The Claremont Educational Foundation (CEF) has announced the availability of community partnership grants.

CEF will fund programs or initiatives that enhance learning through community partnerships and targeted funding opportunities that extend CEF’s efforts in art, music, technology and other vital areas to bolster educational support services and enrich educational programming.

CEF is interested in funding programs and projects that develop and sustain valuable links with nonprofit organizations that share CEF’s commitment to support Claremont Unified School District students and families.

Qualified applicants must have a presence in southern California and should demonstrate service to members of the Claremont community. Proposals should be well articulated with identifiable goals and a clear vision for collaborative education partnerships between nonprofit organizations and teachers, school sites, district-sponsored programs or the general Claremont community.

The CEF board expects to award $10,000 in this grant cycle with CEF Community Partnership Grants not exceeding $2,000 each.

The funding of community partnership grants is a new CEF initiative. Robert Fass, CEF vice president and chair of the strategic planning committee explained, “it grew from a desire for CEF to serve as a hub for community engagement, which includes the work of nonprofit organizations in meeting the educational needs of our schools and community. Together, both CEF and its partners can successfully protect and enrich quality public education.”

Applications are due October 1 at 5 p.m. Specific application criteria and details are available by visiting claremonteducationalfoundation.org. For more information, call the CEF office at (909) 398-1060.