ZTAG Grant Cycles & Funding Programs
Strategic Importance
Why Grants Matter:
ZTAG systems cost $10,000+ — beyond most school discretionary budgets. Grants unlock district-wide deployments by providing dedicated funding for after-school programs, PE equipment, and educational technology. Understanding grant cycles = unlocking the "combination lock" to billions in education funding.
California Advantage:
$4 billion annually in ELOP (Expanded Learning Opportunities Program) funding — centralized, well-documented, easier to navigate than 50 separate state systems.
Primary Grant Programs
1. ELOP (Expanded Learning Opportunities Program) — California
Overview:
State-funded program supporting after-school and summer learning for K-12 students in California. Largest single funding source for ZTAG's target market.
Funding Scale: $4 billion annually (state-level allocation)
Eligibility:
- Public schools and school districts
- Community-based organizations (CBOs) partnered with schools
- Focus on Title I schools (high FRPM populations)
Allowable Expenses:
- After-school program staffing
- Curriculum and educational materials
- Equipment for physical activity and enrichment ← ZTAG fits here
- Professional development for staff
- Transportation, snacks (wrap-around support)
Application Cycle:
- Timing: Annual application windows (specific dates TBD — ACTION ITEM)
- Authority: District-level or site-level (varies by district)
- Multi-year awards: Typically 3-5 year grants (recurring revenue potential)
ZTAG Positioning:
- "ELOP-eligible physical activity platform"
- "Research-backed engagement tool" (attendance, SEL outcomes)
- "One-time equipment investment, multi-year use"
Success Stories Needed:
- How many current ZTAG customers used ELOP funds?
- What language did they use in their applications?
- Can we provide grant-ready boilerplate language?
2. 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) — Federal
Overview:
Federal program (U.S. Department of Education) providing grants to schools and CBOs for after-school programs. Available nationwide (not California-specific).
Funding Scale:
$1.2+ billion annually (federal budget)
Eligibility:
- Title I schools (priority)
- Community-based organizations
- Must serve students in high-poverty areas
- Requires community partnerships (schools + nonprofits)
Allowable Expenses:
- After-school and summer programs
- Academic enrichment
- Youth development activities ← ZTAG's SEL + physical activity positioning
- Family engagement programming
Application Cycle:
- Authority: State Education Agencies (SEAs) distribute to districts
- Timing: Varies by state (California: TBD — ACTION ITEM)
- Multi-year: 3-5 year awards (competitive renewal)
- Local competition: Districts compete for limited state allocation
ZTAG Positioning:
- "21st CCLC-aligned youth development platform"
- "Bridges digital literacy with physical wellness"
- "Proven attendance impact" (aligns with CCLC accountability metrics)
Grant Application Support:
- Can ZTAG provide template language for CCLC proposals?
- Partnership letters (ZTAG commits to training, support)
- Data-sharing agreements (help districts report outcomes)
3. Title I Funding — Federal
Overview:
Federal program providing financial assistance to schools with high percentages of low-income students. Largest federal K-12 education program.
Funding Scale:
$17+ billion annually (federal budget)
Eligibility:
- Schools with 40%+ students from low-income families
- Schoolwide programs (school-level authority) vs. targeted assistance (specific students)
Allowable Expenses:
- Instructional materials and technology
- Professional development
- Supplemental services beyond core curriculum ← After-school ZTAG programs fit here
- Parent engagement activities
Application Cycle:
- Timing: Annual, tied to federal budget calendar (Oct 1 fiscal year start)
- Authority: District-level (allocated to schools via formula)
- Flexibility: Schools have significant autonomy in spending (if schoolwide program)
ZTAG Positioning:
- "Title I Supplement (not Supplant)"
- "Evidence-based intervention" (need research citations)
- "Reduces behavior issues, increases attendance"
FRPM Threshold Strategy:
- Target districts with 50%+ FRPM (high Title I allocation)
- 70%+ FRPM = dedicated grant administrators (easier navigation)
4. State PE / Health & Wellness Grants
Overview:
State-level funding for physical education equipment, teacher training, and wellness initiatives. Varies widely by state.
California Example:
TBD — need research on CA PE grant programs
SHAPE America Alignment:
- National PE standards developed by SHAPE America
- Many state grants require alignment with these standards
- ZTAG positioning: "Meets SHAPE America Standard X" (need to identify which standards)
Budget Authority:
- Often PE coordinator or athletic director (not same as after-school)
- May have separate funding pools (boosters, PTA, district PE budget)
ZTAG Positioning:
- "Innovative PE equipment"
- "Increases MVPA (Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity) minutes"
- "Engages reluctant movers" (kids who don't like traditional sports)
5. Corporate & Foundation Grants
Examples:
- Nike Community Impact Fund (youth sports)
- Target Field Trip Grants (experiential learning)
- Local foundations (county/city-level education grants)
Characteristics:
- Smaller awards ($1,000-10,000 typical)
- Faster application cycles (quarterly vs. annual)
- Less bureaucracy (easier for small districts, CBOs)
ZTAG Strategy:
- Package as "field trip to the future of play"
- Highlight innovation, equity (reaches all kids, not just athletes)
- Leverage local partnerships (Jae's Oregon nonprofit as example)
Grant Application Support Strategy
Current Gap: No Systematic Grant Assistance
Problem: Teachers/site coordinators see ZTAG, want it, but don't know how to unlock funding.
Solution: ZTAG as "Grant Navigator"
- Provide pre-written grant language (ELOP, CCLC, Title I boilerplate)
- Offer partnership letters (increases grant competitiveness)
- Connect districts with grant consultants (referral partnerships)
Grant-Ready Language Library (Action Item for Phase 4)
Build Modular Templates:
- Problem Statement: "Students in [district] face declining physical activity and social disconnection..."
- Solution: "ZTAG bridges digital engagement with embodied movement, proven to increase attendance by X%..."
- Alignment: "This proposal aligns with ELOP priorities (physical activity, SEL), SHAPE America standards (Standard 3, 4, 5), and 21st CCLC youth development goals..."
- Budget Justification: "One-time $10,000 investment serves 200+ students annually over 5-year equipment lifespan = $10 per student per year..."
- Evaluation Plan: "ZTAG data dashboards track attendance, activity minutes, and student engagement — allowing districts to report outcomes for grant compliance..."
ROI Calculators for Districts
Cost Per Student Analysis:
- $10,000 system ÷ 200 students/year ÷ 5 years = $10 per student per year
- Compare to: Field trips ($25/student), sports equipment ($50/student), video game trucks ($15/student per event)
Attendance Impact:
- If ZTAG increases attendance by 5%, and Average Daily Attendance (ADA) = $50/student/day, then...
- 200 students × 5% × 180 days × $50 = $90,000 additional ADA revenue
- $10,000 ZTAG investment pays for itself 9x over
Grant Proposal Worksheet:
- "What is your district's FRPM %?" (determines Title I eligibility)
- "Do you currently receive ELOP funding?" (simpler than new application)
- "When is your next CCLC application window?" (timing alignment)
- "Would you like a partnership letter from ZTAG?" (boosts competitiveness)
Grant Cycle Timeline (California Example — Needs Research)
Hypothetical Annual Calendar (To Be Verified)
October-December (Q4):
- Federal fiscal year starts (Oct 1) → Title I allocations announced
- CCLC state allocations released
- Districts begin budget planning for next school year (July 1 start)
January-March (Q1):
- ELOP application windows open (state deadlines)
- Districts finalize summer program plans (need equipment by June)
- Foundation grants (Nike, Target) often due Q1
April-June (Q2):
- Late-cycle ELOP/CCLC awards announced
- Districts finalize budgets for July 1 school year start
- Urgency window: "If you want ZTAG for fall programs, order now"
July-September (Q3):
- School year starts, new programs launch
- After-school programs begin (ZTAG deployments)
- Post-launch support (Steve's training sessions)
Strategic Timing for ZTAG Sales
November-February: "Plant seeds" (educate about grant options)
March-May: "Close deals" (grant deadlines approaching, urgency)
June-August: "Fulfill orders" (ship, train, deploy before fall)
September-October: "Collect data" (help districts report outcomes for next cycle)
Funding Decision-Maker Hierarchy
Understanding Budget Authority
School-Level ($0-3,000):
- Decision-Maker: Principal or site coordinator
- Speed: Fast (days to weeks)
- Source: Discretionary site budget, PTA funds, small grants
- ZTAG Strategy: $3,000 pilot program (2-month trial) fits this threshold
District-Level ($3,000-50,000):
- Decision-Maker: Assistant Superintendent, CFO, or grant administrator
- Speed: Moderate (weeks to months)
- Source: ELOP, CCLC, Title I district allocation
- ZTAG Strategy: Single-school proof-of-concept → district-wide proposal
Multi-District / County-Level ($50,000+):
- Decision-Maker: County Office of Education (COE) superintendent
- Speed: Slow (months to year)
- Source: Pooled grant funds, regional initiatives
- ZTAG Strategy: COE partnership (bulk discount, shared training)
Ed100.org Certification (Required Reading)
Why This Matters:
California's education funding system is Byzantine. Ed100.org provides free, comprehensive training on how money flows from state → county → district → school.
Key Learnings:
- Budget authority levels (who can approve what)
- Grant vs. general fund (different rules, timelines)
- Prop 98 (state education funding guarantee)
- Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) — how districts get base funding
- Supplemental grants (FRPM-based add-ons)
Action Item: All customer-facing team (Carmee, Kris, Steve) complete Ed100 certification.
Competitor Grant Strategy (Intel Needed)
Questions:
- What ed-tech platforms are winning ELOP dollars?
- Do competitors offer grant-writing assistance?
- Are there grant consultants who specialize in ELOP/CCLC for ed-tech?
- Can ZTAG partner with them (referral fee model)?
Automation Opportunities (Phase 4)
Grant Deadline Tracker
- Input: District name, state, grant programs of interest
- Output: Calendar reminders 90/60/30 days before deadlines
- Minnie-Research: Pull public grant calendars, auto-populate
Grant Language Generator
- Input: District demographics (FRPM%, enrollment, Title I status)
- Output: Custom grant proposal sections (problem, solution, budget)
- Minnie-Research: Use GPT to tailor boilerplate to district specifics
ROI Calculator (Public Tool)
- Input: # of students, attendance rate, ADA funding level
- Output: "ZTAG will generate $X in additional ADA revenue"
- Carmee Use Case: Send to prospects with quote
Partnership Letter Automation
- Input: District name, grant program, proposal deadline
- Output: Signed letter from Quan (on ZTAG letterhead)
- Minnie-Comms: Draft → Quan approval → auto-send
Data Gaps & Research Needs
CRITICAL (Phase 4 Blockers):
- ELOP application deadlines (California, county-by-county if varies)
- CCLC state allocation timeline (California-specific)
- Title I schoolwide vs. targeted (which districts use which model?)
- Grant-winning customer case studies (which districts used which grants to buy ZTAG?)
HIGH PRIORITY:
5. State PE grant programs (California, Oregon, other expansion states)
6. Foundation grant calendars (Nike, Target, local foundations)
7. Competitor grant strategies (what do other ed-tech platforms offer?)
8. Grant consultant partnerships (referral network)
MEDIUM PRIORITY:
9. Multi-year grant renewal requirements (how to stay eligible)
10. Grant reporting requirements (what data do districts need to submit?)
11. Supplement vs. Supplant rules (federal compliance)
Strategic Recommendations
Immediate (Q1 2026):
- Assign Minnie-Research to build grant deadline database
- All customer-facing team completes Ed100.org certification
- Carmee builds grant language library (modular templates)
Short-Term (Q2 2026):
- Launch "Grant Navigator" service (partnership letters, templates, ROI calculators)
- Track which customers used which grants (build case study library)
- Test grant proposal workshop (webinar for interested districts)
Long-Term (Q3-Q4 2026):
- Automate grant deadline reminders (Zoho CRM + calendar integration)
- Partner with grant consultants (referral fees for complex applications)
- Publish "ZTAG Grant Playbook" (public resource, SEO/lead gen)
Document Version: 1.0
Last Updated: 2026-02-10
Sources: Meeting transcripts (Jae, Carmee), Ed100.org references, MEMORY.md
CRITICAL GAPS: Specific grant deadlines, application windows, California ELOP/CCLC timelines
Next Update Trigger: Grant calendar research complete, Ed100 certification done by team
Owner: Minnie-Research + Carmee (application support), Kris (district education)