Fund staff and board members, community members, and parents selects which grant proposals will receive funding. The selection process also includes a 15 minute phone conversation between grant facilitators and Ed Fund staff. The San Francisco Education Fund Board of Directors and the San Francisco Board of Education approve funding decisions.

For Classroom Learning and Sustainability Grants:

These smaller grants are reviewed by Ed Fund staff. Click here for a sample scoring rubric.

Available money for grant funding and for the number of grant proposals awarded varies from year to year. The Ed Fund does not guarantee that all projects that meet funding guidelines will be funded, or that projects will be funded for the entire requested amount.

Other Grants:

If you are interested in learning about other funding opportunities, please check out our Grants and Funding resources.

For more information, contact Program Associate Paul Kuzmickas at 415.912.2238 or paul@sfedfund.org.