[Classroom Funding] 21 Grants Virginia Educators Should Apply For
[Classroom Funding] 21 Grants Virginia Educators Should Apply For
Virginia educators are no stranger to dipping into their own checking accounts to fund their classrooms. In fact, according to a recent U.S. Department of Education survey, 94% of teachers spend their own money—without reimbursement—on day-to-day classroom supplies. On average, the total bill came to $479 dollars for a school year, but some teachers reported spending upward of $1,000 on their classroom.
So, what’s the best solution when district and school budgets are tight? Try applying for a grant! We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of some of the best grants out there for Virginia educators—including state-specific programs, as well as national awards offered by corporations, professional societies, and nonprofit organizations—all organized by application due date*.
Fall Application Due Date
Applications Due: October 1, 2018
The opportunity to get out of the classroom can often lead to some incredible learning. To help make these hands-on, real-world experiences possible, Target provides grants in the amount of $700 to support field trips for K–12 students.
Toshiba America Foundation Grants for Grades K–5
Applications Due: October 1, 2018
The Toshiba America Foundation offers a grant to support math and science instruction at the K–5 level. Educators with innovative teaching ideas, specifically project-based learning proposals, can be awarded up to $1,000 through this grant.
Winter Application Due Date
Walmart Community Grant Program
Applications Due: December 31, 2018
Walmart awards annual grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 to a wide variety of community-focused organizations, including K–12 schools. Grants for education are intended to fund after-school enrichment programs, as well as tutoring for low-income students.
ACS-Hach Professional Development Grant
Applications Due: January 2019
The ACH-Hach Professional Development Grant is administered by the American Chemical Society and intended specifically to support high school chemistry teachers in accessing opportunities to further their training, such as conferences or professional courses. Applicants can request as much as $1,500 in grant funding.
Dominion Energy Environmental Education and Stewardship Grants
Applications Due: January 2019
The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation grant program supports environmental education and stewardship projects led by various organizations, including K–12 schools. The grants award up to $5,000 per school annually.
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grants
Applications Due: Early 2019
These grants are awarded to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organization 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 Due: April 2019
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.
American Electric Power Teacher Vision Grants
Applications Due: February 22, 2019
This grant from American Electric Power (AEP) helps teachers fund innovative classroom initiatives, with a particular focus on STEM-related projects. Awards range between $100 and $500 dollars, and they are open to all pre-K through 12th grade teachers in AEP service areas.
Spring/Summer Application Due Date
ILA Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Grant
Applications Due: March 15, 2019
This grant from the International Literacy Association (ILA) is intended to recognize outstanding teaching at the K–8 level for economically disadvantaged students. The grant is awarded in the amount of $2,500 to a classroom teacher to improve and enrich reading and writing across the curriculum.
ACS-Hach High School Chemistry Classroom Grant
Applications Due: April 15, 2019
This grant from ACS is intended to fund ideas and instructional approaches to support chemistry learning in the high school classroom. Teachers can request up to $1,500 for their ideas to engage students in learning and help them develop a love of chemistry.
McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Teacher Development Grants
Applications Due: April 15, 2019 (or when 350 applications have been received)
These grants support the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation’s belief in the value of continuous learning, training, and growth for educators. Awards fund small groups of teachers in the development and implementation of forward-thinking instructional approaches in K–12 instruction and offer as much as $10,000 per year for up to three years.
NCTM School In-Service Training Grants Pre-K–5 (Also 6–8 and 9–12)
Applications Due: May 3, 2019
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) offers grants exclusively for training related to mathematics instruction, which can involve consultant fees, conferences, training materials, and more. The NCTM offers separate grants for grades pre-K–5, 6–8, and 9–12, each with a maximum award of $4,000 per school.
Applications Due: May 3, 2019
The NCTM offers this grant to promote innovative uses of technology to enhance math instruction in the classroom. Funding can cover costs of devices, as well as professional development related to their use, and awards may be as much as $3,000.
Virginia Department of Education High School Program Innovation Planning Grants
Application dates for next round of funding have not been announced; prior deadlines have been June 1
Now in its fourth year, Virginia’s High School Program Innovation Planning Grant (HSPI) program offers 10 grants not to exceed $50,000 each for development and implementation of secondary-level programs that align with college- and career-focused graduation requirements, emphasize personalized learning, and utilize data-driven instructional practices.
Virginia Department of Education Year-Round and Extended Year School Grants
Application dates for next round of funding have not been announced; prior deadlines have been in July
A recent report conducted by the Commonwealth of Virginia found that extended (10- to 11-month) school years can be beneficial to certain subgroups of students in raising academic achievement and improving Standards of Learning (SOL) outcomes. These grants offer up to $50,000 to school divisions to support planning for the shift to a year-round or an extended school year calendar.
Virginia Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Program
Application dates for next round of funding have not been announced
Virginia’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) grant is intended to support the creation of community learning centers that offer opportunities for academic enrichment when school is not in session. Funding is specifically targeted for communities and schools that serve low-income students and that have a history of persistent low student achievement.
Multiple Application Cycles
The NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants
Three Application Deadlines: October 15, 2018; February 1, 2019; and June 1, 2019
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.
The NEA Foundation Learning & Leadership Grants
Three Deadlines for Application: October 15, 2018; February 1, 2019; and June 1, 2019
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 Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Education Grants
Three Application Deadlines: November 1, 2018; March 1, 2019; and July 1, 2019
This foundation supports community initiatives in the D.C. region, including Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria in Virginia. Education grants support holistic initiatives that offer comprehensive services to help K–12 students improve academic outcomes and prepare for the workforce. Award amounts range widely but can be as much as $100,000.
Toshiba America Foundation Grants for Grades 6–12
Two Application Deadlines for Grants Greater than $5,000: November 1, 2018, and May 1, 2019
Four Application Deadlines for Grants Less than $5,000: December 1, 2018; March 1, 2019; June 1, 2019; and September 1, 2019
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 in to two different funding level categories—requests under $5,000 and requests greater than $5,000.
Two Application Deadlines: February 2019 and September 2019
This grant from Lowe’s is intended to support communities by funding STEM and technology initiatives for schools and districts, including technology upgrades like new devices, as well as facility renovations and safety improvements. The grant awards $2,000 to $5,000 in funding per school.
Looking for a little guidance to get started on your grant applications? Check out this blog post for 4 Tips to Take the Stress Out of Grant Applications!
*Many of these grants are awarded annually. Due dates are as accurate as possible as of September 2018 but are subject to change. Always check specific grant websites for the most up-to-date and accurate application information.
