Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility Rule
Article V, Section 5 of the By-laws of the NJEA Frederick L. Hipp Foundation for Excellence in Education, the following eligibility exclusions apply: "No member of the Board of Trustees, the Advisory Committee or the Grant Selection Committee shall have or obtain a financial interest in any contract, grant or award made by the Foundation to any person or entity." The Hipp Board of Trustees consists of the individuals who comprise the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Education Association.
When can I submit an application to the Hipp Foundation?
The Foundation accepts applications starting July 1, up through March 1 of each year. Applications are reviewed once annually. Applicants are notified of their status by the end of April.
If my Project Timeline begins before the school year (groundwork over the summer, equipment purchases, etc.), will my application be disqualified?
No. Your application will be considered as long as your timeline begins no earlier than July 1 and ends by July 31 of the target school year.
When do I receive the grant money?
You'll receive up to half your grant funds once the required initial paperwork is received, after the Grant Coordinators' Training meeting in June. If you need additional funds upfront to get started, you can request more at that time. You may begin spending immediately after the training meeting. Note: stipend funds are held by NJEA and not distributed with the awarded funds.
Do I turn the grant money over to my school district?
No. The Grant Project Coordinator named in the application is financially responsible for the grant. By signing the application, the district superintendent/college president and board of education offer their support to the project and agree to its implementation by the Project Coordinator, should funds be awarded.
Is the grant money considered taxable income for the Grant Coordinator?
No. The Foundation structures the grant disbursement and reporting procedure to relieve the Grant Coordinator of IRS reporting requirements. However, if you or a Project Team member receives a stipend for work performed, that is considered taxable income, and NJEA will issue an IRS Form 1099 accordingly. This is explained in more detail during the June Grant Coordinators' Training.
Do you have to be a teacher to apply for a Hipp grant?
No. However, an applicant must be a New Jersey public school employee to qualify.
Do you have descriptions of previous grant recipients?
Yes! Project descriptions are available here. Former recipients' contact information is there too, and they're happy to answer questions. The Hipp Expo in the Communications Booth at the NJEA Convention in November is also staffed with grant recipients eager to share their projects and knowledge.
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