The infrastructure that
makes belonging possible.
For every student. By design.
WHY IT MATTERS
Funding shouldn't be the reason belonging stays out of reach
Most schools want to do this work — but lack the dedicated budget to sustain it. We bridge that gap by actively connecting our school partners to funding streams aligned with MyCAP implementation, career-connected learning, equity initiatives, and student belonging. And we don't just point you to opportunities; we help you get them.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Funding sources aligned to The Belonging Network
These grants are well-matched to our model's goals — equity, career readiness, belonging, and student support.
Federal
Title II-A — Supporting Effective Instruction
District formula allocation (all K–12)
ESSA formula funds for educator professional development across all grade levels, including middle school. Allowable uses include MyCAP implementation training, career-connected pedagogy, and advisory practice development — all core to our model. Not middle-school exclusive, but middle school PD is a clear allowable use.
Ongoing — allocated through district ESSA consolidated application
MA DESE
Fund Code 0598 — MyCAP Planning & Implementation
Competitive — grades 6–12 districts eligible
Supports MyCAP scope & sequence development and implementation for middle and/or high school. Directly funds the professional learning, team planning time, and implementation work at the core of The Belonging Network model. Middle school programs are fully eligible; districts with grades 6–12 may apply.
Rolling — check DESE portal for current cycles
Massachusetts
MA Connecting Activities & Work-Based Learning
School / district eligible
State funding through MassHire that supports work-based learning connections — directly applicable to our industry partnership coordination model.
Annually renewed — contact regional MassHire office
Foundation
Barr Foundation
Project-specific
Boston-based funder focused on equity in education and climate. Their education portfolio prioritizes scaling innovative models — a potential fit as The Belonging Network grows.
Invitation-based — relationship building recommended
Federal
Title IV-A — Student Support & Academic Enrichment
District formula allocation (all K–12)
ESSA formula funds supporting well-rounded education and student support across all grade levels, including middle school. Career exploration, social-emotional learning, and industry partnership coordination are allowable uses. Not middle-school exclusive, but districts can direct funds to grades 6–8 programs based on identified needs.
Ongoing — allocated through district ESSA consolidated application
MA DESE
Fund Code 0424 - Middle School Exploration Policy & MyCAP
Competitive — up to $25,000 per district
Designed to address opportunity gaps for high-need students. Our model's equity focus and structured access for underserved learners aligns directly with SOA priorities.
Rolling — check DESE portal for current cycles
Foundation
Cape Cod Foundation Education Grants
Up to $25,000
Regional foundation supporting innovative education programs on Cape Cod and the Islands. Our model's local focus and equity mission are well-aligned with their priorities.
Spring cycle — typically March deadline
Local/Regional
Local Education Foundations (LEFs)
Varies by town
Many Cape Cod towns have independent school foundations. Ideal for piloting Belonging Network programming at the individual school level and building community buy-in.
Annual — varies by foundation
Federal
Perkins V Career & Technical Education
District / consortium eligible
Federal CTE funding that supports career exploration programs at the secondary level. Applicable to MyCAP implementation, career panels, and industry partnership infrastructure.
Annual — check with MA DESE for local deadlines
Massachusetts
MA DESE Student Opportunity Act Grants
Varies by district
Designed to address opportunity gaps for high-need students. Our model's equity focus and structured access for underserved learners aligns directly with SOA priorities.
Rolling — check DESE portal for current cycles
Foundation
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
$50,000–$500,000
New England–focused funder supporting student-centered learning, particularly for underserved youth. Belonging, equity, and career identity are all fundable themes here.
LOI required — check website for open cycle
Local/Regional
Rotary & Community Club Grants
$500–$5,000
Local Rotary clubs, Lions, and community organizations frequently fund youth programs with a workforce or civic connection. Great for small-scale partner recruitment events.
Rolling — contact local chapter directly
OUR SUPPORT SERVICES
We don't just find grants — we help you win them
Grant writing is a time-intensive skill most schools don't have bandwidth for. As a partner of The Belonging Network, you have access to hands-on support at every stage of the funding process — at no additional cost.
🔍 Funding Landscape Scan
We identify grants you're actually eligible for and flag the best strategic fit for your district's goals and student population.
✏️ Grant Writing & Editing
Collaborative drafting of proposals, narratives, and budgets — grounded in our research base and your school's data.
📊 Data & Outcomes Framing
We help you translate your implementation data into compelling evidence that funders recognize and trust.
📁 Grant Management Support
After the award, we support reporting, compliance tracking, and fidelity documentation so you don't lose funding you've earned.
🤝 Funder Relationship Building
We help you build long-term relationships with aligned funders — not just chase one-time grants.
📚 Template & Resource Library
Access to our growing library of grant templates, logic models, and budget frameworks tailored to MyCAP and belonging work.
OUR PROCESS
How grant support works
We've designed a simple, low-lift process for school and district partners. You bring the context; we bring the writing and strategy.
Discovery Conversation
We meet with your team to understand your district's goals, student demographics, and current funding landscape — so we can match you to the right opportunities.
Opportunity Identification
We compile a tailored list of grant opportunities that fit your district's eligibility profile and strategic priorities, ranked by alignment and likelihood of success.
Collaborative Proposal Development
We draft the narrative, budget, and supporting materials with you — incorporating your school's voice, student data, and local context.
Submission & Follow-up
We support the submission process, track application status, and help you respond to funder questions or requests for additional information.
Post-award Management
Once funded, we help you build systems for reporting, documentation, and compliance — so your award continues into a second and third year.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Grant FAQs
Do we need to be a current Belonging Network partner to access grant support?
Grant writing support is primarily offered to schools and districts actively partnering with The Belonging Network. If you're exploring partnership, reaching out about grant support is a great first step — we can often begin the conversation together.
Is there a cost for grant writing support?
For current school and district partners, grant identification and writing support is included as part of our model. We believe that funding support is infrastructure too — and shouldn't be an add-on cost.
What if our district already has a grant writer?
We work collaboratively with existing grant writers. We provide content expertise — the research base, outcome data, program descriptions, and logic models — while your grant writer handles the final submission and district-level compliance.
Can we use grant funding to pay for Belonging Network services?
In many cases, yes. Professional development, implementation support, and program coordination costs associated with our model can often be embedded within the allowable expenses of Title IV-A, Perkins V, and many foundation grants. We'll help you structure the budget correctly.
What data do we need to support a grant application?
We help you use what you already have: enrollment demographics, MyCAP implementation status, career exploration participation data, attendance or engagement indicators, and any survey or climate data. We translate your school's story into language funders recognize.