FY2026: Influence 100

Fund Code: 0330

Purpose:

This targeted grant is for districts participating in DESE's Influence 100 Program, for the purpose of providing stipends to staff members participating as fellows.

Eligibility:

Districts with Fellows participating in the Influence 100 program are eligible.

Funding Type:

Trust 7010-1611

The receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it will comply with the Massachusetts General Laws, including G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

Funding:

Approximately $33,000 is available. $1,000 for each staff person participating as a fellow in Influence 100.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Fund Use:

Stipends for district staff participating as fellows in Influence 100.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* – June 30, 2026

*Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

Strategic Initiatives

Contact:

JAKE Small

Phone Number:

781.338.3528

Date Due:

Friday, November 14, 2025

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5p.m. Eastern on the date due.

Additional Information:

When completing the application in GEM$, districts must submit the names of staff members participating as fellows in Influence 100 who will receive the stipend. Stipends must be released to fellows by June 1, 2026.

GEM$ Submission Instructions:

The FY26 FC 0330 Influence 100 must be submitted in GEM$ system. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system used for grant submissions.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

Grant Submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off. All these roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, maintained at the LEA level or sent in to the DESE RFP contact as described on the individual forms.

The user guidance documents and forms are found on the GEM$ homepage under DESE Resources. These form can be accessed without logging in to the system.

Last Updated: October 6, 2025