School Grant Program

Download Information and Application:
Information about our program and our society: TCSS School Grants

Grant Proposal Requirements, Conditions, and Details and Grant Proposal Request Form

Formation of the Program
The Tucson Cactus & Succulent Society (TCSS) Board of Directors voted in May, 2002 to create an Educational Outreach Program with the School Grant Program to be the first part of this new endeavor. The program will be kicked off in the Fall for the 2002/2003 school year and hopefully will continue each school year.

Objective
The objective is to provide funds to teachers so that they have a means to help expand practical knowledge about cactus & succulents to their students (K through 12) and community.

By making monetary grants available to teachers , ($50 to $400 per grant) they can obtain materials and supplies for classroom teaching and projects. Hopefully these can be used to assist with native plant studies or projects being integrated into core subjects such as reading, math, writing, science, geography, and social studies.

Funding
The Educational Outreach Program is funded by donations to TCSS ear-marked for this program and from 25% of all TCSS Cactus Rescue profits. Cactus Rescue is a TCSS volunteer activity to save cacti destined to be hauled to the dump due to clearing land for new development. These cacti are sold to members and the public for a small profit.

Partnering
The TCSS is an all volunteer non-profit (501(c)3) group which includes individuals that are commercial plant growers, educators, scientists, engineers, and business people as well as avid cactus & succulent hobbyists. Many of these individuals are available to assist with technical advice or in others ways. Teachers many want to tap into on this vast pool of knowledge and skills.

Elementary, Middle, and High Schools in Arizona are eligible to participate. All that is needed to get started is a Tucson Cactus & Succulent Society Grant Proposal Request Form. This form is available for printing from our web site listed below. It has the conditions and details listed on the top of the form.
 

Process

A teacher who wishes to participate writes a simple grant request proposal which pertains to cactus and succulents in some manner. A grant outline is provided (Grant Request Form) and is submitted to TCSS by mail to our PO Box listed below and also listed on the form. The request will be reviewed and judged by a TCSS panel.

Criteria used will include such items as: how many students will be impacted, can the program be used in subsequent years, how does it integrate with improving knowledge and/or skills in core subjects, and how creative is the project or plans. All proposals will be reviewed within 4 to 6 weeks and presented to our TCSS Board for approval or denial. If approved a check will be mailed to the applicant within 2 to 4 weeks.

Contact Information

Questions/Suggestions: Email Schools@TucsonCactus.org

Mailing Address:
Tucson Cactus & Succulent Society
PO Box 64759
Tucson, AZ 85728-4759