Strategic success fund

Strategic success fund

Funded by the Sandburg Foundation, the Strategic Success Fund empowers Sandburg employees to propose district-wide initiatives that foster collaboration, expand opportunity, and drive meaningful impact across District 518. Through targeted seed funding, we wish to partner with you on scalable, grassroots ideas that strengthen student success and position Sandburg for long-term growth toward 3,000 students and a $35 million endowment by 2030.

Apply

Priorities:

• Align directly with Sandburg’s Strategic Plan
• Support growth toward 3,000 students by 2030, $35 million endowment by 2030.

With a focus on:

1. Access (financial barriers reduced)
2. Belief (students see people like them succeeding)
3. Opportunity (clear workforce and transfer pathways) 

• Build long-term financial sustainability.
• Increase alumni and employee engagement and district-wide community impact

Funding range:

• Seed funding up to $25,000 ($100,000 available) to launch scalable, sustainable initiatives.
• Open to Sandburg employees. Limit of one application per employee.

Award timing:

• Application release: Spring 2026
• Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until available funds have been awarded
• Review and collaborative refinement period: Approximately 4–8 weeks from submission
• Funding decisions and distribution will align with FY27 priorities and timelines

 Eligible initiatives must:`

1. Be district-wide or cross-functional in scope.
2. Demonstrate a 2–3 year impact model.
3. Include a sustainability plan beyond Foundation seed funding.
4. Show measurable outcomes tied to:

• Enrollment growth
• Retention/completion
• Alumni engagement
• Revenue generation or cost efficiency
• Community engagement across District 518

Proposals will include:

Strategic Alignment Statement

How does this initiative advance:

• 3,000 students by 2030
• $35 million Foundation endowment goal by 2030
• Alumni/community engagement?

Two-three year growth plan

• Year 1: Launch
• Year 2: Scale
• Year 3: Sustain

Sustainability Model

After Foundation funding ends:

• How does this continue?
• Revenue sources?
  • External sponsorship
  • Grant match
  • Other
• Institutional adoption?
• Enrollment growth?

Collaboration

Applicants will collaborate with:

• Team members
• Students
• Supervisor
• Dean
• VP

The Foundation will NOT fund:

• Routine departmental operating costs
• Technology upgrades that may belong in institutional budgeting
• One-time equipment purchases without a strategic expansion plan
• Short-term events without long-term growth impact

Apply