For your UCS Grant Application to be considered, please complete the following:
- Review the 2025-26 Application Guide (We give out a password which you’ll need to complete your application)
- Have permission from your school/district leadership to apply.
- Have a school leadership team in place.
- Create an itemized budget in line with the UCS Funding Guidelines.
- For returning schools, be in good standing with your 2024-25 monthly reports and have submitted your 2025 UMass Boston survey. Applications will only be considered from schools in good standing.
Due Date:
We accept applications on a rolling basis, so there is no due date. However, we do recommend submitting your application as soon as possible to ensure we have funds available and to allow UCS to get up and running as soon as school begins.
Fundraiser Requirement:
Each school awarded a UCS grant must organize at least one fundraiser to support either their Unified initiatives or SONJ. The required fundraising amount is based on your funding level. Please see the table below. Participation in a Cool Schools Challenge can fulfill this requirement, provided the amount raised meets the minimum threshold.
Self-Sustaining Schools:
The SONJ UCS grants are intended to be seed money to get your Unified programs and activities up and running. The expectation is that the district will absorb these costs within 5-7 years and then shift to a self-sustaining model. Self-sustaining schools implementing UCS must still be registered with SONJ. Please complete the grant application and indicate where asked that you are not requesting funding.
Flexibility with Requirements:
We are committed to being flexible wherever needed to ensure that no one is discouraged from applying or participating. Please don’t let any requirement stand in your way; reach out to the UCS team so we can plan a personalized approach that works best in your school and district.