Grants and Funding Resources

The following web links are funding sources for where to find money to enhance educational opportunities.

Smarter Kids Foundation The SMARTer Kids Grant for SMART Products is available to all public or private, accredited, not-for-profit educational institutions, authorized homeschoolers, museums and libraries involved in K–12, college, university, vocational and technical instruction or administration. Institutions must provide educational programming, which is recognized by your local school district and be located in the United States or Canada. Grants will be awarded based on the feasibility, originality and innovational elements as judged by a committee appointed by the foundation. Educators are invited to submit a 2–3 page proposal indicating their research question, timeline and research strategy, including the objective and detailed methodology. Potential areas of study include but are not limited to: -curriculum development -students with disabilities -gender and technology -distance learning -literacy programs -coaching -collaboration -teacher training -learning theories SMARTer Kids grants Grant matching How to write a grant Find grants http://www.smarterkids.org/k12/smartproducts/index.asp The National Endowment for the Arts A public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts - both new and established - bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. The National Endowment for the Arts is interested in projects, regardless of the size or type of applicant organization, that are of national, regional, or field-wide significance; that tour in several states; or that provide an unusual or especially valuable contribution because of geographic location. This includes local projects that can have significant effects within communities or that are likely to serve as models for a field. http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/GAP05/index.html Plus Vision Corp. Schools Can Receive Free PLUS Presentation Tools!In its continuing effort to enhance the education opportunities for K-12 students, PLUS Vision Corp. has developed a special grant program for primary and secondary schools. Named "Education Spotlight," this program gives one projector and an electronic copyboard to a selected school. School teachers or administrators only need to complete the simple application below to receive these free PLUS presentation tools. Applicants need only state the reasons why the use of a PLUS multimedia projector and copyboard will enhance your students education and submit some unique examples of how you might use PLUS tools. http://www.buyplusdirect.com/site/spotlight.html Coca-Cola Foundation Aims to provide youth with the educational opportunities and support systems they need to become knowledgeable about the world in which they live and better able to give back to their communities. http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/foundation/index.html Captain Planet Foundation The Captain Planet Foundation makes awards that usually range between $250 to $2,500 for projects that promote understanding of environmental issues and focus on hands-on experiences for students between the ages of 6-18 years. Online proposal forms are available. There is no application deadline. http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/appProcess.html Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless makes charitable contributions to community-based programs and organizations that address educational, cultural, and social issues that affect the quality of life in the communities where they do business. Cingular Wireless funds projects that address self-expression through human needs, arts, or education and those that stimulate partnerships among various organizations to work cooperatively and collaboratively for lasting solutions. Funding decisions are made quarterly. Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation supports projects that enhance the natural environment and/or increase community involvement - including playground renovations. It is recommended that you contact the manager at your local Lowe's store prior to submitting a formal proposal to the Foundation. There are no deadlines. Lucent Technologies Foundation The Lucent Technologies Foundation addresses the need to prepare today's youth to meet the challenges of our complex, changing society. The priority of the Foundation is to help young people, primarily in grades kindergarten through 12, reach their highest potential so that they can be engaged citizens and eventually productive members of the workforce. The Foundation's six priorities are:  Improving public schools; Developing and supporting teachers; Preparing youth for a diverse world; Inspiring excellence in science, math and engineering; Engaging Lucent employees; and Supporting Lucent's communities. Most grants from the Lucent Foundation originate with invited proposals or through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. They do not review unsolicited proposals. If you have an idea for a project that fits the guidelines available on their web site, you may send a brief (1-2 pages) letter of inquiry requesting an invitation to apply. Markle Foundation  The Markle Foundation has committed $100 million over the next five years to promote the use of the Internet and other new media for the public good. The foundation's priorities are children's interactive media, policy development, health care information technologies, and interactive public engagement. The children's interactive media initiative includes research, parental involvement, and development of innovative technologies that help youth become productive citizens. Markle Foundation has no application deadline and there is no limit on funding requests. Competition for Markle Foundation grants is fierce.  To be successful, one must "think outside the box" by proposing highly innovative projects. Mars Foundation   (no website available) The Mars Foundation supports K-12 programs including basic skills, enrichment, and math and science curriculum development; mentoring; and literacy.  They also support projects for professional development for teachers, equipment and computer acquisition, and capital projects.  Proposal deadlines are October 29 and March 31. Contact the Mars Foundation for guidelines:  Mars Foundation, 6885 Elm Street, McLean, VA  22101; Phone:  703 821-4900; Fax: 703-448-9678. Corning Foundation Grants The Corning Inc. Foundation, established in 1952, develops and administers projects in support of educational, cultural, and community organizations. Over the years, the foundation has contributed more than $83 million through its grant programs. Each year, the foundation fulfills approximately 225 grants totaling some $2,250,000. Corning1s areas of involvement have included community service programs for students, curriculum enrichment, student scholarships, facility improvement, and instructional technology projects for the classroom. The foundation also supports youth centers, YMCAs, and local chapters of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. All requests for support must be made in writing. Contact: Kristin A. Swain, President, Corning Inc. Foundation, MP-LB-02, Corning, NY 14831 Contact Kristin A. Swain http://www.corning.com/inside_corning/foundation.asp NEC Grant SMARTer Kids Grant for NEC Visual Presentation Products. This Grant is an educational award that assists educators in the purchase of NEC visual presentation products for their classrooms. Developed by the SMARTer Kids Foundation, the Grant helps K–12 schools, higher-education facilities and technical institutions acquire interactive technology by increasing its affordability and accessibility. Grant amounts are 9% to 51% of the suggested list price for the purchase of qualifying NEC visual presentation products. To apply for the SMARTer Kids Grant for NEC Visual Presentation Products online, go to: http://www.smarterkids.org/k12/nec/iStep1.asp?start=true&check=yes&theSessionID=4768693 Allstate Foundation Grants The Allstate Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations, including public K-12 schools, for projects that are related to automobile and highway safety, homes and neighborhoods, and personal safety and security. Under the personal safety and security initiative, programs that raise awareness of poverty, child abuse, drugs, and violence prevention are eligible for consideration. Applicants should offer safeguards against gangs, guns, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $10,000. There are no deadlines. Contact allfound@allstate.com http://www.allstate.com/foundation Verizon Foundation Grants The Verizon Foundation funds projects that focus on technology applications and programs in one or more of the following areas: literacy, the digital divide, economic and community development, women's issues, overcoming disabilities, and math and science education. Applications are accepted from January 1 through November 30 and must be submitted online. To help you write a fundable proposal, the foundation provides a list of suggestions and detailed grant guidelines in its web site. http://foundation.verizon.com ClassLink Grants Nokia Sponsored by cell phone manufacturer Nokia and a consortium of cell phone service providers, this program gives cell phones and free calling time to classroom instructors. The program is designed to create additional in-class learning opportunities by enabling students to call subject matter experts during school time, and to provide instructors with emergency access to telephones to ensure their safety and the safety of their students. To date, more than 30,000 cell phones and 12 million hours of free phone time have been donated. Among the innovative uses of the system has been a project in a private school in Florida that allows each teacher to place his or her homework assignment on wireless voice mail daily, so that parents can call in and confirm their children's homework assignments. Grants are made by individual local wireless providers; to find out if your provider is participating in the program, go to the ClassLink web site. Contact Nokia http://wirelessfoundation.org/03class/index.htm Citigroup Foundation Grants Organization The Citigroup Foundation The Citigroup Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Citibank Corp., dedicates approximately 75 percent of its charitable contributions to community development and education programs. The foundation's K-12 giving focuses on strengthening education in low-income neighborhoods. Its grants emphasize the creation of "smarter schools" and "smarter classrooms." The "smarter schools" initiative supports improvements in the governance of public schools and higher standards for student performance. It also funds alternative schools that offer more individual attention to students, as well as mentoring and tutoring programs. The "smarter classrooms" initiative supports innovative classroom technologies and successful school-to-work programs. The Citigroup Foundation prefers to solicit proposals from grantees with demonstrated successes. Unsolicited proposals will be accepted, but a favorable decision is less likely. For guidelines, see the foundation's web site. Contact The Citigroup Foundation http://www.citigroup.com/citigroup/homepage/foundation Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grant Organization The Dirksen Congressional Center is offering a total of $40,000 for projects that create lesson plans and/or student activities on Congress, government, and civics. Projects that use multimedia applications are preferred, especially as they facilitate identification of additional resources for teaching the historical basis for legislative and regulatory rules. Teachers of students in grades 4 through 12 can apply for the grants; institutions cannot. The grant administrators emphasize that they are seeking "practical classroom applications" in the lesson plans and use of technology. Applicants should begin by sending a short letter or eMail that outlines their project; promising candidates will be asked to submit more detailed information. Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year. Contact Frank H. Mackaman, Executive Director 309-347-7113 fmackaman@pekin.net http://www.pekin.net/dirksen/micheledgrants.html NEC Foundation Grants The NEC Foundation of America makes cash grants to nonprofit organizations for programs with national reach and impact in one or both of the following areas: science and technology education (principally at the secondary level) and/or the application of technology to assist high school students with disabilities. These are not grants for the purchase of specific computer equipment, nor does the foundation broker the donation of NEC equipment. Winning projects typically have focused on disseminating products and information to target groups or expanding the scope of an existing program with national impact. The grants, which range from $1,500 to $70,000 each (with a median of $28,000), are awarded twice each year. Contact: (516) 753-7021 or visit the web site below for more information. Deadlines: September 1 and March 1 http://www.necus.com/company/foundation/msieindex.htm Toshiba America Foundation Grants The Toshiba America Foundation is a private, endowed, not-for-profit grant making organization dedicated to supporting education programs and activities in the United States. The mission of the Toshiba America Foundation is to contribute to the quality of science and mathematics education in U.S. communities by investing in projects designed by and with classroom teachers to improve science and science-related education for students in schools, grades 7 thru 12. The Foundation reviews hundreds of proposals every year. The average award for a small project is slightly less than $4,000. For a larger grant, the average is approximately $9,500. The Foundations total annual grants budget is approximately $500,000. http://www.toshiba.com/about/taf.html Classlink Grants Faced with the challenge that 90 percent of all classrooms in the U.S. do not have a telephone, and that many schools are unable to install computer and phone lines due to aging buildings and the danger of asbestos, the Wireless Foundation created ClassLink. Through ClassLink, Nokia and CTIA wireless carriers donate wireless phones and airtime to schools in order to accelerate learning and prepare our children's classrooms for the 21st century. Schools are selected to receive phones through an application process, which is reviewed by a panel of independent judges representing the wireless industry and academic institutions. http://www.wirelessfoundation.org/03class/index.htm Pentair Foundation's Education and Community Funding The Foundation is committed to serving youth in kindergarten through grade 12. The Foundation concentrates on organizations and programs that: Provide school-to-work initiatives including business concepts and their applications; work readiness; career development; and guidance on post-secondary education options. Offer alternative education methods and instruction that provide opportunities for students to excel and advance. A special emphasis is placed on environments which recognize and support the individual needs and skill levels of students. Support and enhance arts education by introducing students to art concepts, processes, and applications. Focus areas include literature, music, and dramatic arts -- highlighting the importance of cultural influences. Programs offering a pronounced educational component are of special interest. Deadlines: June 1 and Oct. 1 Contact (612) 338-5100 http://www.pentair.com/ci/ci_pf.htm CyberLearning Eligibility: Teachers and other educators. Deadline: Open until quota is filled. Funds: Tuition training and courses (valued at $2,000). CyberLearning, a project of the National Education Foundation, has partnered with Microsoft and other corporate sponsors to offer free technology training to educators nationwide. The first 5,000 applicants will receive a full scholarship to take any or all of CyberLearning's 400 personal computing and professional courses, all available online. Courses are both self-directed and instructor-led. Topics include PC Basics, Microsoft Office, Windows 2000, C++, and Web Design, among many others. Visit http://www.cyberlearning.org Coca-Cola Foundation http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/foundation/index.html aims to provide youth with the educational opportunities and support systems they need to become knowledgeable about the world in which they live and better able to give back to their communities. American Honda Foundation (no web address available) supports projects with a focus on math, science, the environment, and technology. The Foundation also supports youth job training programs. Grants typically range from about $10,000 to $75,000. For grant guidelines, schools should send a self-addressed label to: American Honda Foundation, P. O. Box 2205, Torrance, CA 90509-2205. Applications should be mailed to meet deadlines of February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. Target Stores http://www.targetcorp.com/community/guidelines.asp support art education or help to bring children to art presentations. Eligibility: Public, private and parochial schools and arts organizations. Geographic restrictions: Each Target store makes grants in its community. Funds: Varies. Contact: Target Stores, Take Charge of Education; 800-316-6142 Toyota TAPESTRY Grants http://www.nsta.org/programs/toyota.htm for middle and high school science teachers must spend at least 50% of their classroom time teaching science. Elementary school teachers must teach some science in the classroom. Teaching Tolerance (no web address available) offers grants up to $2,000 to K-12 teachers for projects that address tolerance themes. Contact Teaching Tolerance Grants, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104 Newspaper Association of America Foundation http://www.naa.org/foundation/studentgrants/seed.html Will award Student/Newspaper Partnership Grants to student newspapers that are in danger of closing or have stopped publishing. These grants will provide seed money to help establish or revive student newspapers. Grants will be awarded to schools that present proposals to create a newspaper where none exists, or stabilize and strengthen newspapers that are at risk of going under. Grants can be used to cover newspaper production and distribution costs, and to train the adviser and staff members. Ideas for playground funding http://www.schoolgrants.org/Links/playground_funding.htm for information on potential sources of funding. Lab Products Association (LPA) Awards www.nsta.org/programs/ offer three all-expense-paid trips to the National Science Teachers Association National Convention each year. Open to Grades 9-12 teachers writing a letter expressing why they want to attend the national convention. Contact www.nsta.org/programs/ (800-400-NSTA) AT&T Learning Network http://www.att.com/foundation/guidelines.html#edu grants program supports use of technology in teaching and learning to encourage family involvement in education; provide professional development for teachers; and encourage community collaboration. Contact: AT&T Foundation, 32 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Fl., New York, NY 10013; 212-387-4801; fax 212-387-5097 AOL Foundation http://www.aol.com/corp/phil/fgrants.html supports innovative uses of interactive technology to enhance educational outcomes for K-12 students, in particular those that reach socio economically disadvantaged children and communities. Eligibility: Teams involving K-12 public schools and nonprofit educational organizations that may include teachers, administrators, parents, and community leaders. Funds: Up to $7,500 for about 60 teams grants. In addition to monetary awards, grantees may receive free AOL accounts, computer donations, and other types of assistance. Contact: Interactive Education Initiative, AOL Foundation, 22000 AOL Way, Dulles, VA 20166; 703-265-1342; fax 703-265-2135; email: AOLGrants@AOL.com Mars Foundation (no web address available) offers a variety of grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for K-12 curriculum development, teacher professional development, computer and equipment acquisitions, and capital building projects. For more information, write to Sue Martin, Mars Foundation, 6885 Elm Street, McLean, VA 22101 National Foundation for the Improvement of Education Leadership Grants www.nfie.org provide up to $1,000 for professional development activities. Awarded twice a year. Contact (202-822-7840). EDS Technology http://www.e-d-s.com/community_affairs/com_tech_grants.shtml EDS Technology Grants help schoolteachers of children ages 6 through 12 purchase information technology products and services that will improve their pupils' ability to learn. Each year, EDS accounts worldwide sponsor and award $1,500 (U.S. dollars) grants to teachers through a competitive application process. The grants are awarded to teachers through their schools, and to be eligible, schools must be within a 50-mile radius of a sponsoring EDS account. Grants must be used to pay for technology products, training, and services not provided to the teacher by the school. PEP Grants http://palmgrants.sri.com/grants.html The goal of the Palm Education Pioneers program is to enable exploration and evaluation of innovative uses of Palm handheld computers for K-12 learning, through classroom grants to teachers. SchoolGrants http://www.schoolgrants.org Search State and Federal Grants, foundations, and grant writing tips. EduCyber http://educyber.com/educator/grants.shtml An excellent site for seeking grants on the web. Teaching and Learning http://www.ntlf.com/html/grants/titles.htm Teaching and learning grant oppurtunities. Study Web http://www.studyweb.com/links/47.html A list of grants and scholarships for all levels in diverse fields. techLearning http://www.techlearning.com/grants.html A searchable database of grants and funding for teachers and students LTP Education Resources http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/grants/ A good place to start when searching grants. eSchool News http://www.eschoolnews.org/funding/ - Get the inside track on the latest tech funding opportunites