8 Educator Grants for Classroom Enrichment, Professional Development, and STEM
8 Educator Grants for Classroom Enrichment, Professional Development, and STEM
Educators should never have to choose between providing the basic classroom materials that students need (or giving exciting new instructional ideas a try) and keeping their own finances in order. So, what’s a good solution when district and school budgets are tight? Try applying for a grant!
Grants can be publicly or privately funded, and they offer money to be used for usually specific purposes that does NOT need to be repaid. Luckily, there is no shortage of grants available for educators. Here, we’ve compiled a wide-ranging list of some of the best grants out there for educators organized by intended purpose.
Grants for Classroom Supplies and Enrichment
Walmart Community Grant Program
Applications due December 31, 2020
Walmart awards annual grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 to a wide variety of community-focused organizations, including K–12 schools.
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grants
Applications available in February 2021
These grants are awarded to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations with the goal of helping students who are reading below grade level or are having trouble reading. They are intended to support literacy program implementation or expansion and to fund purchasing literacy program supplies, including new technology.
Applications available in November 2020; applications due in February 2021
The Snapdragon Book Foundation offers an outstanding grant to help provide books for pre-K through 12th grade schools and libraries that serve disadvantaged students. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $10,000.
NEA Foundation Student Success Grants
Application windows are September 1 – December 1, 2020 and December 2, 2020 – February 28, 2021
This grant is available to current members of the National Education Association (NEA), and it supports in-classroom initiatives with the aim of improving student outcomes. The award can fund resources, technology, experiences, and other materials specifically for students. This grant is offered at two levels of funding—either $2,000 or $5,000.
Grants for Professional Development
Professional development more important than ever in 2020. Check out the grants below for amazing opportunities for you to grow in your craft.
Applications for the 2021 fund open on November 1, 2020
Award: Varies
Fund for Teachers invites you to design a summer learning experience that will transform your classroom. Craft an odyssey that brings out the scholar, explorer, scientist, or artist in you—and then, your students.
The NEA Foundation Learning & Leadership Grants
Application windows are September 1 – December 1, 2020 and December 2, 2020 – February 28, 2021
This grant is available to current members of the NEA and is intended to help fund learning experiences for educators to develop and improve their professional practice with participation in conferences, summer institutes, research, mentoring experiences, and more, with preference being given to proposals that incorporate STEM or global competence. Like NEA’s Student Achievement Grants, this award is also offered at two levels of funding—either $2,000 or $5,000.
The NEA’s Learning & Leadership Grants support the professional development of NEA members by providing grants to the following:
- Individuals to participate in high-quality professional development like summer institutes, conferences, seminars, travel abroad programs, or action research
- Groups to fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson plan development, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff
McCarthey Dressman Teacher Development Grants
Submissions accepted January 15, 2020 – April 15, 2020
Award: Varies
The Teacher Development Grants support small teams of teachers in the formation and implementation of groundbreaking K–12 classroom instruction. The grants provide opportunities for teachers to integrate fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe their effects on students. Teachers have the opportunity to reflect and write about their projects, as well as to share their results with other teachers. The Foundation awards grants to individuals in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $30,000 over three years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met.
Grants for STEM Initiatives
Toshiba America Foundation Grants for Grades 6–12
Two Application Deadlines for Grants Greater than $5,000: November 1, 2020, and May 1, 2021
Four Application Deadlines for Grants Less than $5,000: December 1, 2020; March 1, 2021; June 1, 2021; and September 1, 2021
This grant from the Toshiba America Foundation supports a broad range of projects with the aim of making science and mathematics learning more engaging for students. At the grade 6–12 level, grant proposals are placed into two different funding level categories—requests under $5,000 and requests greater than $5,000.
Looking for additional ways to save as an educator? Don’t forget about Black Friday this November! This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many big box stores and online retailers such as Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon are extending their Black Friday deals throughout the month!
