Bright Ideas

Overview

Bright Ideas, a grant program sponsored by the Flint Energies Foundation and Flint Energies, your Touchstone Energy Cooperative, awards teachers money for innovative lessons and projects to energize learning in their students. In 2009, a total of $10,000 was awarded using participating Flint members’ small change through Operation RoundUp. Since 2006, nearly $35,000 has been awarded to 40 teachers.

The Bright Ideas program distributes money as grants of up to $1,000 for teachers who teach grades K-12 at public or private schools located in the co-op’s 17-county service territory. The grants are not for professional development or Smart Board purchases.

The deadline for 2010 applications is Friday, Sept. 10, 2010. Applicants who apply online will be entered in a special drawing for a $250 Staples gift certificate. Applicants who apply by Aug. 6, 2010 will be entered in a special early bird drawing for a digital camera.

For more information, please email or call Marian Douglas, Manager of Public Relations, at 1-800-342-3616, ext. 5600. The 2010 Bright Ideas Grant Winners will be announced early-to-mid October.

Please click here to fill out the 2010 Bright Ideas Grant Application.

Congratulations to our 2009 Bright Ideas Grant Winners!

Click here for photos of the Bright Ideas Prize Winners.

FAQs

Who is eligible?
Any teacher who teaches grades K-12 at any public or private school located in Flint Energies service territory is eligible to apply for a Bright Ideas grant.

Can multiple teachers from the same school apply?
Yes, a school may submit more than one application.

Can a teacher apply for multiple grants?
No, teachers may only be an applicant of one project per school year.

What is the maximum grant amount?
The maximum grant amount is $1,000. Some grant requests may be partially funded.

What qualities is Flint looking for in the grant applications?
Innovative, creative learning experiences for students (40 percent)
Benefits and directly involves students (15 percent)
Clearly defined plan of implementation (30 percent)
Involves teamwork (5 percent)
Provides an adequate budget summary (5 percent)

When will I know if I have been awarded a grant?
Grant winners will be notified when the Bright Ideas Prize Patrol makes its round in October.

Who judges the applications?
A panel of judges review applications and rank them based on innovative teaching methods that benefit students. Because the evaluation process is competitive, partial funding may be awarded to allow more applications to benefit from the grant process.

Does Flint Energies accept applications from private schools?
Yes, the Flint Energies Bright Ideas program accepts applications from private schools.

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