Columbus East Alumni Endowment Fund — Funding Policy
Purpose:
The Olympian Endowment Fund supports Columbus East High School students, certified staff, varsity head coaches, and officially recognized student groups/clubs by providing financial assistance for projects, activities, and needs that enhance academics, athletics, and the arts. The Fund prioritizes requests that address demonstrated need, safety, or essential program support.
Eligibility:
Funding is available to:
• Current, full-time Columbus East High School students (maintaining good academic standing and conduct),
• Columbus East certified staff members,
• Columbus East varsity head sports coaches, and
• Officially recognized Columbus East student groups or clubs.
The Columbus East administrative staff may be consulted to verify group legitimacy or a request’s alignment with school priorities.
Need vs. Want — Request Guidelines:
Requests should demonstrate a bona fide need. A “need” is essential to operations, safety, participation, or the success of a program or student; it addresses a critical barrier or hardship. A “want” is optional, discretionary, or primarily for enhancement/comfort.
If your request serves students experiencing financial hardship, clearly explain that and provide supporting details.
Before submitting, ask: Is this necessary for success or safety, or is it simply a desirable enhancement?
Submission Process:
• Complete the Olympian Endowment Fund Request Form (link below) with a clear project description, objectives, how funds will be used, and the specific amount requested.
• Each eligible individual or official group may submit one request per fiscal year.
• Applicants will be notified of the decision via email.
Review & Approval:
• Initial review is conducted by the Association’s Investment Committee.
• Requests that require additional authorization will be forwarded to the Board of Directors for final approval.
• The Fund Committee evaluates requests based on fund availability, alignment with the Fund’s mission, demonstrated need, and overall merit. The Committee may approve, deny, or partially fund any request.
Award Limits (Request-level & Annual):
• Per-request maximum: Up to $500 may be awarded per request without additional Board review.
• Requests over $500: Considered on a case-by-case basis and require Board approval.
Annual Funding Capacity: The total amount available for distribution in any given academic year is determined by the Endowment’s performance (including interest earnings) and new donations received during the year. Because these inputs fluctuate, the Fund’s annual distribution capacity is subject to change.
• For the current academic year, the maximum total distribution is up to $4,000. The Fund Committee will review and set the annual limit prior to each academic year.
Allocation, Carryover & Confidentiality:
• Funds are allocated across the school year (Fall and Spring semesters) at the discretion of the Fund Committee.
• Any portion of the annual distribution amount not awarded may be retained in the Endowment and carried forward for future use at the Committee’s discretion.
• Details of unused funds, interest calculations, and donor contributions that affect capacity are internal and will not be itemized publicly.
Reporting & Accountability:
• Recipients must submit a brief report describing how funds were used and the outcomes achieved.
• Reports contribute to the Fund’s annual report to donors and stakeholders.
• The Fund reserves the right to seek reimbursement or take other actions if funds are misused or if information provided in the application is materially false.
One-Request Rule & Fairness:
To promote equitable distribution, each eligible individual or official group may submit only one funding request per fiscal year. The Committee aims to distribute resources to benefit as many students and programs as practical.
No Guarantee of Funding:
Publication of the current annual cap does not guarantee that awards will be made up to that amount. All awards are contingent on the Endowment’s financial health, donations, and Committee/Board decisions.
Amendments:
The Fund Committee reserves the right to amend this policy at any time to reflect changes in fund performance, donor activity, or operational needs. The Committee will set the annual distribution capacity prior to each academic year and publish the maximum available amount for that year (e.g., “up to $4,000” for the current year).
Purpose:
The Olympian Endowment Fund supports Columbus East High School students, certified staff, varsity head coaches, and officially recognized student groups/clubs by providing financial assistance for projects, activities, and needs that enhance academics, athletics, and the arts. The Fund prioritizes requests that address demonstrated need, safety, or essential program support.
Eligibility:
Funding is available to:
• Current, full-time Columbus East High School students (maintaining good academic standing and conduct),
• Columbus East certified staff members,
• Columbus East varsity head sports coaches, and
• Officially recognized Columbus East student groups or clubs.
The Columbus East administrative staff may be consulted to verify group legitimacy or a request’s alignment with school priorities.
Need vs. Want — Request Guidelines:
Requests should demonstrate a bona fide need. A “need” is essential to operations, safety, participation, or the success of a program or student; it addresses a critical barrier or hardship. A “want” is optional, discretionary, or primarily for enhancement/comfort.
If your request serves students experiencing financial hardship, clearly explain that and provide supporting details.
Before submitting, ask: Is this necessary for success or safety, or is it simply a desirable enhancement?
Submission Process:
• Complete the Olympian Endowment Fund Request Form (link below) with a clear project description, objectives, how funds will be used, and the specific amount requested.
• Each eligible individual or official group may submit one request per fiscal year.
• Applicants will be notified of the decision via email.
Review & Approval:
• Initial review is conducted by the Association’s Investment Committee.
• Requests that require additional authorization will be forwarded to the Board of Directors for final approval.
• The Fund Committee evaluates requests based on fund availability, alignment with the Fund’s mission, demonstrated need, and overall merit. The Committee may approve, deny, or partially fund any request.
Award Limits (Request-level & Annual):
• Per-request maximum: Up to $500 may be awarded per request without additional Board review.
• Requests over $500: Considered on a case-by-case basis and require Board approval.
Annual Funding Capacity: The total amount available for distribution in any given academic year is determined by the Endowment’s performance (including interest earnings) and new donations received during the year. Because these inputs fluctuate, the Fund’s annual distribution capacity is subject to change.
• For the current academic year, the maximum total distribution is up to $4,000. The Fund Committee will review and set the annual limit prior to each academic year.
Allocation, Carryover & Confidentiality:
• Funds are allocated across the school year (Fall and Spring semesters) at the discretion of the Fund Committee.
• Any portion of the annual distribution amount not awarded may be retained in the Endowment and carried forward for future use at the Committee’s discretion.
• Details of unused funds, interest calculations, and donor contributions that affect capacity are internal and will not be itemized publicly.
Reporting & Accountability:
• Recipients must submit a brief report describing how funds were used and the outcomes achieved.
• Reports contribute to the Fund’s annual report to donors and stakeholders.
• The Fund reserves the right to seek reimbursement or take other actions if funds are misused or if information provided in the application is materially false.
One-Request Rule & Fairness:
To promote equitable distribution, each eligible individual or official group may submit only one funding request per fiscal year. The Committee aims to distribute resources to benefit as many students and programs as practical.
No Guarantee of Funding:
Publication of the current annual cap does not guarantee that awards will be made up to that amount. All awards are contingent on the Endowment’s financial health, donations, and Committee/Board decisions.
Amendments:
The Fund Committee reserves the right to amend this policy at any time to reflect changes in fund performance, donor activity, or operational needs. The Committee will set the annual distribution capacity prior to each academic year and publish the maximum available amount for that year (e.g., “up to $4,000” for the current year).
| columbus_east_alumni_endowment_fund_policy.pdf |
Once financial requests have been made and granted by the CEAA Endowment Fund, the CEAA will report the disbursement information on this page:
www.columbuseastalumni.net/how-the-olympian-endowment-funds-are-making-a-difference.html
www.columbuseastalumni.net/how-the-olympian-endowment-funds-are-making-a-difference.html