Beyond the Books applications for the 2026-2027 school year opened on Monday, December 1, 2025, and will close on Monday, March 3, 2026. These grants are for anyone who works at the school – teachers, administrators, and all educational support staff.  Grants are available at three different levels:  Mini grants of $800 or less, Standard grants between $801 - $5000, and one Beyond the Box grant between $7,500-$10,000. 

Each winter, educators in both District 87 and Unit 5 are invited to submit written grant applications that describe the project, implementation, costs, and value of the program to students. A blind review of the applications is conducted by the board of directors, and funding is awarded according to established criteria. Selected programs will be implemented in the following school year.

To apply for a grant, first, you will formulate an idea for an innovative program that will enhance educational experiences at your school(s).  Next, visit the Beyond the Books website to learn about the grant application process.  Finally, create your grant application by March 3rd using some of the resources below.

·         How to apply for a grant (Video, 8 minutes)

·         Information & rubrics for grant applications (PDF)

·         Create a grant application at SurveyMonkey Apply

If you have any questions, please reach out to Beyond the Books at [email protected].