Mental health innovations in Durham will be built on YOUR ideas—help us better form the foundation for learning in our public schools.
Each year, the DPS Foundation empowers students, educators, and families with Innovation Grants—fueling projects that expand equity, accessibility, resources, and opportunities across our schools. In 2022-2023, we took this commitment further by launching the WHOLE Schools Fund, a grant dedicated to supporting mental health and wellness initiatives that
bring our core values—Wellness, Healing, Opportunity, Learning, and Equity (WHOLE)—to life.
During the 2024-2025 cycle, we proudly funded 22 projects totaling $82,500 across 25 DPS schools, helping to create lasting change in our community. The next round of funding, supporting projects for the 2025-2026 school year, opens May 15th and runs through September 15th. Get ready to bring your ideas to life!
We’re here to set you up for success! Our Application Guide is your go-to resource for everything you need to confidently complete your application. Inside, you’ll find everything from an overview of the DPS Foundation to details on our grants process and tips for submitting a strong proposal. We want to make sure you have the tools and support to bring your ideas to life—let’s make it happen!
NEW! 2025 Focus Areas
These are specific topics and needs that align with the important priorities of our school communities. When applying, think about how your project fits into the grant’s focus area and how it will make a positive impact on your school community.
Creating safe and brave spaces for students
Improve overall mental health awareness
Supporting students and families to build peer and child-centered mental health support systems
Our Grants Approach
When you receive this grant, you’re not just getting funding—you’re gaining a team dedicated to helping your project succeed. Through our cohort model, we provide intentional check-ins to keep you on track, capacity-building sessions to strengthen your skills, and valuable networking and funding opportunities to support you along the way. You’ll work directly with our team to manage spending, budgeting, and all things funding, ensuring a streamlined process that gives you access to your funds sooner. Some sessions are required, so selecting team members who are engaged and ready to participate will help maximize the impact of your project.
Required Participation Items
Grantee Orientation (Tentatively October 10th)
Quarterly Cohort Chit Chat Meetings (2 Virtual, 2 In-Person)
Site Visits / Storytelling
Grantee Summit
Communication with Program Lead (Monthly Newsletters, Progress Reports, etc.)
Fundatory Items
Monthly Cohort Engagement Offerings
Biweekly Drop-In Support Office Hours
Important Dates To Know
May 15th: Grant Application Opens
May 19th: Virtual Support Session from 12 PM - 1:30 PM via Zoom | Registration Link
June 9th: Ice Cream and Innovation Session from 5 PM - 7 PM @ WG Pearson Center | Registration Link
July 31st: Virtual Support Session from 5 PM - 6:30 PM via Zoom | Registration Link
August 17th: Virtual Support Session from 2 PM - 4 PM via Zoom | Registration Link
September 8th: Pizza and Planning from 6 PM - 8 PM @ WG Pearson Center | Registration Link
September 15th: Application Closes
October 1st: Grant Recipients Notified of Decisions
October 10th: Grantee Orientation [Early Release Day]
June 30th: All funds and the final report will need to be completed