What are the benefits of my donating to MCAF ?
The Academic Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations to the Academic Foundation are TAX-EXEMPT, meaning the State of North Carolina and the Federal Government will receive less money, and more of your money will be used locally, here in Macon County. You are going to pay taxes no matter what, why not direct more of those funds toward local educational initiatives?
Many projects funded through MCAF are for underfunded programs, including Exceptional Student living skills, Arts Programs, and reading novel sets for classrooms.
What sets MCAF apart from other GoFundMe fundraisers?
The Academic Foundation has a strict set of guidelines about what grant money is to be used for.
Funds granted by MCAF can only be used for classroom projects that directly address the North Carolina Standard Course of Study Curriculum Benchmarks.
Any money granted towards field trips can only be used for museum admissions, tours, or educational competition entry fees.
Grant money cannot be used for classroom decoration, bus rentals, lodging, or meals.
How does the Academic Foundation grant process work?
Only Macon County Public School teachers may apply for a grant from MCAF. Here is the step-by-step process:
1) Teachers submit a list of materials or admission costs along with an online grant application. (Feel free to check out the Grant Request Form link on the home page)
2) Volunteer Academic Foundation members review the application to be sure it meets the guidelines, and vote to approve or deny the application.
3) If the application is approved by a majority of board members, then it is posted to the Academic Foundation webpage to await funding from the public. (If there is enough money in the general fund to cover the request then the grant is automatically awarded)
4) Once funding is secured for the grant request, a check is issued directly to the corresponding school's bookkeeper from the Foundation's bank account to disperse the funds for the project.