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Grant application draft — John A. and Margaret Post Foundation

Opportunity ID: post-foundation-2026
Funder: The John A. and Margaret Post Foundation (via Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services)
Amount requested: $10,000
Deadline: 2026-10-01 (semi-annual review cycle)
Status: submitted · 2026-09-16 · eligibility verified: yes (501(c)(3) approved 2026-06-16; education program area)
Version: 1.3 · 2026-09-17 (budget aligned to 2025–26 actuals + 2026–27 wishlist)

Portal: https://www.wellsfargo.com/private-foundations/post-foundation/ → Start your application

Funder preference: Concise applications. Priority to northwest NJ / northeast PA organizations. Apex is based in the Watchung Hills / Somerset–Union area (central/north NJ) — acknowledge geography; emphasize statewide youth STEM benefit and NJ incorporation.

Organization (paste-ready)

Apex STEM Education Inc. is a New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 42-3121570; IRS determination effective 2026-06-16). We provide grades 6–12 students with hands-on STEM education through engineering, data-driven problem solving, AI literacy, and project leadership. Our flagship program is competitive STEM Racing; Ridge Racers NJ operates as a program of Apex STEM Education.

Website: https://apexstem.org · Team: https://ridgeracersnj.com · Contact: hello@apexstem.org / treasurer@apexstem.org

Mission

To provide youth STEM education for grades 6–12 through hands-on engineering, data-driven problem solving, AI literacy, and project leadership — including competitive STEM Racing teams, workshops, mentorship, and community outreach.

Project / request summary

We request $10,000 for the 2026–27 STEM Racing season to fund competition entry, materials, apparel, pit/branding, logistics, and need-based student access for approximately 7 students on the flagship Ridge Racers NJ team (grades 6–12) in the Watchung Hills / Somerset–Union County area of New Jersey, with capacity to support additional students as the program grows.

Students complete a full engineering cycle — CAD design, manufacturing planning, build, instrumented testing, data analysis, and judged presentations — while mentors keep the work student-led and safe. Recent public results: 3rd place at STEM Racing USA National Finals 2026; Sustainability and Team Identity awards; NJ State Champions 2025.

Need

Independent student engineering teams rarely have a durable nonprofit home. Without tax-exempt fundraising, insurance frameworks, and continuity past graduating seniors, families absorb costs that should be mission-funded. This grant fills a concrete Year 1 gap: competition-grade materials and access support so participation does not depend only on household ability to pay.

Program / approach

  1. Design–build–test–present STEM Racing season (Sep 2026–Jun 2027)
  2. Enterprise skills — budgeting, sponsorship stewardship, project management
  3. Access — fee scholarships / travel aid for students who need support
  4. Public accountability — outcomes and process documentation on apexstem.org and ridgeracersnj.com

Goals & evaluation

Goal Measure (by Jun 2027)
Complete full engineering cycle Design portfolio + physical car + competition entry
Skill growth Mentor checklist across engineering, data, AI literacy, leadership
Access # students served; scholarship dollars used
Stewardship Treasurer report of grant spend vs budget within 60 days of season end

Budget narrative

Basis: 2025–26 Ridge Racers team actual paid amounts and the 2026–27 Parent Supply Wishlist (7 members, modest inflation). Laptops are not in this ask (MR TECH in-kind). Family flights/hotels and adult guest tickets are not in this ask.

Prior season (2025–26 actuals) vs proposed season (2026–27 goals)

Category 2025–26 actual 2026–27 goal
Competition entry ≈ $2,900 $2,900
Car materials & testing $660 $735
Team apparel $1,147 $1,170
Pit display & branding $680 $710
Shipping / transport $20 $225
Season contingency — $575
Season supply subtotal ≈ $5,407 ≈ $6,315

Grant request detail ($10,000)

Line item Amount Built from
Competition fees & registration $2,900 Membership $175 + Regionals $300 + Nationals registration (7) $2,425
Materials, testing & fabrication $735 Official parts $200 + CO₂ $110 + filament $350 + wind tunnel $75
Team apparel $1,170 Season jerseys $350 + Nationals jerseys $420 + hoodies $400
Pit display, branding & portfolios $1,000 Pit package $710 + portfolio/print buffer $290
Shipping & logistics $225 Regionals ship $25 + Nationals transport buffer $200
Student access (fee / travel aid scholarships) $2,500 Need-based; no student PII in public reports
Contingency $470 Unforeseen materials/shipping
Total ask $10,000

Detailed vendor quotes and treasurer ledger live in Drive — not in git. Parent donations and corporate sponsors (when received) reduce draw on grant lines and are reported in stewardship.

Organizational capacity

NJ 501(c)(3) (IRS determination effective 2026-06-16) with board oversight, treasurer financial controls, and nonprofit bank account opened September 2026. Public program proof points from Ridge Racers NJ nationals results. Contact: treasurer@apexstem.org.

Sustainability

Mix of foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donations (Zeffy), and modest family cost-sharing. Goal: diversify so no single source exceeds ~50% of program cash.

Closing ask

We respectfully request $10,000 for the 2026–27 STEM Racing and access program described above. Apex STEM Education will acknowledge the Foundation per guidelines and provide a brief outcomes report within 60 days after the 2026–27 season ends.

Sources used