Required Documentation
In general, Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant applicants need to upload the following documentation into the online application: a resolution or letter authorizing the submission of the grant, evidence of an active green team, an action plan and timeline form, and a detailed budget form. An Application Information Packet is prepared for each new grant cycle that includes information specific to that opportunity. It will include links to the required forms. All documentation is submitted electronically through the Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant application portal.
Resolution Authorizing Grant Application Submission
Please upload documentation that your district or school is authorized to apply for this grant in accordance with the district’s policies and procedures. This can include a School Board Resolution supporting the grant application OR a letter from the superintendent, business administrator, or school principal. The authorization document must be adopted during the year the grant is announced and name the grants program, the funding level, the name of the applicant, and the name of the project.
Sample School Board Resolution
OR
Sample Grant Submission Support Letter
Note: This authorization document is different from the School Board resolution passed to register for Sustainable Jersey for Schools and the resolution used to establish a green team.
Green Team Documentation
Evidence of a school OR district green team that meets the Green Team action standard requirements is needed. This includes a list of members (without personal information like home addresses, email addresses and phone numbers) and a summary of green team activities from the current or previous year. If the green team is newly-formed, they are still able to apply and should submit a summary of future plans and initiatives in lieu of a summary of activities.
Certified schools do not need to provide green team information. To see if your school is certified, search the map here.
Action Plan & Timeline
While it is not required, it is highly recommended that applicants use Sustainable Jersey's Action Plan & Timeline template as part of the grant application to ensure that the proposed project plan is clear and concise for the selection committee. The template includes the different project steps that the selection committee will be looking to see including planning, implementation, evaluation and reporting steps. The template also asks for information on the community engagement activities and project promotion materials/events that will be a important part of the project.
Detailed Budget
The budget is the #1 indicator of a good grant proposal. While not required, it is highly recommended that applicants use Sustainable Jersey's budget template to ensure that the budget includes the necessary information and is clear and concise for the selection committee. If using the template, please be sure that, when converting the excel file to a PDF to upload in the grant application, all of the budget columns are on one page so that the form is easy for the selection committee to review. The budget should include quantified in-kind resources such as volunteer labor or private project donations. Any in-kind resources that are not committed at the time of submission should be identified as such in the budget narrative and still included in the overall project budget. The detailed project budget should be consistent with the information in the budget narrative.
Optional Information
While not required, supplemental information can be help with the selection committee's evaluation of a proposal. Potential supplemental materials include:
- Letters of support from project stakeholders
- Letters of commitment from project partners
- More detailed project information
- Projects, studies, research and/or surveys relevant to the proposed project