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Innovation Award submission
The Dr. Mike Caston Innovation Awards
Submission guidelines for school year 2026-2027. Read the full guidelines before you begin your application.
Our vision
Funding the work that moves students forward.
The Escondido Education Foundation is a community centered fundraising organization that provides funding for programs which empower educators, enrich learning, and champion innovation and academic excellence throughout EUSD.
These contributions go to the annual Dr. Mike Caston Innovation Award. Renamed in tribute to the founder of the foundation, the award funds classroom and school wide projects that measurably improve student achievement: specific skills, academic knowledge, competencies, and literacies.
Award levels
Three tiers of funding.
The amounts below are indicative. A proposal may come in somewhat under or over its tier.
Be sure to read the complete set of guidelines before starting your application. If anything is unclear, ask us and we will talk it through with you.
Ready to apply
Submit your application.
The 2026-27 application is open. Read the guidelines first: they carry the checklist, the rubric the committee scores against, and a preview of every question on the form, so you can draft your answers before you begin.
Both open in a new tab. If a link will not open for you, send us a message and we will get the documents to you another way.
25 schools, one community
Fund a classroom in EUSD.
Every donation is tax deductible and stays inside the Escondido Union School District.