May 11, 2026:                      Applications Open

June 5, 2026:                      Applications Due by 5:00 PM CT

Week of June 8 - June 12:  Grant Committee & school interviews conducted.

June 22, 2026:                     Notification of Grant Awards 

The following criteria must be satisfied prior to application for a school to be eligible for a grant:

• The School is a Catholic school within the boundaries of the Diocese of Dallas.
• The School has already accepted or is planning on accepting student(s) with moderate to severe disabilities who would not be able to attend without additional educational support.
• The school has a degreed Special Education teacher on staff, or a plan to provide appropriate educational support for identified student(s), including training, credentialing, licensing, or funding for qualified personnel and related support services.
• The School can demonstrate the commitment of its Principal and Pastor to inclusive education.
• The School will designate Friends of FIRE liaisons who will be a point of contact for communication with the school community about events, fundraisers, and general information about FIRE Dallas and its mission.  Schools will communicate with their communities about our fundraising events and sales. Schools will also participate in providing 1 auction item for each event (Valued at $200 or less).
• The School is willing to distribute information to the school and parish community about FIRE Dallas.
• The School will provide the opportunity for a representative of FIRE Dallas to speak annually to its parishioners and/or school community.
• If the School is a current Partner school or Spark school, having received FIRE Dallas grants previously, they must show increased expertise and openness to serve additional students with moderate to severe special education needs.
• Designated staff from all Partner schools will be expected to attend training specific to inclusive educational practices.

Please submit this online form and a letter from the school on what inclusion means to you and how you are growing your inclusive environment by June 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM (CT).

If you have any questions, please call Carrie Ro at (949) 690-3925 or e-mail at carrie@firefoundationdallas.org.

1. Professional Development related to inclusive education.

2. Learning Materials, Curriculum, Technology and Equipment related to inclusive education.

3. Assistance for staff salaries such as an Educational Assistants, Special Education Teachers, Inclusion Specialists, etc. related to inclusive education.

 

A Grant Application must satisfy the Grant Eligibility Criteria for the application to be considered. Eligible applicants will be invited to discuss their grant application in a meeting. The grant meeting will last approximately 20 minutes and will focus on questions from the Granting Committee about the Grant Application. Appointments will be scheduled through the FIRE office upon receipt of the Grant Application and preference given in the order applications were received. Grant awards will be determined based on compliance with Eligibility Criteria, need for assistance and the availability of FIRE Dallas funds. All grant monies awarded must be used as specified in the grant award letter or returned to FIRE Dallas.

Grantees will receive a letter of notification regarding their grant by June 22, 2026.

Please note that all grant recipients are required to submit a mid-year report and end-of-year report documenting use of grant funds. Any changes in the way grant funds are used that deviate from descriptions outlined in the grant application must be reported to the Executive Director of FIRE Foundation Dallas prior to the funds being spent (carrie@firefoundationdallas.org). Mid-year report forms will be sent to grant recipients via e-mail by December 1, 2026 and are due via email to carrie@firefoundationdallas.org by December 31, 2026. End-of-year report forms will be sent to recipients via e-mail by May 1, 2027 and are due via e-mail to carrie@firefoundationdallas.org by June 1, 2027.

Grants are NOT awarded for the following uses: Operating expenses including rent payments, lease payments, and utilities, debt incurred or purchases made prior to award notification, travel expenses, participation in capital campaigns, endowment funds, and tuition assistance.

See Appendix on the last page for examples of an inclusive education budget. For all of the above items, please subtract any grant monies utilized for these items, including FIRE Dallas grants or other grants. Only the amounts the school is responsible for should be included in the Inclusive Education Budget amount. The items above should pertain specifically to the students identified in #4 on the application.

12. Please attach a letter from the school principal and co-signed by the parish pastor* indicating the following:

• Support of inclusive Catholic education and commitment to educating the school community on its benefits.
• Willingness to create and sustain a culture of belonging where students with disabilities are welcomed and supported.
• How special consideration for enrollment is extended to parish families.
• The school has a degreed Special Education teacher on staff, or has a plan to ensure that appropriate educational support exists for the identified student(s). *Parish pastor signature not required for high school applications or those schools not associated with a parish.

All information contained in this grant application is considered confidential. Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education - Dallas, Inc. DBA FIRE Foundation Dallas agrees that it will not disclose, share, or publish this information to any third party without the prior written consent of the Applicant. This information shall be used exclusively for the purpose of evaluating this grant application.

       I.            EXAMPLES OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION BUDGET ITEMS:

 

●       Materials and/or items purchased specifically for use by students with moderate to severe special education needs to help them interact with the curriculum or their peers inclusively (e.g., calculators, educational programs or apps, special seating/desks, PE/playground equipment, vehicles to help students move around the school more efficiently, sound field systems, resource room equipment, etc.)

●       Professional development for staff pertaining specifically to student special education needs. (e.g. training in a particular area that may benefit students with special needs, even if it is beneficial for other students as well, trainings offered by FIRE Dallas or Office of Catholic Schools)

●       Services outside the school to support students with special education needs (e.g. PT/OT/Speech therapies, specialized nursing services, coordinators or case managers, etc.) paid for by the school.

●       Special Educator/Inclusion Coordinator/Other similar positions funded by school.

●       Paraeducator salary and/or training to support educators and students.