Grants & Initiatives

The Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation has awarded hundreds of grants totaling more than $4 million since its inception in 1994. This funding has helped to accelerate innovation, inspire new thinking, awaken passions, and enhance education across all three schools in our district.

Funds raised through our Annual Appeal fund the faculty- and administration-led grant proposals across all three schools in our District that are submitted throughout our yearly grants cycles. Funds raised at the Gala support the larger initiatives presented by our District administration. Our Board votes on all grant requests and funding proposals.

An FAQ and grant applications can be found below, as well as additional information about how the DFSF’s grants process works as well as list of grants and initiatives that we have funded over the years.

The Grants Process:

  1. Teachers submit a completed grant application to their building principal for approval.

  2. Once approved by the building principal, the grant application is submitted to the District Superintendent for approval. 

  3. After being approved by the Superintendent, the grant application is then submitted by the applicant to the DFSF Board.

    Our Grants Committee appoints a Grant Manager to work directly with the faculty or staff who submitted the application and to advocate for the grant during the review process. 

  4. If approved by the DFSF Board, the grant is submitted to the DF Board of Education for final approval.  

Grant Application

We welcome grant applications from District staff and administrators to support projects, professional development, and initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of education in our schools, particularly those that extend beyond the district’s budget. Our funding encompasses professional development grants for teachers, as well as general curriculum-based grants applicable to the classroom, grade level, school, or district.

To learn more about applying for a DFSF grant, please download our FAQ and step-by-step toolkit.

If you would like to apply for a grant, you may do so through our online grant application or by downloading one of the applications below and returning it to grants@dfsfoundation.org.

We look forward to partnering with you!

 

Grant History

2023-2024

  • District professional development opportunities for teachers and staff, including:

    • Enhancing teacher training and acquiring new instructional materials that specifically emphasize the "Science of Reading"

  • Springhurst Science kits

  • Middle School 21st Century Classrooms

  • High School Grit Ninja, 9th grade team building

  • High School Technology in Education Program

2022-2023

  • Springhurst sensory swing for occupational and physical therapy

  • Springhurst Kindergartners Rye Nature Center visit

  • Springhurst kindergartners bike program

  • Springhurst 3rd grade classroom Makerspace

2020-2021

  • District professional development opportunities for teachers and staff, including:

    • Training for administrators with the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools Program

    • Science of Reading workshop for Springhurst's academic intervention specialist

    • Workshop for all middle school staff on supporting LGBT students

    • Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy professional development workshop 

  • District partnership with the Dobbs Ferry PTSA to provide clear masks for every teacher in the districts

  • Springhurst music classroom musical instruments

  • Springhurst new kindergarten playground

  • Middle School parent workshop regarding mental health needs, in partnership with Westchester Anxiety Treatment

2018-2019

  • Springhurst Qball for increased class participation

  • Springhurst Word Heroes literacy program for English language learners

  • Springhurst License for Learning Ally for the special education department

  • Springhurst Yoga Mindfulness for Kindergarten

  • District professional development opportunities for teachers and staff, including:

    • Educate for Equity Conference 

    • Froebel's Kindergarten Conference 

    • Institute for Racial Equity for kindergarten through 8th Grade ELA teachers

    • Writing Revolution workshop for five teachers from Springhurst

  • Springhurst sound field amplification systems for Kindergarten

  • Springhurst flexible seating options for grades 2nd and 3rd grades

  • Springhurst 3rd grade mindfulness program

  • Springhurst 3rd grade DynaMath Scholastic Magazine for 

  • Springhurst Swivl C3 Robot for math specialist

  • Middle School Adafruit Circuit Playground Express for computer science program

  • Middle School Sphero Sprk Robotics for library

  • Middle School drone education

  • High School MoMath National Museum trip for 10th grade math students

  • High School Podcasting Studio for IB Film and IB English 

  • 2016-2017

  • Springhurst professional lending library for math and ELA teachers

  • Springhurst Inspirational Quotes contest and addition of winners to various areas of

  • Springhurst Compost Kids program for environmental education

  • Springhurst Six document cameras for Kindergarten and English as a New Language classrooms

  • Springhurst Yoga Kids cooperative yoga classes for special needs students, one kindergarten, and one 3rd grade class

  • Springhurst Standing desks pilot program in each 3rd grade classroom

  • Springhurst Junior Great Books pilot program for advanced readers in grades 3-5

  • Springhurst Bouncy bands for all 4th grade chairs and desks

  • Middle School Professional author visits and workshops for 6th and 8th grade students

 
 

Programs & Initiatives

Below is a highlight of some of the larger-scale programs and initiatives that have been funded by the DFSF:

  • The International Baccalaureate Program:

We funded the initial adoption of the IB Diploma program and, in recent years, the expansion to the Middle Years Program, funding comprehensive teacher training which brings benefits to all students in grades 6-10, whether or not they eventually pursue an IB diploma. The Foundation has supported ongoing professional development for teachers and administrators over the several years of implementation.

  • Foreign Language in Elementary School (FLES)

We helped the Dobbs Ferry School District implement the FLES (Foreign Language in Elementary School) program, bringing 75 minutes of foreign language instruction to 2nd graders every week. Over the course of the next four years, the program was expanded to encompass 2nd through 5th grade.

  • Classroom Libraries:

We provided funding for over 7,000 new books for classrooms libraries at Springhurst

  • Outdoor Classroom:

We provided major funding to support the creation of an outdoor learning area for K-5 students to study sustainable gardening and environmental stewardship.

  • Smartboards:

We partnered with the district and NY State elected officials to purchase and install interactive whiteboards in classrooms and libraries across all three schools.

  • Scholarship Fund:

We are the underwriter of the IB scholarships and JBK Personal Achievement* scholarships for each graduating class. This fund also provides need-based support for students to attend travel programs and field trips in our district.

* Judy Blackwell Konowitch, one of the founders of the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation, sadly passed away on January 29, 2016. This annual scholarship is in her memory.

  • MS/HS Auditorium Renovation:

We contributed funds toward the refurbishment and renovation of the MS/HS Auditorium and provide support for the District’s ongoing fund raising efforts for the renovation.

  • Other Initiatives

    • Innovative Classroom Initiative

    • Science Research Lab to support the district’s commitment to STEM programming

    • Springhurst playgrounds

    • MS/HS TV Studio

    • Audio recording studio

    • Destination Imagination

    • MS journalism newspaper program

    • MS/HS Language Lab

    • State-of-the-art sound systems for the cafeteria and gymnasium at Springhurst

    • New pianos for music instruction and performance at Springhurst