PURPOSE

The purpose of the Maryland TESOL Professional Development Grant is to enhance members’ involvement the ESOL field. Additionally, grant funds aim to contribute to the betterment of shared communities. This grant funds projects and initiatives that cross-cut a variety of agents (educators, students, administrators, etc.) and our extended communities. Successful grants will connect and enhance communities through teachers’ initiatives and help reshape the role of the grantee in their profession and society, for the betterment of all.

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DETAILS

Successful proposals achieve at least one of the following goals:

1. Expand the role of the grantee in their area of expertise.
2. Enhance intercultural endeavors that build communication and relationships.
3. Interact with Maryland TESOL’s extended communities (family involvement, after-school projects, etc.)
4. Make a positive impact on ELLs and/or teachers

Grant awards varying, at up to $1,000. Proposals have to be justified by a line item budget breakdown. Requesting the maximum funds without reasonable justification is not permissible.

ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION

1. Principal applicant must be a member of Maryland TESOL, in good standing during the year the grant is awarded. Applicant can not be a member of the board. All proposals will be checked that the applicant is a current Maryland TESOL member.
2. All grant proposals will be blind reviewed.

KEY DATES: 2026

• Proposal submission deadline: April 1st.
  
• Notification: Late April.
• Proposal Selection Announcement: Made at annual spring dinner and board meeting in May.
• Grant Effective: May of the current year, valid until May of the following year.
• Impact Report 1, Progress Report: 6 month after being awarded, to be presented to the Maryland TESOL Board
• Impact Report 2: Final Report: To be presented at the Annual Fall Conference of the following year (Ex. Grants awarded in May 2026, presentation given at 2026 conference.
• Impact Report: Written summary submitted to Maryland TESOL Quarterly.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

• All applications must be submitted through the website.
• If additional copies of applicant’s proposal are submitted, only the first received will be processed.
• Submission confirmation will be sent via email within three business days.
• If applicant has not received confirmation within one week of submission, contact president@marylandtesol.com using the subject heading: “(Year) PD Grant Application Received?”.
• Late submissions will not be reviewed.
• Applications must comply with the required proposal format located at the end of this document. Applications that do not follow these specifications or are incomplete will not be considered. Applicants may not exceed the word limit indicated for each section of the proposal.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The Maryland TESOL Grant Committee votes for the grant proposal which appears to be the most promising and which best aligns itself with the goals of the Maryland TESOL Professional Development Grant.

• The Maryland TESOL Executive Board reserves the right to not award grants if the proposals do not meet the standards and adjust budgets to align with Maryland TESOL policies.

• Possible reasons proposals are not funded:

• • The proposal does not fit with the Professional Development Grant specifications and guidelines outlined in this document.

  • The proposal has not been carefully proofread.

  • The proposal is poorly written or incomplete.

  • Graduate student research does not qualify for the grant.

SUBMISSION GUIDLINES

Please include the following information:

Personal information: name, affiliation/school, role, email address, phone number, mailing address, and names, affiliations, and roles of additional participants. It is crucial that this information is correct. 

Project summary: project title and summary (max. 300 words). Summaries of successful proposals will be made public on the Maryland TESOL website. 

Detailed proposal: 

• Statement of project (max. 300 words) (states the focus of the project).

• Applicant Background (max. 300 words per applicant): Integrate within this section, short paragraphs describing relevant background knowledge and experiences that you may have that qualify you to undertake such project.

• Significance & Measurable Impact (maximum 300 words): Provide a statement of the significance and the likely implications of the proposed project.

• Expected Total Amount (maximum 300 words): Explain how the Professional Development Grant will allow for the successful completion of the project.

• Timeline: Provide a clear timeline in weeks or months of the tasks and events that will be completed.

• Plans for Dissemination (maximum 300 words): Include all venues where you will advertise information about your project and the events you will organize. The Maryland TESOL Professional Development grant must be acknowledged in all types of dissemination.
  

Detailed budget and brief rationale: Itemized Expenses (ransportation, dissemination, supplies, etc.), expected cost in USD. Please be as specific as possible. Hardware and software purchases are not an allowable budget expense.