Bright Ideas logoBright Ideas, a grant program sponsored by the Irwin EMC Foundation and Irwin EMC, your Touchstone Energy Cooperative, awards teachers money for innovative lessons and projects to energize learning in their students' classroom.  The Bright Ideas program distributes money as grants of up to $1,000 for teachers who teach grades K-12 at public or private schools located Berrien, Ben Hill, Irwin, Tift, Turner or Wilcox Counties.  Grants are not for professional development.  Requests for technology must be clearly defined.  Requests for iPads, e-readers, computers, field trips, alternative seating, software and guest presenters are strongly discouraged.

Eligibility:

  • Any teacher who teaches grades K-12 at any public or private school in Berrien, Ben Hill, Irwin, Tift, Turner or Wilcox Counties is eligible to apply for a Bright Ideas grant.

  • Teachers may only be an applicant or team member of one project per school year.

Grant limits:

  • The maximum grant amount is $1,000.  Some grant requests may be partially funded.

Selection criteria:

  • Innovative, creative learning experiences for students 

  • Clearly defined plan of implementation 

  • Benefits and directly involves the greatest number of students 

  • Involves teamwork among faculty, students or collaborative partners 

  • Provides itemized budget summary 

Applications are reviewed by a panel of judges who rank them based on the selection criteria.  Because the evaluation process is competitive, partial funding may be awarded to allow more applications to benefit from the grant process. All decisions for grant funding are final.

Important dates:

Application deadline: Applications will be accepted May 1-August 25, 2025.

Teachers who receive a grant will be notified during the fall!

Contact information:

For more information, contact Hope Paulk by phone at (229) 468-2311 or email at hope.paulk@irwinemc.com. 

Bright Ideas Application

2025 Bright Ideas Grant Application

We are excited to support local educators in energizing learning in the classroom!

Ensure your application describes a project that uses innovative learning experiences, provides instructional opportunities not otherwise available, involves teamwork, directly engages students, has clearly defined goals, offers ongoing benefits to students and includes a detailed budget summary.

Project Details

Include the following details about your project.  Do not include your name, the name of your school, school mascot, county or the name of any member of your team.

Description of project. Do not include your name, the name of your school, school mascot, county or the name of any member of your team.

Explain what makes this project innovative and/or creative.

Explain how you will implement this project to benefit and directly involve the greatest number of students. If you will be assisted by others, include what their role will be, but do not include their name or any school references.

Number of students project will benefit.

Include ITEMIZED description of items needed for project, quantities and costs as well as other funding sources. For example, if your project costs more than the grant allows, how will you be able to complete the project? You may also upload a file with the budget information. 

Explain how teamwork is encouraged (among faculty, students, classes, collaborative partners).

Curriculum areas that grant will address, including specific standards.

When do you plan to implement your project?

Additional information may be submitted to include itemized budget, curriculum standards, screenshots or images of items desired, etc.


Upload requirements

Additional information may be submitted to include itemized budget, curriculum standards, screenshots or images of items desired, etc.

If I am awarded a grant, I grant Irwin EMC permission to use my name and photograph in its publicity of the grant without consideration of compensation to me.