Teacher Grants & Free Resources for Classroom Enrichment

We all know that teachers’ budgets can be tight and that many educators spend their own money. According to a survey conducted by AdoptAClassroom.org, teachers spent an average of $750 out of pocket on school supplies during the 2020–21 school year, and 30 percent of teachers spent $1,000 or more.

To help alleviate some of these budget strains and ensure that you and your students have what you need to make this school year a success, we’ve compiled a list of organizations that offer educator grants and free classroom resources.*

Classroom Enrichment Grants

NEA Foundation Student Success Grants: Summer 2022 Application Period: March 1, 2022 – May 1, 2022 (Notifications: July 1, 2022), Winter 2022 Application Period: June 15, 2022 – September 15, 2022 (Notifications: November 15, 2022)

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 $1,500 or $5,000. Grants fund activities for 12 months from the date of the award.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM): Applications due by May 1, 2022

NCTM offers a variety of Mathematics Education Trust grants, scholarships, and awards. Funding ranges from $1,500 to $10,000 and is available to help math teachers, prospective teachers, and other math educators improve the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Walmart Community Grant Program: Applications due by December 31, 2022

Walmart awards annual grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 to a wide variety of community-focused organizations, including K–12 schools.

Toshiba America Foundation Grants for Grades K–5: Applications due by October 1, 2022

The Toshiba America Foundation offers grants 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.

Toshiba America Foundation Grants for Grades 6–12: Application due dates vary

Toshiba America Foundation offers grants to help teachers implement new and creative ways of teaching STEM subjects in grades 6–12. Educators with innovative ideas, specifically project-based learning proposals, can apply for grants in two categories—up to $5,000 or more than $5,000—to help bring their best new teaching ideas to life.

Application deadlines for grants less than $5,000: June 1, September 1, & December 1, 2022
Application deadlines for grants greater than $5,000: May 1 & November 1, 2022

Free Classroom Resources

Kids In Need Foundation’s (KINF) Supply A Teacher Program: Applications accepted year-round

This KINF program seeks to remove the burden of having to provide necessary resources from teachers in underserved schools. SupplyATeacher.org provides teachers with a semester's worth of the most critically needed and essential school supplies to help fuel a full semester of active learning for their entire class of students, whether they are teaching in the classroom or via distance learning.

Applications are open to teachers at schools where 50 percent or more of students are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

Half Priced Books (HPB) Million Book Donation Project: Applications accepted year-round

On a mission to donate millions of books, Half Price Books is donating books to nonprofit organizations, classrooms, and school libraries that focus on literacy, the environment, or education.

Donations of books and media can only be fulfilled in markets where HPB operates. Pickup at an HPB store or facility is required.

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) & Scholastic: Order and access anytime

To help engage 6–12 grade students in real-world science topics, NIGMS partners with Scholastic to provide educators with free copies of Pathways magazine, available in both digital and physical format.

Additional resources aligned to different issues of Pathways student magazines, including teacher lesson plans, classroom activities, videos, and interactive labs, can be accessed for free via Scholastic.

Education Crowdfunding

AdoptAClassroom.org: Register your class at any time

Seeking to advance equity in education, one classroom at a time, AdoptAClassroom.org offers educators a free, flexible, and easy-to-use fundraising platform.

No specific fundraising goals or timelines are required, and teachers can use donations received immediately to purchase school materials from AdoptAClassroom.org’s online marketplace.

DonorsChoose: Requests can be posted at any time

DonorsChoose is a free classroom funding site founded by a teacher and designed to help teachers obtain much-needed materials for their students and to contribute to classroom enrichment.

Create a project to request what you need to keep your students learning, with such diverse ideas as basic classroom supplies and underwater robots, and share it with your community and the DonorsChoose community to get funded.

PledgeCents: Fundraising pages can be created at any time

Knowing that all students matter and that every cent counts when it comes to improving their education, PledgeCents provides a free crowdfunding platform for anyone looking to raise funds for any pre-K–12 educational need.

Educators can create a fundraising page with no minimum or maximum goals, and all money raised, regardless of goal, is issued to the creator. PledgeCents does not charge a platform fee on any fundraiser.

Looking for more resources to get started on grant writing? Check out our blog post for tips on how to take the stress out of grant writing!

*Many grants listed are awarded annually. Grant awards and due dates are as accurate as possible as of March 2022 but are subject to change. Always check specific grant websites for the most up-to-date and accurate application information.

This post was originally published August 2021 and has been updated.