Other Frequently Asked Questions

GRANTS ARE NOT BEING PROVIDED AT THIS TIME

The Advancing Student Achievement Grant Program is being updated and improved to benefit the math classrooms of today and the math classrooms of tomorrow. Please visit this page again to see exciting details about the new ASA grant program in the near future!

Writing the Grant

What is your target population?

Our mission is to provide grants for underserved populations. We include grades 4 – 12 but have found that most of our programs are between fourth and eighth grade. We would like to develop mentoring programs at the high school level and encourage teachers to be innovative in creating a mentoring program at that level.

How do I find a lead actuary?

The Actuarial Foundation will assist you in finding a lead actuary for your program. Once we find a volunteer, you will arrange a meeting with him/her to discuss your ideas and determine whether the partnership is a good fit.

How do I know if my ideas are consistent with the goals of the Advancing Student Achievement program?

If you are not sure whether your ideas qualify for an ASA grant, send a letter of intent to the Foundation for review. This letter should describe your school and provide a brief outline or summary of the project that you would like to develop (no budget information is necessary at this time). We will then comment on your ideas and give recommendations for writing the full proposal. We will also show your letter to potential volunteers to promote interest in your project.

How do I apply?

Go to “How do I apply” and click on Proposal for Funding(under construction). You must address each of the seven topics and answer all questions. Once the proposal is written, it should be submitted on school stationery to The Actuarial Foundation. A copy should also be submitted electronically so that it can be easily disseminated to each committee member for review.

Is there a deadline for the grant application?

There is no deadline for your application but if you plan to start your program at the beginning of a semester, you should have the application completed at least one or two months prior to that date. Frequently, the committee has more questions or needs clarification which requires additional time.

Can your grants be used for existing programs if we add a mentoring component to it?

No, The Actuarial Foundation is looking to create new, innovative math mentoring programs that are school need specific and designed to foster a “love of math” in the students. The program must be new and of your own design.

Do all of the mentors need to be actuaries?

The only requirement regarding actuarial participation is that the lead mentor be an actuary. We would like to see as many additional actuaries involved as possible, but if you have other resources in your community, they can also participate. In many schools, the volunteer actuaries have brought in others from their office or family.

Do I need to have a lead actuary before I write the grant?

No, you can begin to write the grant before you have a lead actuary. Once a volunteer has been found, you can fill in the required information with the assistance of your actuary partner.

Program Development

What is the best time of day to organize an ASA program?

The mentoring programs should be arranged around the students’ schedule, classroom availability and mentor’s release time. We have found that after-school programs with older children may be difficult due to conflicts with sports or other activities. Before you write your Proposal for Funding, be sure that you have selected a time where students are eager to participate and the mentors are available.

Will the mentors function as tutors?

The Actuarial Foundation will not fund a program where tutoring is the focus of the mentoring. Your program should be designed around making math fun, improving student’s skills and understanding the practical applications of real world math. Tutoring may be a small part of a program for those students in need providing the mentors are available for that area.

How often should the mentors attend?

The frequency of the mentoring activity varies depending on student schedules and availability of the actuaries. Some schools meet weekly, others divide the school year into sessions. One school meets for a half day once a month, but includes the entire school in the program. It would be the preference of the Committee for Student Achievement of the Foundation to fund programs that run with a consistent schedule.

Success Stories

"When I arrive at school on these days, I am bombarded with kids inquiring as to what the Math Academy is going to be all about."