Beckley Area Foundation began the Students First program in 1996, to provide funding support for creative and innovative instructional projects. This grant opportunity is for Raleigh County classroom teachers, Pre-K through 12th grade.

This year, BAF is happy to announce that we increased the max award amount for each project to $750.

A committee comprised of current and retired educators, community volunteers and BAF board members review applications utilizing a 'blind methodology' in October. This methodology does not present the applicant's name or school during the review process.

Grant Application Details

• The maximum amount per request is $750.
• The project must directly involve and benefit students.
• Educators may submit 2 separate applications. Each application must be a stand alone project and cannot supplement the other.
  • Example of projects that supplement the other: One application requests $750 for plants, seed and fertilizer. The second application requests $750 for garden equipment and vegetable cages.
• DO NOT INCLUDE ANY identifying information in any part of the application. 
  • This includes school, teacher, mascots, Title I status, school annuals or newspapers, etc.
  • Please make sure the school's name does not appear on any uploaded documents.
    • In fairness to all applications, the inclusion of such information will result in the request being denied.
• Projects Typically Not Funded:
  • Items in a classroom that are not part of an instructional project.
  • Subscription based programs that need funding each year.
  • Party food and consumable items.
  • Band/Sports uniforms.
  • Speaker fees.
• The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 17th.
• A final report is due following completion of your project and is due no later than May 31, 2024. 
  • Failure to fulfill this requirement will result in exclusion from the next application cycle.

The Foundation may include any photographs you provide, your logo & trademark, or other information/materials about your organization and this grant project in the Foundation’s public reports, newsletters and news releases. 

How to apply:
1)    ​Go to our Grant Portal.
2) If you are a new user, you will need to create an account. Previous grantees will use their previous log on information.
3) At the top of your screen, click on Apply. Select the Students First Program 2023-2024 application to begin.

​If you have any questions about the grant process, or would like to discuss your project ideas with a member of BAF staff, please email samuel@bafwv.org.

Grantwriting Workshop PowerPoint

Example of a fully funded application

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2022 - 2023 Students First Award Recipients:

Bradley Elementary School
Walter Farr | Dodge Drone
 Beth Nixon | Building A Strong Foundation
LeeAnn Sharp | Bringing Fairy Tales to Life
Ashley Ward | History Comes Alive & They Are Ready for this Jelly!
Stephanie Willis | Who Says Counselors Don't Teach?

Coal City Elementary School
Melissa Klucarich | Connecting My Mind to My Hands
Cindy Raines | Learning to Love Poetry!

Cranberry Prosperity Elementary School
 Leann Chesley | Creative Design

Daniels Elementary School
Melena Dolin | Bringing History Alive Through Reading
Alecia Ryan | Beyond the Traditional Textbook

Fairdale Elementary School
Jessica Dunbar | What's Hatching?
Tara Grubb | Career Exploration and STEAM Learning Through Restaurant Day!
Jamie Hazelwood | Glow Day!
Stephanie Wright | Walk-Through WV

Ghent Elementary School
Danielle Callaway | Can You Hear Me Now?

Hollywood Elementary School
Nathan Calvert | Team Building Through Esports
Andrea Horn | Building Better Minds & Learning is Out of This World
Emily Persinger | Learning to Read With Our Whole Brain & Towers of Numbers

Independence High School
Erin Buckland | Let's Get Tangled Up in String Art!
Jill Wood | Fresh Perspective on Gardening and Food Preservation & Graphing Our Success

Independence Middle School
Carolyn Buzbee | Ceramics in the Art Room
Hanna McIntyre | Podcast Partnership (School #2)

Maxwell Hill Elementary School
Tammy Darnell | Campers' Reading

​Mabscott Elementary School
Hillary Lewis | ​"Pop it" math & "Pop" it reading

​Mount Hope Christian Academy
Heather Caron | Discovering Our Senses
Nicole Colson | A Study of Rockets and Rocketeers
Martha Cruise | Adding Fun to Our Classroom & Learning Will Not Escape Us
Jessica Miller | Building STEAM for Learning & Growing Green Thumbs
Samantha Wiley | Escaping the Monarchy

Park Middle School
Tammy Donahue | Indoor Garden
 
Raleigh County Office of Special Programs
Bethanie Dorsey | Building Bonanza
 
Ridgeview Elementary School
Carrie Earehart | 3,2,1... We Have Lift Off!

Shady Spring Elementary School
Lindsay Bolen | Learning Unplugged
Carla Campbell | A Library Fill Up With an Extra Book Tasting Twist
Crista Childers | Color: A Reflection of Light
Kourtney Malay | Magna Letter Doodling

Shady Spring High School
Kari Vicars | There's No Escaping History
 
Sophia Christian Academy
Teresa Bowman | Where Did I Come From?
Wendy Howerton | Learning Through STEM
 
Stratton Elementary School
Amanda Inman | Education Rocks
 
Trap Hill Middle School
Elizabeth Bowyer | Podcast Partnership (School #1)
 
Woodrow Wilson High School
Julie Agnor | Developing a Green Thumb
MeriBeth Underwood | Poetry Power Café

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