[Funding] 13 Educator Grants that Support Classroom Enrichment, Professional Development, and STEM
[Funding] 13 Educator Grants that Support Classroom Enrichment, Professional Development, and STEM
Did you know that, 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.
Now, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an educator who joined the profession with the goal of getting rich, but this kind of out-of-pocket spending can quickly become a strain on anyone’s bank account. 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 the best 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
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.
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grants
Applications Due: February
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 Due: April
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.
The NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants
Two Application Deadlines: February 1, and June 1
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.
ILA Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Grant
Applications Due: March 15
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.
Grants for Professional Development
The NEA Foundation Learning & Leadership Grants
Two Application Deadlines: February 1, and June 1
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.
McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Teacher Development Grants
Applications Due: April 15 (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.
ACS-Hach Professional Development Grant
Applications Due: January 4
The ACS-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.
NCTM School In-Service Training Grants Pre-K–5 (Also 6–8 and 9–12)
Applications Due: May 3
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.
Grants for STEM Initiatives
Toshiba America Foundation Grants for Grades 6–12
Two Application Deadlines for Grants Greater than $5,000: November 1 and May 1
Four Application Deadlines for Grants Less than $5,000: December 1, March 1, June 1, and September 1
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 and September
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.
ACS-Hach High School Chemistry Classroom Grant
Applications Due: April 15
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.
Applications Due: May 3
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.
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. Grant awards and due dates are as accurate as possible as of October 2018 but are subject to change. Always check specific grant websites for the most up-to-date and accurate application information.
