The Mind Trust opens fifth year of Go Farther Literacy Fund applications
INDIANAPOLIS – (September 9, 2024) – Today, the Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based education nonprofit, opened applications for the fifth year of the Go Farther Literacy Fund awards. The goal of the initiative is to invest in locally-driven projects that further student literacy skills, primarily funding projects led by parents and families. Since the first round in 2020, Mind Trust has awarded $180,000 in Go Farther Literacy Funds to 74 recipients, 48 of which were families.
“The Go Farther Literacy Fund exemplifies our commitment to empowering families and community members to drive student literacy gains in innovative ways. We are inspired by the creative ideas and dedication shown by our city’s community organizations, families, and schools who are passionate about supporting projects that make a meaningful impact on children’s reading skills and educational journeys,” said Dr. Patrick Jones, Senior Vice President of Leadership and Equity at The Mind Trust.
About The Mind Trust’s Go Farther Literacy Fund
The Go Farther Literacy Fund is a program of The Mind Trust that funds solutions to help address our city’s literacy crisis and ensure all children read at or above grade level. Awarded funds range from $150 to $5,000, with the goal of helping Center Township families go farther – both physically and figuratively. The Mind Trust’s program is modeled after The People’s Literacy Fund in Oakland, California. Dr. Charles Cole, III, Executive Director of Energy Convertors, an education nonprofit based in Oakland, began The People’s Literacy Fund with Educate78 to support families’ innovative ideas for promoting student literacy.
The selection committee seeks projects that serve high-need students in Center Township. High-need students include those impacted by poverty, English Language Learners (ELL), foster youth, unhoused or students experiencing home instability, recent immigrants to the United States, students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans, and students who are academically below grade level. Projects should have clear, achievable goals and aim to improve literacy rates among these students.
Ideas are encouraged to come from not only teachers, schools, and organizations but also from individuals in the communities directly impacted (parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, other family members, friends, and neighbors) who are getting creative to help the children in their lives who attend a public school in Center Township.
Go Farther Literacy Fund Application Process
Interested applicants can begin their application today at themindtrust.org/gofarther. Applicants will complete an online application detailing the specific budget and needs they have. All materials are due on Monday, November 4, 2024 at 11:59pm EST.
To learn more about the 2024 Go Farther Literacy Fund award winners, click this link.
For more information about the Go Farther Literacy Fund, visit themindtrust.org/gofarther.
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About The Mind Trust
The Mind Trust is an Indianapolis-based education nonprofit that works to build a system of schools that gives every student, no exceptions, access to a high-quality education. The Mind Trust does this by building a supportive environment for schools through policy and community engagement, empowering talented, diverse educators to launch new schools, and providing existing schools with the support they need to hire world-class talent and achieve excellence. Since 2006, The Mind Trust has supported the launch of 49 schools, 15 education nonprofit organizations, and has helped place more than 1,800 teachers and school leaders in Indianapolis classrooms.
Media Contact
Kateri Whitley
kwhitley@themindtrust.org, 317-801-9682 (c)