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Writing the Grant
What is your target population?
Our mission is to provide grants for underserved populations.
We include grades 4 – 12 but have found that most of our programs
are between fourth and eighth grade. We would like to develop mentoring
programs at the high school level and encourage teachers to be innovative
in creating a mentoring program at that level.
How do I find a lead actuary?
The Actuarial Foundation will assist you in finding
a lead actuary for your program. Once we find a volunteer, you will arrange
a meeting with him/her to discuss your ideas and determine whether the
partnership is a good fit.
How do I know if my ideas are consistent with the goals of the Advancing
Student Achievement program?
If you are not sure whether your ideas qualify for
an ASA grant, send a letter of intent to the Foundation for review. This
letter should describe your school and provide a brief outline or summary
of the project that you would like to develop (no budget information is
necessary at this time). We will then comment on your ideas and give recommendations
for writing the full proposal. We will also show your letter to potential
volunteers to promote interest in your project.
How do I apply?
Go to the web page “How do I apply” and
click on Proposal for
Funding. You must address each of the seven topics
and answer all questions. Once the proposal is written, it should be submitted
on school stationery to The Actuarial Foundation. A copy should also be
submitted electronically so that it can be easily disseminated to each
committee member for review.
Is there a deadline for the grant application?
There is no deadline for your application but if you
plan to start your program at the beginning of a semester, you should
have the application completed at least one or two months prior to that
date. Frequently, the committee has more questions or needs clarification
which requires additional time.
Can your grants be used for existing programs
if we add a mentoring component to it?
No, The Actuarial Foundation is looking to create new,
innovative math mentoring programs that are school need specific and designed
to foster a “love of math” in the students. The program must
be new and of your own design.
Do all of the mentors need to be actuaries?
The only requirement regarding actuarial participation
is that the lead mentor be an actuary. We would like to see as many additional
actuaries involved as possible, but if you have other resources in your
community, they can also participate. In many schools, the volunteer actuaries
have brought in others from their office or family.
Do I need to have a lead actuary before I write
the grant?
No, you can begin to write the grant before you have
a lead actuary. Once a volunteer has been found, you can fill in the required
information with the assistance of your actuary partner.
Program Development
What is the best time of day to organize an ASA
program?
The mentoring programs should be arranged around the
students’ schedule, classroom availability and mentor’s release
time. We have found that after-school programs with older children may
be difficult due to conflicts with sports or other activities. Before
you write your Proposal for Funding, be sure that you have selected a
time where students are eager to participate and the mentors are available.
Will the mentors function as tutors?
The Actuarial Foundation will not fund a program where
tutoring is the focus of the mentoring. Your program should be designed
around making math fun, improving student’s skills and understanding
the practical applications of real world math. Tutoring may be a small
part of a program for those students in need providing the mentors are
available for that area.
How often should the mentors attend?
The frequency of the mentoring activity varies depending
on student schedules and availability of the actuaries. Some schools meet
weekly, others divide the school year into sessions. One school meets
for a half day once a month, but includes the entire school in the program.
It would be the preference of the Committee for Student Achievement of
the Foundation to fund programs that run with a consistent schedule.
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