All Stillwater Area Public Schools (ISD 834) educators and staff are welcome to apply, including early childhood through grade 12 and Adult Basic Education. You don't need to have a traditional classroom to be eligible — if your work directly supports student learning, we'd love to hear your ideas.

Grant applications are accepted year-round and are reviewed on a rolling basis until available funding for the school year has been awarded. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure funding availability — and especially if your project has a specific timeline.

The priority deadline for a Harcey Walmar Scholarship is October 1, 2026.

There isn't a strict minimum or maximum.

We're most interested in funding meaningful ideas — not fitting projects into a dollar amount.

The Partnership Plan primarily awards grants for use within a single school year. However, we recognize that some initiatives require more than one year to launch, grow, or demonstrate meaningful impact.

As part of our strategic planning process, we are exploring the role The Partnership Plan can play in supporting longer-term initiatives. Multi-year funding can provide important stability for impactful programs, but it also requires thoughtful planning to ensure we continue to support a broad range of needs across the district.

Applicants are encouraged to share the full scope of their vision, including any anticipated future needs or ongoing support. If you are considering a project with a multi-year timeline, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your idea.

The strongest applications clearly explain:

• What you'd like to accomplish

• How students will benefit

• How the project supports learning (alignment with academic standards is a plus)

• How you'll measure success

• What you'll purchase with grant funds

Creativity is always welcome — but don't let the word "innovative" intimidate you. Some of our favorite projects simply found a better way to help students learn

Our goal is to support opportunities that extend beyond what is usually covered through school or district budgets and provide meaningful benefits for students, educators, and the broader school community.

The list below reflects our current funding practices and is intended as a general guide. We are currently reviewing our funding policies to ensure we continue to support the most important and emerging needs across Stillwater Area Public Schools. Your input matters — we want to hear from staff about the challenges, ideas, and opportunities that will help shape our future guidelines.

Every proposal is unique, and exceptions may be considered. If you have an idea and aren’t sure if it’s a fit, we encourage you to reach out before applying.

Items we don't typically fund include:

• Field trips and bussing

• Meals, snacks, or refreshments

• Transportation and travel costs (per diems, hotels)

• Staff salaries or substitute costs

• Furniture and classroom fixtures

• Playground equipment

• Standard classroom technology

• Routine curriculum or subscriptions

• Books to expand classroom libraries

• General classroom supplies

Most proposals take about 30 days from submission to final approval, although timing may vary depending on the complexity of your project's request.

Once approved, funds are immediately available.

If your request is time-sensitive, please reach out so we can plan accordingly.

We'll provide the information you need to get started, including purchasing instructions and next steps.

Please note it is highly preferred for projects to be paid for via established district purchasing procedures, with invoices run through your building secretary or financial staff.

If your project cannot be paid for through an approved district procedure, please discuss with us before applying. We are happy to work with you on unique circumstances but it must be approved by The Partnership Plan prior to incurring the expense.

Equipment and materials purchased through The Partnership Plan become property of Stillwater Area Public Schools and remain with the school if staffing changes occur.

If you will be moving classrooms, buildings, or roles within the district, please discuss with your principal or supervisor on whether granted materials should move with you.

At the conclusion of your project, we ask you to share a brief summary, photos, and the impact your grant had on students. Your story helps inspire future educators and donors alike! See the quick form here: Grant Evaluation Form