Skip Navigation

  1. About
    1. Executive Director's Statement
    2. Founder's Statement & History
    3. Contact Us
    4. E-Mail Notifications
    5. Grant Eligibility Criteria
      1. MA Map
      2. NY Map
  2. What We Fund
    1. Grant Eligibility Criteria
    2. Education
      1. Annual Early Childhood Education Grant Guidelines
      2. 2010 Preschool Curriculum RFP
      3. School-Based Request for Proposals (RFPs)
        1. Data-Driven Instruction RFP
        2. Technology-Based Remediation RFP
    3. Community Mental Health
      1. Annual Community Mental Health Grant Guidelines
      2. RWJF - Local Funding Partnerships Request for Proposals
        1. 2011 Local Funding Partnerships RFP
    4. Developmental Disabilities
      1. Annual Developmental Disabilities Grant Guidelines
    5. Organizational Capacity-Building
      1. Organizational Scholarships
        1. Scholarship Recipients
      2. Technology Planning & Implementation Request for Proposals (RFP)
        1. Phase I
        2. Phase II
  3. Grant Recipients
  4. FAQs
    1. Glossary of Terms
    2. Grant Eligibility Criteria
  5. E-mail Notifications

Welcome > What We Fund > Education > 2010 Preschool Curriculum RFP

2010 Preschool Curriculum Request for Proposals

*** The Preschool Curriculum Request for Proposals for 2010 is now closed. ***  
 

 Download the PDF Version (143K)

With this initiative, the Tower Foundation seeks to improve the academic performance and socio-emotional development of preschool children. The 2010 Preschool Curriculum Request for Proposals (RFP) provides funds to implement selected preschool curricula. 

The goal of this RFP is to improve children’s school readiness by increasing the use of effective curricula designed to improve their academic and socio-emotional skills. 

Project Description

In his opening statements to the 2009 Congressional hearing, “The Importance of Early Childhood Development,” California Representative George Miller pointed to a substantial body of research showing that children’s experiences within the first few years of life have lasting effects on their learning and behavior. Increasingly, research demonstrates that the preschool years represent an opportunity to build skills that make children more successful learners over the long term.
  

 
Timeline
 
December 1, 2009
-  Deadline for pre-application
December 22, 2009
-  Organizations notified if a proposal is desired
February 10, 2010
-  Deadline for proposals (if requested)
February-March 2010
-  Proposal review (collaborative)
May 7, 2010
-  Successful applicants notified
June 2010
-  Grant funds available

 

 

 

 

  

 



A 2008 RAND Corporation study highlighted the importance of early childhood programs in ensuring that children enter school with the cognitive and behavioral skills required for future academic success. Observers have noted, however, that the quality of early childhood education programs is generally mediocre. High-quality implementation of developmentally appropriate curricula is one means by which preschool quality can be improved. 

The Tower Foundation, through this RFP, seeks to reduce barriers to implementing effective academic and socio-emotional preschool curricula so that children will be better prepared to succeed in school.

Grant Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organizations –

Organizations currently operating preschool programs that are: 

  • tax-exempt with 501(c)(3) classifications from the Internal Revenue Service that are neither private foundations nor described as 509(a)(3) organizations;

  • charter or private schools; or

  • diocesan or public school districts. 

Geographic Restrictions – Eligible organizations must be located within and primarily serve residents of the following geographic areas:  
Massachusetts:
  • Barnstable County
  • Dukes County
  • Essex County
  • Nantucket County
New York: 
  • Erie County
  • Niagara County

Funds are not available through this initiative for the expansion of an existing curriculum to additional classrooms within an organization. 

Eligible Curricula

This RFP provides an opportunity for eligible organizations to seek support for the start-up and implementation of any one of the following curricula:

Academic Curricula:

Creative Curriculum
Curiosity Corner
DLM Early Childhood Express
Opening the World of Learning (OWL)

Socio-Emotional Curricula:

Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices
Second Step
Tools of the Mind

Grant Awards

A total of $500,000 is available for this initiative. Multiple awards may be made in each of the geographic areas served by the Foundation. Each grant will be for two or three years, with grant payments made annually. 

Grant awards may differ considerably due to the wide range of curricula and their associated implementation costs. Factors used to determine the amount of an individual grant award include, but are not limited to, the curriculum selected, the number of personnel to be trained, and the number of classrooms to be affected. 

Funding Levels

Grant awards will be for two or three years beginning in 2010. The funding levels listed below represent the maximum dollar amount that can be requested for the entire two- or three-year grant period. Funding levels are as follows:

Program Name Maximum Award Duration
Al's Pals:  Kids Making Healthy Choices $50,000 Two years
Creative Curriculum $55,000 Two years
Curiosity Corner $80,000 Two years
DLM Early Childhood Express $60,000 Two years
Opening the World of Learning (OWL) $55,000 Two years
Second Step $35,000 Two years
Tools of the Mind $85,000 Three years

Use of Grant Funds

In general, the Foundation provides funds for the incremental costs associated with implementing the selected curriculum. Incremental costs are defined as costs that are new to the organization as a result of this project. For the most part, grant funds are intended to be used for:

  • the cost of training and technical assistance from program developers or publishers, including travel expense;
  • direct program expense including materials and equipment supporting curriculum implementation;
  • substitute teacher or stipends for out-of-school time training expenses, if applicable, incurred while staff are in engaged in authorized training activities. 

Recognizing the importance of high-quality implementation, the Foundation requires organizations to commit to the highest level of staff training available. However, only those costs associated with the specific training and technical assistance recommended and provided by program developers or publishers will be permitted.
 
Please note that grants through this RFP do not provide funds for existing personnel expense or to hire new staff. 
 
Grant money may not be used:

  • for the private benefit of any grant recipient or affiliated person;
  • to subsidize individuals for the cost of care or for scholarships;
  • for research;
  • to attempt to influence legislation;
  • to attempt to influence or intervene in any political campaign;
  • for endowment or capital campaigns. 

Resources

Organizations are strongly encouraged to contact curriculum developers or publishers prior to submission of a pre-application to become acquainted with the implementation requirements of a given curriculum.  The following contact information is provided for your convenience.

Curriculum
Website
Developer/Publisher
Phone Number
Al’s Pals
Wingspan, LLC
(804) 967-9002
Creative Curriculum
 
Teaching Strategies, Inc.
(800) 637-3652
Curiosity Corner
Success for All Foundation
(800) 548-4998
DLM Early Childhood Express
Wright Group/McGraw-Hill
(800) 648-2970
Opening the World of Learning (OWL)
Pearson School
(800) 321-3106
Second Step
Committee for Children
(800) 634-4449
Tools of the Mind
Metropolitan State College of Denver
(303) 721-1313

Please note: The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation is not affiliated in any way with the developers, publishers, or sponsors of any of the curricula referred to in this RFP, and the Foundation makes no representation or warranty of any kind concerning their effectiveness.

RFP Contact Information

For more information about this RFP, please contact:

Donald Matteson
Senior Program Officer
(716) 689-0370 x207
dwm@thetowerfoundation.org  

Application Procedure

This RFP has a two-step application process:

  1. Submission of a pre-application.
  2. Submission of a full proposal, if requested.
The Foundation will accept only one request for a single curriculum from each eligible organization. Pre-applications must follow the attached format and may not exceed five pages. The pre-application must be signed by the organization’s executive director, superintendent, or headmaster. To be considered for a grant under this RFP, your pre-application must be received by 5:00 p.m. on December 1, 2009. E-mailed or faxed copies are not accepted.
 
Send pre-application to:
 
Glenda M. Cadwallader
Executive Director
The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
2351 North Forest Road
Getzville, NY 14068-1225
 
All pre-applications are reviewed to determine if the Foundation wishes to pursue a full proposal. Organizations will be notified by December 22, 2009 of the result of this review. A request for a full proposal should not be interpreted as an indication of likely support. The deadline for a full proposal, if requested, is February 10, 2010. Requests for full proposals are made at the sole discretion of the Foundation.
 
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. 

 

 

 Download the PDF Version of the Pre-Application

2010 Preschool Curriculum Request for Proposals
Pre-Application Face Sheet

 

  1.
  Total Amount Requested:
$
  2.
  Legal Name of Organization Applying:*
 
 
 
 *Should be the same as on IRS determination letter and as supplied on IRS form 990
  3.
  Address:
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  4.
  Contact Person:*
 
*should be a person with detailed knowledge of the project.
 
  Title:
 
  5.
  Telephone Number:
  (_____)
  6.
  Fax Number:
  (_____)
  7.
  E-mail Address:
 
  8.
  Web Site:
 
  9.
  Proposed Curriculum:
 
  10.
  Organization’s Annual Operating Budget:
  $
  11.
  Anticipated Project Start and End Dates:
  From:
 
  To:
 
  12.
  Organization’s Superintendent/Headmaster/Executive Director
 
  Name:
 
 
 
   Signature:
 
   Date:
 
  
 

       ⇒ Please note: signature must be in blue ink.
 

2010 Preschool Curriculum Request for Proposals
 Pre-Application (page 2 of 2)

 Please note that your pre-application may not exceed five pages (excluding the budget)

I.       Organizational Information (approximately one page)

A. Provide information about your preschool, school, or school district, including the communities served and student demographics. 

B. Describe your current preschool services, including the number of students, classrooms, and staffing.

C. Describe your current preschool curricula, if any.
 

II.     Project Description (approximately 1-2 pages)

A. Describe the curriculum you wish to implement through this project. 

  
III.    Project Rationale (approximately 1-2 pages)

A. How will your proposed project prepare children to be ready for Kindergarten?

  
IV.    Proposed Preliminary Budget (does not count against page limit)

A. Provide a preliminary budget, including the dollar amount requested and a brief description of how funds will be used.
 

Send pre-application to:
 
Glenda M. Cadwallader
Executive Director
The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
2351 North Forest Road
Getzville, NY 14068-1225