Public and private grants are a critical source of revenue for the Minneapolis Public Schools. Nearly 12 percent of the annual budget for the school district is derived from grants and entitlement programs. During this climate of national and local economic decline, it is extremely important that MPS staff submit the strongest possible grant applications. Grant programs are extremely competitive now because the pool of money available for grants has declined and the number of organizations seeking grant support has risen. The Office of Resource Development and Innovation (RDI) is here to help you submit the strongest possible grant proposals. The office is responsible for coordinating and managing the pre-award process for all public and private grant proposals submitted by the school distict, its departments and its schools. This process includes:

1. Prospecting for potential donors and matching potential donors with district and school needs;
2. Assisting schools and departments with developing and submitting grant proposals;
3. Obtaining authorized MPS and AchieveMpls signatures;
4. Preparing attachments and assurances required by the funder;
5. Submitting additional information requested by the funder; and
6. Conducting final negotiations with funder once award is approved.

Once a grant has been approved and the paperwork is complete, the Office of Resource Development and Innovation passes the project on to the MPS Funded Programs Office and to MPS Finance/Budget.

For more information about the work of the Office of Resource Development and Innovation, call Melanie Sanco at (612) 668-0214 or email her at melanie.sanco@mpls.k12.mn.us.

Memorandum of Agreement: MPS & AchieveMpls

Information regarding the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) and AchieveMpls.