by April Chamberlain,
Technology Integration Specialist
I am a firm believer in applying for grants to fund learning and professional development. There are so many ideas that teachers have that could benefit from additional funds. Teachers, please review the grants below and apply if you qualify. You will NOT get funded, if you do not apply.
In the past, I have applied for many grants. Some I have received, but many I have not. A few things I learned along the way is to either work as a team to submit a grant or have two or three readers who are willing to help you edit. You know what you mean, but a grant reader may not completely understand, so it helps to have fresh eyes to read the application. Always locate the scoring rubric/summary so you know exactly what the grant readers are looking for. If you do not receive the grant, you can request the scoring summary for your application to see which area(s) you were scored low and adjust for the next submission opportunity.
Please note that many of the deadlines are late September and early October.
Upcoming K–12 Grants
Lowe's Toolbox for Education
This year LCEF is seeking ways to provide the tools to help educators and parent groups through educational challenges by providing the greatest impact, with basic necessities being the priority.
Sponsor: Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation
Award: $5,000
Number of Awards: Up to 1,000
Qualification: Public schools only
Application Deadline: Sept. 26
Toshiba America Foundation Project-Based Learning Grants for Grades K–5
Do you teach in an elementary school classroom?
Do you have an innovative idea for improving math or science instruction in your classroom?
Is your idea project based learning with measurable outcomes?
What do you need to make learning math and science fun for your students?
K-5 grade teachers are invited to apply on-line for a $1,000 Toshiba America Foundation grant to help bring an innovative hands-on project into their own classroom.
With a Toshiba America Foundation grant, elementary teachers can bring their best new teaching ideas to life
Sponsor: Toshiba America Foundation
Award: Two categories: Up to $1,000
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: Oct. 1
NEA Learning & Leadership Grants
The Learning & Leadership Grants support National Education Association (NEA) members who are public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education by Grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes, conferences, or action research.
All professional development must improve practice, curriculum, and student achievement. "One-shot" professional growth experiences, such as attending a national conference or engaging a professional speaker, are discouraged. Decisions regarding the content of the professional growth activities must be based upon an assessment of student work undertaken with colleagues, and must be integrated into the institutional planning process. Grant funds may be used for fees, travel expenses, books, or other materials that enable applicants to learn subject matter, instructional approaches, and skills. Recipients are required to exercise professional leadership by sharing their new learning with their colleagues.
Sponsor: National Education Association
Award: $2,000 to $5,000
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: Oct. 15
NEA Student Achievement Grants
The NEA Foundation provides NEA members with grants to improve the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area(s). The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection.
Grant funds may be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, technology, or scholars-in-residence. Although some funds may be used to support the professional development necessary to implement the project, the majority of grant funds must be spent on materials or educational experiences for students.
Grant funds may not be used to:
• Support after-school, weekend, or summer programs:
• Pay indirect costs, grant administration fees, or salaries;
• Pay stipends to the applicants;
• Support conference fees for more than one person.
• Lobbying or religious purposes
*Identical applications will not be considered
Sponsor: National Education Association
Award: $2,000 to $5,000
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: Oct. 15
SaveOnEnergy.com Teacher Grant
Interested in winning $500 for your classroom? SaveOnEnergy.com® is looking for the best lesson plans for teaching students about energy or sustainability. We teach consumers of all ages about the many aspects of energy in our Learning Center through blog posts, videos and infographics. Plus, our Nico the Ninja guides help teach kids about electrical safety and energy savings.
Now it's your turn to create a lesson plan for our second annual Teacher Grant that can help kids learn about energy. We encourage lesson plans that vary in scope and topic, and you're welcome to cite any helpful information you find on the SaveOnEnergy.com Learning Center. All lessons must check off every requirement on the list below to be considered.
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Encompass energy and/or sustainability knowledge.
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Be appropriate for a grade level from kindergarten through eighth grade.
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Include goals and how you plan to measure students’ understanding.
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Include a fully detailed description of the lesson plan, handouts, etc., with a list of all materials needed.
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Be created by one teacher without use of existing prepared educational materials outside of those available on SaveOnEnergy.com.
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Encourage student development through participation opportunities.
Sponsor: SaveOnEnergy.com
Award: $500
Number of Awards: 6
Application Deadline: Oct. 21
AIAA Foundation Classroom Grant
The AIAA Foundation believes that one of the most significant means to inspire and advance the future of Aerospace is to fund grants to meet the unmet and unfunded educational need of students. Each school year, AIAA awards grants of up to $250 to worthy projects that significantly influence student learning.
Sponsor: AIAA Foundation (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)
Award: $250
Number of Awards: Not specified (up to two grants per educator per year)
Qualification: Teacher submitting proposal must be AIAA member (Educator Associate membership is freeand includes other benefits); homeschool clubs of 25 or more students also eligible
Application Deadline: Nov. 16 (submission period opens Oct. 1)
Verizon Innovative Learning app challenge
The app challenge, part of Verizon Innovative Learning, is a nationwide contest in which middle and high school students are challenged to develop concepts for mobile apps that solve a problem in their community. It’s a unique, hands-on activity that teaches collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and entrepreneurship, as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills and coding. It builds on students’ excitement about technology and aims to equip them with skills they need to succeed in the jobs of the future.
Sponsor: Verizon
Award: $5,000 plus technology for state-level winners; $15,000 additional cash, plus travel and support, for national winners
Number of Awards: 102 state-level winners (one middle school and one high school team from each state, plus DC); nine national winners (four middle school and four high school, plus one "fan favorite" based on public voting)
Application Deadline: Nov. 18
Toshiba America Foundation Project-Based Learning Grants for Grades 6–12
Toshiba America Foundation's mission is to provide teachers with additional funds to support classroom projects. After school and summer projects, and independent study projects are not eligible. The Foundation strongly encourages projects planned and led by individual teachers or teams of teachers for their own classrooms.
Many successful grantees have designed projects that tap into the natural curiosity of their students, enable students to frame their own scientific questions, and incorporate the expertise of community partners.
Sponsor: Toshiba America Foundation
Award: Two categories: Up to $5,000 and more than $5,000
Number of Awards: Not specified
Application Deadline: Up to $5,000 awarded on a rolling basis; Feb. 1, 2017 deadline for applications for more than $5,000
Fund for Teachers
Fund for Teachers awards summer fellowship grants to pre-K-12 grade teachers to pursue self-designed professional learning. Teachers decide what they want to learn and where they want to learn it. Their odysseys take them all over the world—as scientists, researchers, artists and agents of change—and they return to their classrooms with new ideas that transform student learning and achievement.
Who is eligible?
Full-time preK-12th grade teachers:
• Spending at least 50% of their work week in direct classroom instruction
• Returning to the classroom in the consecutive school year
• With at least three years’ experience as a preK-12th grade teacher
Design your Fellowship: Individuals may apply for up to $5,000 and teams may apply for up to $10,000 Application available October 1, 2016 with deadline of January 31
