Grant development staff will assist with preparation and submittal of applications, but grant applicants must participate fully in project planning, development, and writing because they are the subject matter experts. Depending on the amount of funding being pursued, grant development staff will connect school-based teams with district content experts for further assistance.
The required forms, which have now moved entirely online, are hyperlinked throughout grant development web pages as grant intent webform or partnership intent webform.
You may also want to download and read the MPS Protocols for Securing Grants. If you have any questions about these forms, please contact grants@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.
If MPS is the fiscal agent of the grant, an MPS employee seeking a grant may begin the process by completing a grant intent webform.
If another entity besides MPS is the fiscal agent, you may begin the application process with the partnership intent form. This is how 1) applicants notify the administration that outside agencies wish to pursue specific grant opportunities and request MPS collaboration, 2) district staff gets permission from senior staff to collaborate on the grant, and 3) grant development staff is alerted that assistance may be needed in obtaining a letter of support or other documentation.
Enter all information in the fillable grant intent webform or partnership intent webform to the best of your ability. Include a brief description of the proposed project in the “Grant Information” section. The grant team will then route the form for approvals.
Do not start proposal development until a signed grant intent form is submitted to grant development staff and approval is obtained.
The superintendent is the only person authorized to sign grant applications on behalf of Milwaukee Public Schools, unless another signature is required by the funder.
Yes. Grant development is the clearinghouse for all grant applications and awards, and should be notified of all grants in order to ensure applicants follow appropriate procedures for requesting and accepting funds.
Notify the grant development team of the award. Grant development staff will provide some assistance in setting up and implementing the grant project.
The district grant accountant will help set up the budget and will review financial reporting and funding requirements. A budget must be established in IFAS, the district's financial system, before any grant money can be spent.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers are unique numbers assigned to most grants by the federal government. Local or state grant programs do not have CFDA numbers assigned to them.
Once you identify an appropriate funder, determine the type of grant you are seeking. Is it a:
1. school-based grant (under $5,000),
2. district grant (at least $5,000), or
3. partnership grant?
The next step is to complete a grant intent webform for school-based and district grants, or a partnership intent webform for partnership grants.
All intent forms require administration approval. If the grant application is school-based grant, the school leader and regional superintendent must provide approval. If it is a district grant, a chief must provide approval.
Development of the proposal should not occur until applicants have completed this step.
The due dates for grant applications vary from grant to grant, and from year to year.
Some grant application forms are similar from one year to the next, but most projects require new and specific information. You are welcome to contact
grants@milwaukee.k12.wi.us to review prior grant submittals to get an idea of the type of information required.
Milwaukee Public Schools is a tax-exempt organization, but not under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code and it is not a 501(c)(3) organization.
If the funding agency supports 501(c)(3) organizations and does not mention schools or school districts in their criteria, contact the funding agency to confirm your site’s eligibility to apply for funding.
You may also contact the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, which is a 501(c)3 organization, to determine if you can apply through the Foundation.
Please contact Wendell Willis, director of the MPS Foundation at williswe@milwaukee.k12.wi.us or 414-475-8013.
Contributions to the Milwaukee Public Schools are deductible under Section 170(C) of the federal tax code.