IPEI Grants
About Our Grants
IPEI Grants support innovative ideas that energize the curriculum and foster authentic learning experiences for Ithaca City School District (ICSD) students. We fund learning projects that stretch students’ imaginations, provide them with hands-on learning experiences, and engage them with their communities.
IPEI Grants fall under three categories:
Red & Gold: One-time awards of up to $750 to ICSD teachers and staff members for projects that strengthen and enrich curriculum.
Teacher: ICSD teachers can apply for up to $1,750 in funds to implement an innovative educational project in collaboration with a community partner.
Student Leadership: Current ICSD 9th - 12th graders can apply for up to $500 to support a project that has a local impact in their school or community and builds upon their personal leadership skills.
Read below for each grant’s guidelines and application.
Grant Office Hours
Ask questions and get feedback on your IPEI Grant during Grant Office Hours every Monday and Tuesday from 2:30pm – 4:30pm in the month leading up to a grant deadline. Sign up for a 30 minute time slot.
Grant Examples
We’ve assembled examples of past awarded grants that have scored well with IPEI grants panelists. Please note that grant questions have evolved so the questions may be different from the current application.
Grant Cycles
There are three grant cycles for the 2026-27 school year. Each cycle will award around $15,000 in total funds. Any unused funds will roll into the next grants cycle. Please use the following deadlines and timelines for application submissions:
Monday October 5, 2026
Applicants and school principals are notified about funding decisions by Thursday Nov. 5, 2026. Any funded projects must be completed by June 1, 2027 with a final grant report due on June 30, 2027.Monday January 25, 2027
Applicants and school principals are notified about funding decisions by Thursday March 4, 2027. Any funded projects must be completed by June 15, 2027 with a final grant report due on June 30, 2027.Monday March 29, 2027*
Applicants and school principals are notified about funding decisions by Thursday April 29, 2027. Any funded projects must be completed by Dec. 1, 2027 with a final grant report due on Dec. 30, 2027.
*Note: Current 12th graders are not eligible to apply for a Student Leadership Grant in this grant cycle.
Applications are due by midnight of each deadline day and must be submitted through the Google Form that is linked in each grant’s Guidelines and Application document.
A copy of the application will be sent to the applicant as well as the applicant’s mentor (for Student Leadership Grants) or the applicant’s school principal (for Red & Gold or Teacher Grants). Questions should be directed to ipei@ipei.org.
Student Leadership Grants
The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) Student Leadership Grant grant provides up to $500 to support an Ithaca City School District (ICSD) 9th -12th grade student as they pursue a project that has a local community impact and builds upon their leadership skills. See past examples of awarded grants.
Red & Gold Grants
Red and Gold Grants are one-time awards of up to $750 to ICSD teachers and staff members for projects that strengthen and enrich curriculum. See past examples of awarded grants.
Teacher Grants
IPEI’s Teacher Grants program provides grants up to $1750 to ICSD teachers interested in implementing an innovative educational project with a community partner that directly enhances student learning. See past examples of awarded grants.
Past Grants Awarded
Past IPEI Grants recipients and project information are organized by school years and can be found in our Grant Archives.