Bright Ideas Teacher Grants

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 2018, a total of $26,500 was awarded using participating Flint members’ small change through Operation Round Up. Since 2006, nearly $225,000 has been awarded to fund 227 projects reaching more than 6,800 students in Middle Georgia.

The Bright Ideas program distributes money as grants of up to $1,000 for teachers of grades PreK-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.

 For more information, please click to email Jennifer Morton. You can also call at 800-342-3616, ext. 5195 or 478-847-5195.

FAQs

• Who is eligible?
  Any teacher who teaches grades PreK-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, a teacher may only apply for 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%)
  -Clearly defined plan of implementation (30%)
  -Benefits and directly involves students (15%)
  -Provides an adequate budget summary (5%)
  -Involves teamwork (5%)
• When will I know if I have been awarded a grant?
  Grant winners will be notified when the Bright Ideas Prize Patrol makes its rounds in October or November.
• Who judges the applications?
  A panel of judges reviews applications and ranks 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. 

2019 Bright Ideas Grant Application Guidelines

Note: DO NOT include the COUNTY, SCHOOL, or TEACHER NAMES or SCHOOL MASCOTS in parts 2, 3 or 4. If you do, your application will be disqualified.

You must use the 2019 Flint Energies Bright Ideas Grant Application Form.

Do not attach any supplementary materials.

Teachers may only submit one grant application per year.

Applicants must adhere to the word limits.

Grants will be awarded to certified school teachers instructing students in grades PreK-12 in Bibb, Chattahoochee, Crawford, Dooly, Harris, Houston, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Muscogee, Peach, Schley, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Twiggs and Upson counties.

Grants are NOT for professional development, subscription services (like Tinker Crate, etc.) or Smart Board, iPad, or other equipment only purchases. Grants are NOT a funding source for field trips. Only if a field trip is a portion of the overall creative or innovative lesson plan will it be eligible for funding.

Applicants agree that their name, photo and project may be used in print, broadcast and other forms of media in publications of Flint Energies and the Flint Energies Foundation.

No handwritten applications will be accepted.

All applications must be received by Friday, Sept. 5, 2019 at Flint Energies. 

Applicants who apply by Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 will be entered in a special earlybird drawing for a iPad mini.