EDUCATIONAL GRANTS

FOUR EDUCATIONAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

For 2026, The Women's Club of Coconut Creek is offering four Educational Grant opportunities.

Women's Club of Coconut Creek Educational Grant
- Available to any K-12 educator teaching at a Broward County Public School located within the City of Coconut Creek.
- Four $500.00 awards offered
  - One $500 grant for an outstanding K-12 elementary school educator teaching at a school in the City of Coconut Creek.
  - One $500 grant for an outstanding K-12 middle grades educator teaching at a school in the City of Coconut Creek.
  - One $500 grant for an outstanding K-12 high school educator teaching at a school in the City of Coconut Creek.
  - One additional $500 grant will be offered to an outstanding K-12 educator teaching at a Broward County Public School in the City of Coconut Creek

WHO IS ELIGIBLE:

Any K-12 educator teaching at a Broward County Public School located within the City of Coconut Creek can be nominated for the contest. Nominees must be current educators planning to return as a teacher in the next academic year.

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA:

As a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of Coconut Creek residents, especially our youth, the Scholarship Committee places great value on community involvement. The primary focus of Educational Grant selection is the nominee’s service and contributions to the betterment of the Coconut Creek community through innovative teaching practices and pedagogies that enhance the classroom experience. Nominators should demonstrate their nominee’s engagement in the Coconut Creek community through one short-answer essay that exemplifies unique lesson designs, effective use of technology, hands on learning activities, or methods that foster curiosity and critical thinking. If selected as a finalist, the Director of Scholarships will notify the teacher of their status and request a detailed essay describing how the nominee would use the grant funds if awarded. This essay, along with all supporting materials, will be forwarded to the final judge for the selection of recipients. If selected as a finalist, the committee’s final judge may contact the nominator, principal, or another reference listed on the nomination/application form to learn more about the applicant’s service described in the essay.

WHO SERVES IN THE SELECTION PROCESS:

The Director of Scholarships is elected by the membership of The Women’s Club of Coconut Creek to manage all aspects of the scholarship and educational grant process. In collaboration with the Executive Council and committee co-chairs, the Director establishes the nomination guidelines and develops the assessment criteria in accordance with the Club Bylaws. Committee members are appointed by the Director and the Club President and are notified of their specific roles after all nominations have been collected. The committee is responsible for selecting a maximum of three finalists for each grade level (elementary, middle, and high school) to advance in the nomination/ application process. A final judge, a professional in the field of education who is unaffiliated with The Women’s Club of Coconut Creek and has no personal connection to any nominee or applicant, is appointed by the Club President and is responsible for selecting the winner(s) on behalf of the membership body.

WHAT ARE GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION:

Any nominator or applicant with incomplete, false, or AI generated information
Nominees/Applicants who are not a K-12 educator teaching at a Broward County Public School located within the City of Coconut Creek.
Nominees/Applicants who are not current educators planning to return as a teacher in the next academic year.
Any nominee who reaches out to a Scholarship or Grant Committee member in hopes of improving chances of selection. This also includes someone reaching out on the nominee/applicant's behalf.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

By Friday, March 13, 2026
- Community member nominates a Coconut Creek public school educator by submitting the application form using the link above that says 'Apply Now'
  - Provides all necessary information in the textboxes
  - Submits one short-answer essay that exemplifies unique lesson designs, effective use of technology, hands on learning activities, or methods that foster curiosity and critical thinking of this nominee.
  - Signs the application to certify that all the information provided is true and accurate, confirm that artificial intelligence was not used in any capacity to create my submission material, and to confirm the understanding that if any part of the application is found to be inaccurate or in violation of the scholarship rules, it will be disqualified from the competition.

By Friday, April 1, 2026
- The Educational Grant Committee will meet with their respective members to select a maximum of nominees in each grade level (elementary, middle, high school) to advance as finalists in the application process.
- Finalist will be contacted of their status and asked to complete the application process.

By Friday, April 10, 2026
- Nominees submit their applications.
  - Provides all necessary information in the textboxes
  - Submits one five-paragraph essay that explains how they would use the grant funds to make a positive impact on the Coconut Creek community if selected as a finalist highlighting specific ideas such as classroom or campus improvements, professional development opportunities, or initiatives that support structured mental health breaks or self-care resources.
  - Signs the application to certify that all the information provided is true and accurate, confirm that artificial intelligence was not used in any capacity to create my submission material, and to confirm the understanding that if any part of the application is found to be inaccurate or in violation of the scholarship rules, it will be disqualified from the competition.
- The application materials and nomination materials of the selected finalists will be provided to the final judge, who will determine the competition winners for each grade level.

By Friday, May 1, 2026
- The final judge will have determine their competition winners for each grade level (elementary, middle, high school) as well as an additional fourth winner from a K-12 classroom.
- Winners will be notified and invited to attend the Scholarship and Educational Grants Awards Ceremony on Monday, May 11, 2026

Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6:30pm. Doors will open at 6:00pm.
- Scholarship and Educational Grants Awards Ceremony will take place at the Rowe Activity Center at Donaldson Park
  - Donaldson Park (900 NW 43 Avenue, Coconut Creek, FL 33066)

By August 2026
- Educational Grant award money will be distributed to educator once they've confirmed with their principal that they are returning as teacher during the next academic year.

HOW TO KNOW MY INFORMATION IS SAFE:

Please note that the information submitted will be held in confidence by the Director of Scholarship, Club President, and Contest's Final Judge. Personal information will be redacted from the entire Scholarship Committee and the full membership of The Women's Club of Coconut Creek.

WHO TO CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS:

If you have any questions or would like a member of the Scholarship Committee visit your institution for a presentation, reach out to our Director of Scholarship Barbara McDermott at scholarships@womensclubcoconutcreek.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is the Women’s Club of Coconut Creek Educational Grant?
It is a grant program that provides K-12 Broward County Public School educators of schools in the city of Coconut Creek the opportunity to be recognized for their contributions in our community.

Who funds these grants?
The grants are funded by money raised by The Women’s Club of Coconut Creek through its charitable and community activities.

How many grants are awarded each year?
The number and amounts may vary each year depending on available funds and Executive Council decisions with the Director.

Who is eligible to apply?
Any K-12 Broward County Public School educator of schools in the city of Coconut Creek is eligible to apply, regardless of where they reside.

Do I have to have to teach at a public school in the City of Coconut Creek?
Yes. Charter, private, and school educators are ineligible. Similarly, educators at institutions outside the city are also ineligible to apply.

What is the nomination/application process?
1. Any member of the community may nominate a public school educator who teaches in Coconut Creek.
2. The grant committee will review all nominations and selects a maximum of three finalists for each grade level.
3. Finalists will be notified of their status and asked to complete an application.
4. A final judge, a professional in the field of education who is unaffiliated with The Women’s Club of Coconut Creek and has no personal connection to any nominee or applicant, is appointed by the Club President to select the winner(s) on behalf of the membership body.
5. Winners and their guests will be invited to attend The Women’s Club of Coconut Creek Awards Ceremony.

Who can nominate a teacher?
Anyone. Students, faculty, staff, administrators, and the community-at-large may nominate a teacher. It is highly suggested that teachers do not nominate themselves.

What should the nominator's focus be on the essays about their nominee?
We suggest highlighting how the Coconut Creek k-12 public school teacher you are nominating exemplary by explaining how their innovative teaching practices and pedagogies enhance the classroom experience. Consider examples such as unique lesson designs, effective use of technology, hands on learning activities, or methods that foster curiosity and critical thinking. Be descriptive and specific as possible.

What should the applicant's focus on in the essays once they've been notified as a finalist? Applicants should focus on explaining how they would use the grant funds to make a positive impact on the Coconut Creek community if selected as a finalist. Consider highlighting specific ideas such as classroom or campus improvements, professional development opportunities, or initiatives that support structured mental health breaks or self-care resources. Be as descriptive and specific as possible so the judges can clearly understand your vision and the potential benefits of your proposed plans on the community.

Who reviews my application?
The Educational Grant Committee reviews all eligible nominations and selects finalists. A final judge, a professional in the field of education who is unaffiliated with The Women’s Club of Coconut Creek and has no personal connection to any nominee or applicant, is appointed by the Club President to select the winner(s) on behalf of the membership body.

How are recipients selected?
Selections are based on the essays highlighting the service and contributions conducted in the city for the betterment of the Coconut Creek community and what the teacher plans to do if they win this award.

Will the reference I list be contact?
Yes. If nominee advances to the finalist phase and submits an application, the school nominator, principal, or department chair listed may be contacted. We trust they can speak in detail about your involvement in the Coconut Creek educational community.

Is my application information kept confidential?
Yes. All information submitted is kept in confidence by the Scholarship Director and Club President. Only unredacted application portfolios of finalists will be shared with the judge making the selection of winner(s).

Who should I contact with questions?
The Director of Scholarship at scholarships@womensclubcoconutcreek.com.

APPLY NOW

Educational Grants

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