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2013 Illinois High School Media Mini-Grants Program

This grant program made possible through funding from the Illinois Press Foundation.

Need a computer, software or other equipment for your school media program?

The Illinois First Amendment Center’s (IFAC) Illinois High School Media Mini-Grants Program is offered to Illinois public or private high schools with existing media programs. Sorry, home schools are not eligible.

How to Apply:

  1. Grant Requests are due on or before February 28, 2013. Submit via email to Barry Locher, Illinois Press Foundation Director, at .
    REQUESTS MAY NOT EXCEED $1,500.
  2. In two pages or fewer:
    • Identify school, district number, school address with zip code, school phone with area code, school website, principal’s name, media adviser’s name and email address and amount being requested.
    • Describe the community your school serves, why your school is applying for this grant, and a statement of what you ultimately hope to gain from receiving grant funds. Be specific as to how the funds will be used. (Cost estimates are acceptable.)
    • Describe the proposed outcomes of your proposal’s success. What challenges, if any, might complicate your success? How will you address these concerns?
    • If your school is willing to match any grant funds you may receive, please include this information in your request.
    • Describe how your proposal demonstrates the use and support of the principles of the First Amendment.

The applicant will agree to:

  1. Submit a final report — See Report on Use of Grant funds below.
  2. Return any unspent funds to the IPF. See “Time Line” below for details.

What the IPF Will / Will Not Fund:

Listed below are some examples of projects we will and will not fund. Neither list is intended to be all-inclusive. If you have questions about acceptable projects, please contact Barry Locher, Illinois Press Foundation Director.

Projects We Will Fund:

  • To equip newsrooms with hardware and/or software needed to produce print or online newspaper
  • To increase student broadcast media
  • To launch/establish new web reporting version of existing publication
  • To advance journalism excellence and free expression
  • To educate students about news literacy

Projects We Will Not Fund:

  • This program is not intended to start a journalism or other media program where none exists.
  • We do not fund the costs of sending students or faculty to training programs or camps.
  • We do not fund yearbook production, any equipment used for yearbook creation, or other yearbook staff requests.

Time Line:

  • Grant Proposals are due on or before February 28, 2013 and must be submitted via email only.
  • All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process on or before April 17, 2013.
  • Any funds not expended by November 1, 2013 must be returned to the IPF by November 15, 2013.

Report on Use of Grants

  • Submit a final report, not to exceed two pages, to Barry Locker at on or before December 20, 2013 detailing how the funds were used. Document the successes and/or challenges related to the project and how this funding made a difference in your media program. We will be reporting this feedback to the IPF board of directors.
  • We encourage you to share stories and/or updates about the school’s progress toward completing the project.

Questions?

Please contact Barry Locher at 217.241.1300 or via email at .