Yadkin County Education Foundation

Why it Matters

Classrooms today face new demands and tight resources. Teachers often lack the tools and materials needed to innovate, engage students, and adapt to science and technology changes. This gap can limit creativity, enthusiasm, and student success.

Our Response

The Shallow Ford Foundation partnered with Yadkin County Schools to create the Yadkin County Education Foundation (YCEF), a fully community-funded source of ongoing support for:
 

• Innovative classroom instruction and programs
• Career education for students at-risk for not graduating
• Resources for periodic student needs from exceptional accomplishments such as national competitions

These grants are specifically designed to provide the tools, materials, equipment, and other resources that will allow you to deliver a creative, student-engaging, and life-relevant instructional project. All expenses should be directly and clearly linked to an instructional plan. You will also have the chance to provide supplemental materials such as videos, case studies or other attachments which illustrate your goals. Classroom instructional environment upgrades such as furniture, motivational or other décor, or computers and routine classroom supplies are not in the scope of this grant opportunity.

Individual Applications

Must be completed by one teacher who will implement the project, though students beyond your classroom or subject may benefit. Individual Applications may be awarded a maximum of $2,000.

Collaborative Application

‍Designed for two or more teachers who choose to actively work together to plan, implement, and evaluate a project. It may be cross-curricular in nature or delivered to whole grades, schools, or district-wide academic departments. All teachers listed in a Collaborative Application should be part of the project’s development. Collaborative Applications may be awarded a maximum of $4,000.

*Greg Keener, Program Officer, may contact you during the review period with any questions or clarifications on your application.

Principal Sign-off

Applications must be reviewed by all applicants’ principal(s), and principal awareness will be confirmed as part of the application process. Be sure to submit the application early enough to also allow principals time to affirm awareness, which must be completed by the application deadline. Applications without principal sign-off will not be evaluated. No exceptions.

Key Dates

Applications open: Monday, August 3, 2026 | Application deadline: Friday, October 2, 2026