RIMEF PRIME Grants support a wide variety of programs and provide resources to improve the quality of education for all our students. All teachers and schools are encouraged to apply for funding from the Foundation. Teachers may apply for grants up to $1,500; school/departmental grants are available for up to $3,000; and multi-school grants of up to $5,000 are available where multiple schools will be affected.

Each year the overwhelming number of grant requests clearly illustrate the critical need for this program. In the 2023-2024 School Year, a record $205,576 was awarded to the teachers, departments, and schools throughout District #41 for a wide variety of materials, technologies, and programs. Check our Fall Newsletter for the complete list of PRIME Grants awarded. If you're a parent, be sure to encourage your student's teachers or school to apply and if you're a teacher or principal, complete a PRIME Grant application and submit by the deadline in May.

PRIME Grant Criteria

Eligibility for a grant from the RIMEF requires that you must be an educator (Pre-K to 12) in the Rock Island-Milan School District #41. If awarded a grant, the recipient must use the grant to implement the educational program described in the application.
The program must:

• Expand, enhance, and improve the classroom's or virtual classroom's academic environment
• Access a broad range of students and involve them directly
• Be implemented within one semester of award date unless specifically mentioned and approved in the application
• Develop alternative and effective methods of instruction
• Comply with district parameters and include endorsements from Principal, Dept. of Teaching & Learning, Superintendent, Chief Financial Officer, and Dir. Of Technology*  (*if needed)       
• Directly align to the District standards/programs or School Improvement Plan (SIP)
• Technology requests need to align with the District's requirements and receive their approval

The following types of items WILL NOT be funded:

• In-service and training programs for personnel
• Landscape projects, clubs, or food
• Field trips that do not align with the District's SIP

Grant applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis as follows:

• Project goal
• Description of proposed project and relationship to current curriculum standards or SIP
• Plans for evaluation of the project
• Budget request

Grant Rules:

• Educators may submit only one grant application per calendar year - only one application per project
• Grant funds must be spent by March 1 of the awarded academic year - if not, funds will be returned to the RIMEF
• If a teacher moves schools and the grant funds were not yet used, the funds must be returned to the RIMEF.
• If an educator
• Requests to move any materials that were received under a grant must be approved by the Curriculum Office.
• Approved grant notices will be sent to the applicant and principal of the applicant's school.
• The checks will be deposited in a district account, and the applicant will receive a budget code for ordering
• The applicants agree to account for and report on the project once funded before the next granting cycle begins. Award of additional grants in the future is contingent on adequate reporting of previous grants.

The Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation’s 2025-2026 PRIME Grant Application for RIMSD Educators is online. The application will remain open until May 2, 2025 on our grant management platform, Kaleidoscope. Please use the following instructions on how to access the application to apply:

If you have any questions on the application or need any assistance with creating an account, please reach out to help@mykaleidoscope.com or check out Kaleidoscope’s help site.

Thank you for using the PRIME Grant program to benefit our RIMSD students!

If you received a PRIME Grant in the 2024-2025 school year, use the following form to complete your required report:  2024-2025 PRIME Grant Report Form