Application Process

For Applicants:

Submit to your school district after completion.

For District Staff:

Use this form to submit one finalist per funding tier to SFU. This form only accepts one proposal submission per tier (i.e., if you have submissions for both tiers, you will have to submit more than once).

Application Instructions

The application package includes a Word proposal template and an online form. The Word proposal template should be completed by the primary applicant. The online form should be completed by district staff to make the final submission to SFU.

Interested applicants: Please consult your school district to learn about their internal deadlines and submission process.

District Staff: Upon reviewing all received proposals please select one final submission from each funding tier ($10K and $25K). Submit the selected proposals to SFU using the online form by April 24, 2026.

FAQ

1. What is the goal of the grant program?
   The program aims to support innovation, technology, and enhancements to improve the educational experience for students. The goal is to motivate students’ love of learning while developing critical thinking skills.
2. What can funds be used for?
   - New ideas
   - Improvements to existing, innovative programs
   - Technology
   - Think outside the box!
3. Who is eligible to apply?
   Grants are open to B.C.’s K-12 public schools, including teachers and community members, and must be endorsed by their school districts.
4. Is the Cmolik–SFU Grant open to schools outside British Columbia?
   At this time, the Cmolik–SFU Grant Program is open only to public K–12 schools within British Columbia.
5. How many grants are available in 2026?
   Ten grants of $10,000 and two grants of $25,000 will be made available, and each school district is eligible to apply for one grant in each funding tier.
6. What is the difference between the $10,000 and $25,000 grants?
   The funding tiers differ based on:
   - Project scope and scale
   - Number and depth of project components
   - Intended outcomes and objectives
   - Size of the student population or community served
   Applicants are encouraged to select the funding tier that best aligns with the realistic scope and impact of their proposed project.
7. What types of expenses are not eligible to be considered for funding?
   Expenses related solely to infrastructure, construction, or purchasing equipment- without a clear connection to innovation, creativity, or educational enhancement- are not eligible for funding.
8. Can infrastructure-related items be included if they are part of a broader educational project?
   Yes, infrastructure-related items may be considered only if they are part of a broader project that clearly includes innovative, creative, or educational enhancement components aligned with the goals of the grant program. Infrastructure alone, without these elements, will not be considered for funding.
9. Who is the district contact for the Cmolik–SFU Grant in my school district?
   All school districts across British Columbia are notified about the Cmolik–SFU Grant Program and each annual application cycle. Please reach out directly to your school district office to confirm the appropriate point of contact and internal process for proposal submission.
10. Do I submit my application to my principal, my district, or directly to SFU? 
    Applications should be submitted to your school district, not directly to SFU. Before starting your application, we recommend that you:
    - Consult your school district to learn about their internal deadlines and submission process
    - Obtain approval from your school principal
    - Once reviewed internally, each district can select and forward one proposal per funding tier ($10,000 and $25,000) to the SFU program team using the online application form.
11. How many proposals can a school or district submit?
    - Schools may submit one or more proposals to their district, subject to district approval and internal processes. However, each school district may submit only one proposal per funding tier:
    - One $10,000 proposal
    - One $25,000 proposal
    These finalist submissions are forwarded to SFU for final adjudication.
12. How will applications be reviewed?
    All applications received from the districts will be reviewed by a joint committee that includes representatives from the SFU Faculty of Education and B.C.'s K-12 public sector.
13. Are there additional criteria districts use to evaluate proposals submitted by schools?
    Each school district establishes and applies its own internal evaluation criteria when reviewing proposals submitted by schools. The SFU program team does not participate in the district-level evaluation processes.
14. When will finalists be notified?
    Successful grantees will be notified in June 2026.
15. When can the projects commence?
    Funding will be made available in September 2026.
16. When are the projects expected to be completed?
    The projects are expected to be completed during the 2026/2027 school year.
17. How will the project learnings and innovations be disseminated?
    Grantees are required to submit final reports upon completion of their projects; these will be added to a database managed by SFU and will be made available to other education professionals.
18. Who do I contact for more details about the program?
    Please email the program administrators at cmolik@sfu.ca or your school district representative.