Schools faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and afterward when students returned from home-based learning. Although lockdowns may be a thing of the past, Covid infections continue, and the aftereffects of the pandemic measures are still being felt by students and educators. Educational funding and other resources are always stretched thin, now more than ever. So to make life easier for administrators and teachers, students and parents, we’ve put together this list. In it, you’ll find education grants and awards available for K–12 schools in the USA and Canada.
(A list like this can never be final; even though we just updated it we’d love to hear from you about opportunities we missed!)
Award: Up to $250,000.
Who Is It For?
Local Education Agencies (LEA), Charter Schools, Public Schools, Nonpublic, and Private Schools intending to implement SBHSN’s evidence-based mental health care program.
Goals of the Grant:
The grant aims to ‘promote a collaborative and integrated approach amongst the education and healthcare community to ensure students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.’ It’s intended to do so by supporting ‘placement of licensed mental health professionals on school campuses.’ Under this plan, ‘licensed mental health professionals will provide mental health services and coordinate academic-support activities with school district designated program personnel.’
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
COVID-19 Resource for Canadian Schools: iRobot
iRobot provides free online and offline STEM-based coding projects to K–8 students.
Who Is It For?
K–8 schools and students can use the website for free.
Goals of the Site:
iRobot aims to ‘provide educators, students and communities with a repository of tools to support 21st-century learning.’ That includes versatile robots and a proprietary coding platform. There’s also a learning library with modules designed to help students learn popular languages like Python and games that students use basic coding skills to complete, together with a STEM outreach program.
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
Free COVID-19 Resource for US Schools: TED-Ed Earth School
A collaboration between the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), TED-Ed, and 30 other collaborators, Earth School is a free website for students aged 5–18.
Who Is It For?
The site consists of short video essays on everything from the ecology of the deep sea floor to how solar panels work. It’s aimed at anyone in mainstream full-time education but is particularly suitable for K–12.
Goals of the Site:
Earth School exists to help students ‘champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, and turn these ideas into action.’ A quiz on the homepage helps students identify which videos belong in their personal learning library, progress can be tracked and shared, and there’s a certification available for students who complete any 30 lessons.
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
The Ultimate Guide to School Grant Programs and COVID-19 Relief Funds
Here’s the list of grant programs for US and Canadian schools, targeting specific curriculum areas, providing Ongoing Covid-19 relief, or supporting schools more generally.
Educational Technology Grants
1. Abel Foundation (Nebraska — Education, Arts, Community)
The Abel Foundation exists to coordinate the gifts of the Abel Family, including ‘major gifts to Nebraska projects, which have greatly promoted the quality of life in Nebraska communities.’
Award:
Varies: the awards are described as ‘major’ but the Foundation doesn’t publish dollar amounts, or show the amounts of previous awards on its website.
Who Is It For?
Projects in Nebraska, primarily in Lincoln and Lancaster County, as well as communities where NEBCO and its affiliated companies have operations. Projects should be in education, the arts, civics and community, human services and the environment. Abel does not fund non-501(c)(3) organizations, endowments, individuals, businesses, private foundations, projects based around religious issues, travel, or membership.
Goals of the Grant:
The Abel Foundation’s grants are intended to make life easier and better for Nebraskans, with recent grants going to Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Southeast Community College, and the Food Bank of Lincoln.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Ongoing. The Abel Foundation meets in May, September and December each year, but applications may not be reviewed at every meeting. Any applications qualifying for review will be considered within one to three months of receipt.
Grant application deadlines are: March 31, July 31 and October 31.
The Abingdon Foundation exists to fund education, health care, economic independence, and cultural activities in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The Foundation is primarily focused on education.
Who Is It For?
The Foundation says: ‘Priority will be given to requests for specific programs or projects. Organizations are discouraged from submitting requests for endowment, sponsorships, seminars or general operating support.’
To be eligible for support, your organization must:
- Be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code
- Provide services or programming in one of four focus areas:
- Education
- Pathways to economic independence
- Healthcare
- Cultural activities
- Be located in Cuyahoga County (Proposals from organizations located outside of the region will be considered only if invited by a Trustee.)
- Have submitted an interim or final report on any previous grants before a new request can be considered
Recent grants include a youth arts enrichment program and a film festival.
Goals of the Foundation:
While it offers support for healthcare, pathways to economic independence, and cultural activities, the Foundation has a ‘central focus on programs that advance and transform urban education, as well as programs to promote literacy and to provide access to quality early childhood education.’
Key Dates/Deadlines:
The Board of Trustees meets 3 times a year to consider applications and award grants.
The Foundation exists to support qualified organizations operating within the state of Missouri that relieve human misery, want and suffering regardless of age, race, religion or economic status.
Award:
Each year the Foundation offers a $7,500 scholarship, renewable for three years, to a graduating senior of Mexico High School in Mexico, Missouri. The Foundation typically gives grants of between $4,000 and $16,000, based on published grant amounts for 2009.
Who Is It For?
- Human and social service programs providing direct services to people in need
- Youth development programs
- Innovative developmental and educational programs for children
- Health and hospitals (funding for research projects is not included in this priority)
- Religious institutions with an emphasis on projects that support community churches and the provision of social services
The geographic focus of the Green Foundation is limited to central Missouri, including the counties of Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Montgomery, Monroe, Pike, Ralls, and Randolph. Any application that supports program delivery outside of the Green Foundation's geographical focus will not be considered. The Foundation typically does not fund individuals, charities that are not publicly supported, social causes or social activism, or lobbying, propagandizing, or for political campaigns.
Goals of the Foundation:
The Foundation exists to ‘support organizations and programs that seek to improve the health, wellness, longevity and happiness of members of their communities,’ with a particular focus on ‘both independent and institutional educational programs that develop and empower individuals of all ages to become more productive members of their communities.’
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Applications can be submitted any time but there are two deadlines a year:
- Wednesday, March 9, 2022: Applications submitted for this deadline will be reviewed in May 2022.
- Wednesday, September 7, 2022: Applications submitted for this deadline will be reviewed in November 2022.
- Apply here
- More information
The Foundation supports projects that help families thrive, communities innovate, and that protect the natural beauty of Iowa and Wisconsin.
Award:
Between $250 and $2,000 according to the application page; typically between $2,500 and $25,000, based on awards in 2021 in Wisconsin for Workforce Readiness. There’s also support for college students, starting at $1,000.
Who Is It For?
The Grant typically doesn’t fund:
- Energy-related projects, including solar panels, generators, energy-efficient lighting or other items
- Religious institutions such as churches, synagogues, temples or other houses of worship. This includes projects supported by a church that are for non-church purposes (eg social welfare programs)
- Organizations that discriminate against people because of their age, race, creed, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity or national origin
- Contributions to individuals or for-profit businesses
- Contributions to intermediary (‘third party’) funding groups that raise money to distribute to other charities
- Fraternal or social clubs
- Events, fundraisers, or programs that primarily support arts and culture or health and wellness initiatives, including education programs in these categories
- Emergency vehicles, body cameras, riot gear, tasers or K-9 service dogs
- Animal welfare agencies or animal training services
- Bricks and mortar construction, structural renovations, repairs or similar projects
- Multi-year pledge requests
- Endowments; Athletes, teams, sporting events or tournaments, and swimming pools/splash pads
- Registration or participation fees for individuals, teams or schools for fundraising events, e.g., walk-a-thons, runs, travel funds for tours or tournaments
- Golf outings, or run/walk events
- Books, magazines or professional journal articles
- Computers, laptops, or tablets
- Field trips; Post-prom events, Booster programs
- Legal Aid
- Trick or treat events
- Community welcome signs
- Holiday gift programs that provide toys or Shop with a Cop
- Individual Boy/Girl Scout troops
Goals of the Grant:
The Grant focuses on:
- Hunger and Housing
- Workforce Readiness
- Environmental Stewardship
- Diversity, Safety and Well-being
- Community Engagement
Under the Workforce Readiness rubric, the Grant addresses:
- Agriculture — FFA, 4-H, school garden programs, farm education and innovation, county fairs
- Literacy — School and general library programs, summer reading, bookmobile, adult literacy programs
- STEM — Science, technology, engineering and math programming, innovation, workshops, interactive classroom programs/tools, related afterschool/summer programs.
- Workforce Development — Career exploration and job training programs for kids, employment skills for disadvantaged youth, employment for people with disabilities
- Youth Development, mentoring — Leadership and mentoring, anti-bullying, afterschool programs, YMCA
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Applications are always open, and are reviewed at each month’s end. The Grant recommends you apply at least 60 days prior to the start of your event or program.
Award: $2,000 individual; $4000 Group (Department or Grade Level).
Who Is It For?
The Foundation aims to fund:
- Innovative Teaching Grants
- Recognition of Academic Achievement
- Recognition of Teaching Excellence
Goals of the Foundation:
The mission of the Anderson-Shiro Education Foundation is to provide opportunities for excellence, promote innovation in teaching, inspire learning, and partner with the community to enhance the quality of education for all students.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Applications are submitted yearly and applications close in March.
Funding opportunities that support broadband planning, digital inclusion, and deployment projects.
Award: Varies; wide range of opportunities.
Who Is It For?
- Libraries
- K–12 Schools
- Higher Education Institutions
- Tribal/Native American Government, Alaska Native Controlled Organizations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations
- Public Safety Entities
- Healthcare Facilities
- For-Profit Organizations (including Internet Service Providers)
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Electric Utilities/Co-ops
- Individuals/Households
- Other
And more.
Goals of the funding:
Varies: Broadband USA is a site that directs you to local opportunities with sometimes differing goals. Search the site by location, organization type, and more.
Key Dates/Deadlines: Varies.
Award: Maximum amount of $2,000.
Who Is It For?
Brown Rudnick funds projects with a specific, one-time need or idea which will improve education in underserved communities in Boston, Providence, Hartford, New York, Washington, D.C., Orange County or London (UK). Applications seeking funds for use outside of the boundaries of these cities will not be considered.
- The applicant must be a ‘front line educational worker’ who is involved in the education field or a related field in one of the communities eligible for Foundation grants (Boston, Providence, Hartford, New York, Washington, D.C., Orange County and London). (Applicants who have control over approving the organization's budget are not eligible.)
- The proposed recipient must be a non-profit organization or tax-exempt organization (e.g. a public school) that is willing to accept the grant and use it in the required manner
- The proposed use of the grant must be to fully fund a specific, one-time, and future education-related need or idea which will improve education in an underserved community, within one year of the grant award, in one of the cities eligible for Foundation grants. These cities are Boston, Providence, Hartford, New York, Washington, D.C., Orange County and London (UK). Applications seeking funds for use outside of the boundaries of these cities will not be considered
- The applicant may, if they wish, provide a letter of support by those knowledgeable about the potential recipient, especially those who are connected with the Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation and/or those who are involved (or plan to be involved) with the grant recipient's endeavors
- Applications shall not be considered or eligible where the purpose is to pay for sponsorship of a fundraising event
Goals of the Grants:
The purposes of the Community Grant Program are to simultaneously (1) encourage those involved broadly with the Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation to actively think about the educational needs in the communities of Boston, Providence, Hartford, New York, Washington, D.C., Orange County and London (UK); (2) recognize, encourage and collaborate with the front-line educators who often do not have a voice in funding decisions; and (3) provide funding to assist with small, concrete projects or needs which will improve education in underserved communities, within a year of the grant award.
Key Dates/Deadlines: Applications open; grants are reviewed on a monthly basis.
Designed to make the Greater Richmond, Virginia area a thriving community for families to live and work.
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
The CarMax Foundation supports projects in the following areas:
Educational and workforce success
- Anti-bullying/character development
- Career & workforce readiness
- College preparation
- Cultural arts programs
- Dropout prevention
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial literacy
- Leadership development
- Literacy, language arts & ESL
- Mentoring & tutoring
- Out-of-school time programs
- Quality preschool and childcare
- Special needs education
- STEM
- Tools & resources to support learning
Additionally, the Foundation supports projects relating to:
Health and wellness
- Access to food & nutrition
- Connected & healthy older adults
- Emotional health
- Health education & prevention
- Physical activity
- Prenatal care
- Trauma-informed care
Projects that will not be funded include:
- Requests for the donation of vehicles
- Business ventures or requests for loan or debt retirements
- Organizations that limit membership, employment or services based on such attributes as race, color, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, and/or citizenship
- Organizations that conflict with the CarMax Auto Superstores, Inc., mission, goals, programs, or products
- Fraternal, athletic, or social clubs
- Labor and political organizations or campaigns
- Requests for capital campaigns, endowments, event sponsorships, or scholarships
- Organizations categorized by the IRS as a church, convention, or association of churches
Goals of the Foundation:
To support education and communities in Richmond, Virginia.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Proposals must be submitted between September 1 and October 15. Nonprofits will be notified in January if they will be invited to submit a full proposal.
A public charity serving Whitley County citizens who share a common concern—improving the quality of life in Whitley County.
Award: Varies, average $7,000 (based on figures given here).
Who Is It For?
The Community Foundation directs grants to charitable projects that will make a positive impact on Whitley County and its people, with a particular interest in projects that shed new light on local needs and provide innovative, long-term solutions. Categories of support include: Arts & Culture, Health, Human Services, Recreation, Community Development, Welfare, and Education.
Unless there is compelling evidence that such support is vital to the success of a program meeting priority needs, the Foundation is unlikely to support: annual campaigns, political activities, private schools, advertising, religious/sectarian causes, organizations outside its service area, and debt retirement.
Goals of the Foundation:
To improve quality of life in Whitley County.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Grant Applications are due May 1st and December 1st of each year. All applications are processed online. Twice a year (May 1 and December 1) the Foundation’s volunteer Grants Committee reviews applications and makes funding recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Corning Incorporated Foundation collaborates with non-profit organizations to foster and sustain vibrant communities.
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
The majority of grants go to community-based programs where Corning has a strong presence. Typically, this means the program should impact people within an approximate 20-mile radius of a Corning business location with at least 50 employees. In addition, programs should impact large numbers of individuals over a significant period of time.
Goals of the Foundation:
Three categories — education, human services, and culture — are the focus of Corning’s grants.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
- Corning, NY area locations: February 15, 2022–October 15, 2022
- Corning Business Locations: February 15, 2022–September 15, 2022
- Selected budgeted organizations will be required to turn in applications by an internal May 30, 2022 deadline
- Apply here
- More information
11. CPS Foundation, Inc. (Wichita, Kansas City, Denver, and Dallas-Ft. Worth metropolitan areas, education and community)
Award:
Although there is not a specified range of grant amounts, based on previous years, average grants to qualified organizations ranged from $2,000 to $20,000.
Who Is It For?
The CPS Foundation makes one-time project grants to 501(c)(3) organizations, in Greater Kansas City, Wichita, Denver, and Dallas - Ft. Worth metropolitan areas, whose missions are to support and benefit areas including but not limited to education, medically-diagnosed special needs populations, youth development, vocational/career training and community well being.
The CPS Foundation does not make grants to the following:
- Individuals
- Political causes or candidates
- Capital or endowment campaigns
- General operating support
- Salaries
- Private foundations
Goals of the Foundation:
The Foundation honors the charitable legacy of Mrs. Carmen P. Smith and her late husband Roy Smith, by providing support for projects that advance education, encourage individual growth, and build strong communities.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
The CPS Foundation accepts grant requests between January 1 and November 1 of the current year.
12. The Dana Brown Charitable Trust (St. Louis Metro area, health, education, and welfare of disadvantaged children)
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
- Your funding request must directly positively impact the health, education, and welfare of underprivileged/economically disadvantaged children or the health and welfare of animals.
- Your funding request must be allocated for organizations in the St. Louis, Missouri – Illinois Metro Area.
Goals of the Trust:
To alleviate the suffering of disadvantaged youngsters and enhance all children’s opportunities for productive, wholesome, and creative lives by providing grants to organizations that benefit children in the St. Louis Metropolitan region.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Letters of Intent for the Trust’s Spring grant cycle are accepted between January 1–Friday, March 4 at 10:00pm CST.
Letters of Intent for the Trust’s Fall grant cycle will be accepted beginning July 1–Friday, September 2 at 10:00pm CST.
The Letter Of Intent process will close at 10 pm (CST) on March 4th and September 2nd.
13. The Daniels Fund (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, education, sports and community)
The Daniels Fund provides grants to support highly effective nonprofit organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
Award: Varies: averaged $96,000 in 2021, based on information provided here.
Who Is It For?
Organizations that provide programs or services in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming. (The Daniels Fund supports select programs with a nationwide focus by invitation only.) The Daniels Fund supports organizations working in:
- Aging
- Amateur Sports
- Disabilities
- Drug & Alcohol Addiction
- Early Childhood Education
- Homeless & Disadvantaged
- K–12 Education Reform
- Youth Development
Goals of the Fund:
The Daniels Fund’s founder, Bill Daniels, believed that ‘student achievement is elevated through an improved K–12 education system.’ To that end, the Fund supports:
Reform/School Choice
Expanded competition and school choice are realized through high-performing charter schools, tuition assistance/portable voucher programs, and other programs that challenge the status quo.
Teacher/Leadership Quality
Teachers and school leaders receive effective training and support to maximize student achievement, with a particular emphasis on charter schools.
Parental Engagement
Parents become better educated in the areas of school quality and choice, and understand how to be effective advocates for their children.
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
Apply here:
Since August 2009, Digital Wish has granted over 34,000 classroom technology wishes and delivered over $17 million in technology products to American classrooms.
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
Teachers and schools can use Digital Wish’s searchable library of applicable grants to find support for their schools. Or you can submit a lesson plan to be entered in a lottery to win support, or register as a teacher to keep up to date with grants available.
Goals of the Grant:
Digital Wish exists to help American schools and teachers provide a technology-enriched learning environment.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Grants are awarded on the 15th of every calendar month after the grant application deadline; application deadlines vary by grant.
Apply here:
Aiming to enrich the quality of life in the communities of Douglas County.
Who Is It For?
Grants go to qualified nonprofits that support causes that reflect the Fund’s donors’ interests in all areas of community life, including:
- Arts and culture
- Animal welfare
- Children and youth
- Community development
- Education
- Environment
- Health and wellness
- Housing
- Human services
There are several grants available through the Douglas County Community Foundation, including Donor-Advised Grants and the Momentum Grant which grants a yearly $50,000 in total.
For the Momentum Grant, proposals must come from a 501(c)(3) entity, tribal organization or government agency, and the grant must benefit residents of Douglas County, Kansas.
Applicants must conduct business without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or national origin.
Sports teams and leagues are not eligible to apply.
Goals of the Foundation:
The DCCF is dedicated to improving the quality of life of Douglas County residents.
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
.
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
The foundation favors initiatives within Kansas and in the following areas:
- Community development and enrichment
- Services to the disadvantaged
- Children’s causes
- Early education
- The arts
To be eligible to apply for a grant, your organization’s request must fall within one of the areas listed above, and the organization must be tax-exempt or a non-profit requesting funds for charitable purposes.
The foundation will consider requests for the following:
- Operating expenses
- Endowment funds
- Capital causes
- Multi-year grants (although one-year grants are typical)
The foundation will not consider requests:
- From government, political, legislative, or lobbying entities
- For specific physical, medical or psychological conditions
- From individuals, social or fraternal organizations
- From faith-based organizations
- For medical research
- To fund for-profit organizations
The Downing Family Foundation does not fund institutions that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation in policy or practice.
Goals of the Foundation:
The Downing Family Foundation seeks to partner with organizations and support programs that impact the quality of life for a community or a significant number of community members on a lasting basis, focusing specifically on projects that lead to self-sufficiency and future success.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Requests are reviewed quarterly (if not sooner); deadlines for letters of inquiry are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. Requests approved in the first quarter will be awarded in the second quarter; those received in the second quarter will be awarded in the third, and so on.
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
The Eastman Foundation supports organizations that improve quality of life in three key areas:
- Economic success
- Social wellbeing
- Environmental integrity
Under the ‘social wellbeing’ rubric, the Foundation seeks to support:
- Access to high-quality education for all members of the community
- Community spirit that creates a sense of belonging, place, and self-worth
- Stimulation of creative expression through the arts
- Adaptability to changing circumstances
There’s a particular focus on education, especially math and science education.
Goals of the Foundation:
The Eastman Foundation invests in initiatives and partners with nonprofits, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations to carry out Eastman Corporate Responsibility programs that improve quality of life around the world.
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
.
18. Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (Kansas City, Missouri, education, entrepreneurship, civics)
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
The Foundation works in Kansas City, in three main areas:
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Civics
Its education efforts look at:
- Postsecondary
- K–12
- Early childhood education
- Teachers and leaders
- Community engagement
At K–12, the Foundation works to ensure that all students are prepared and graduate high school ready for college and/or career through:
- Real World Learning
- Individual Schools Grants
- Kauffman School
- SchoolSmartKC
See the 2021 Individual School Grant recipients here.
Goals of the Foundation:
Kauffman prioritizes closing achievement and equity gaps, while also exploring the integration of Real World Learning approaches into the K–12 grant portfolio.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Grant applications for the Individual Schools Grant close in February every year. The application period for the 2022 Individual Schools Grants Request for Proposals (RFP) closed on February 11, 2022.
Other grants can have different deadlines.
Apply here:
See the Education Grants and RFP Announcements alert on this page for more information, including application deadlines and criteria.
19. FM Area Foundation Grant (Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota, community)
Award: Varies; typically from $500 to $15,000.
Who Is It For?
The Foundation focuses on five main areas:
- Arts, Culture & Creativity: Inspiring imagination and innovation through arts and culture
- Basic Human Needs: Building ladders out of poverty
- Community Building: Fostering initiatives that strengthen the community
- Education: Lifting lives through learning
- Women's Fund: Empowering women and children
The Foundation addresses unmet needs in education, on the basis that ‘there are countless avenues for learning that lead to successful futures, and we believe bright futures begin with a strong educational foundation.’
There are also scholarships available.
Goals of the Foundation:
Working in partnership with individuals, families, businesses and professional advisors, the FM Area Foundation manages charitable funds, each with its own story and purpose, to provide grants to qualified nonprofit organizations.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
The 2022 grant timeline was as follows:
See information on previous education grantees here.
Award:
Usually between $2,000 and $10,000, with some smaller grants, based on information on past grants provided here. Typically, grant applications should not seek grants higher than $10,000.
Who Is It For?
Nonprofits in Kansas.
Grants may be considered both for one-time, discrete activities or for activities likely to require Ongoing funding.
Proposals should:
- Focus on impacting the greater Manhattan community. Surrounding communities themselves often have charitable foundations of their own
- Directed to appropriate GMCF funding sources, paying attention to purpose, the likelihood of needs for ongoing support, and general monetary limits
- Be concise, focused on the planned activities, describe the population to be served, numbers and needs of those populations, and the budget requested in support of these activities
- Include a letter of support from other agencies if these are involved
Proposals requesting support for the extension of successful local programs to other communities and their populations, or that direct funding to state, regional, or national organizations even when some local individuals might incidentally benefit, are unlikely to be funded.
There are several grants available, including:
- Yes! Fund, to support activity-based, before and after school programs
- Deihl Grants, intended to support projects likely to have a major impact on community efforts in the arts, basic human needs and youth
- Grants for Greater Manhattan, focused on the arts and humanities, basic human needs, children/youth, community development and leadership, conservation/preservation/beautification, education, the elderly, health care and mental health
Scholarships are also available.
Goals of the Program:
To improve the quality of life for Manhattan residents through philanthropic giving.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Scholarship deadlines are typically in March – April.
Deihl Grants are quarterly.
Grants for Greater Manhattan are yearly, as are Yes! Grants.
For up-to-date information on deadlines, see the grant application page.
Award:
$16,000-$300,000, averaging around $50,000, based on information provided here.
Who Is It For?
Major projects aimed at transforming educational outcomes, including multi-year projects.
Grant applicants must be classified as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. An IRS determination letter certifying this tax status will be required to receive funding.
The Foundation's grantmaking is focused in Georgia, and welcomes inquiries from all parts of the state.
The Foundation will not consider funding for:
- Special events, performances, or dinners, such as sponsorship, tickets and/or tables)
- Booster clubs
- Churches or religious organizations when the project in question primarily serves members
- Requests to retire accumulated debt resulting from operating deficits.
The Foundation does not make grants or loans to individuals.
Goals of the Foundation:
The Foundation seeks to strengthen teaching quality and classroom outcomes by investing in the development of new and veteran educators with an emphasis on innovative practices and the delivery of a 21st-century education.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Applications are ongoing with the grant committee meeting quarterly in January, April, July, and October.
Award: Varies, averaging about $30,000 based on information provided here.
Who Is It For?
Grant requests for general operating support, program support and capital support will be considered. Grant requests for capital support such as for buildings, land and major equipment should meet a compelling community need and offer a broad social benefit.
Goals of the Trust:
To support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services and health care programming for underserved and disadvantaged populations through organizations that serve the residents of East Central Kansas.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Applications can be submitted between February 1 and March 1 annually, with grants approved on March 31. Grants are one year in duration.
23. Lockheed Martin Foundation (National, STEM, servicemembers, and communities)
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
Lockheed Martin does not accept unsolicited grant requests. An invitation code will be required to submit a grant application.
To be considered for grant funding, organizations must meet the following criteria:
- Have a non-profit tax-exempt classification under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code
- Be a public secondary school or qualifying US-based institute of higher education
- Non-US organization only if it is in a specified country with which the US has an income tax treaty (Canada, Israel, Mexico) and maintains the equivalent international non-profit classification
- Align with one or more of Lockheed Martin’s strategic focus areas
- Agree to act in accordance with Lockheed Martin’s contribution acknowledgment requirements:
- organization/grantee will comply with all applicable requirements of the Patriot Act and the Voluntary Anti-Terrorist Guidelines and will not use any portion of the grant funds for the support, direct or indirect, of acts of violence or terrorism or for any organization engaged in or supporting such acts
- Be located or operate in a community in which Lockheed Martin has employees or business interests
- Demonstrate fiscal and administrative responsibility and have an active, diverse board, effective leadership, continuity, and efficiency of administration
The Foundation will not fund:
- Organizations that do not align with Lockheed Martin’s values, commitment to diversity or approach to Equal Opportunity. This includes organizations that discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation or other criteria of protected classes, as defined by the US Equal Opportunity Commission
- Private K–12 schools
- Home-based child care/educational services
- Individuals
- Professional associations, labor organizations, fraternal organizations or social clubs; social events sponsored by social clubs
- Athletic groups, clubs and teams, unless the contribution is in acknowledgement of employee volunteer service provided to the school
- Religious organizations for religious purposes
- Advertising in souvenir booklets, yearbooks or journals unrelated to Lockheed Martin’s business interests
Goals of the Foundation:
Higher availability of STEM-qualified, digital-ready workforce from more diverse backgrounds and grounded in ethics.
- Career Readiness: Build high school and postsecondary student interest and skills in engineering, computational science and cyber.
- Career Access: Provide high school and postsecondary students with access to networks and pathways into the workforce
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
.
Application by invitation only.
More information:
24. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (US, India and South Africa, with particular focus on Central Texas and Greater Boston, education, health and community)
Award: $50,000 to $36 million, according to information provided here.
Who Is It For?
Dell funds organizations focused on creating opportunities for children and families living in urban poverty, with a deep emphasis on measuring impact.
Projects must be:
- Located in the United States, India, or South Africa
- Focused on education (all locations), health and wellness (US only), or family economic stability (in India, South Africa, and regionally in Central Texas and Greater Boston)
- Seeking funding for support or efforts to scale
- By organizations that are associations or boards, charitable trusts, community foundations, social enterprises, direct service organizations, not-for-profit companies, governments, pass-through organizations, private foundations, religious organizations, schools, or education organizations
The amount requested should be $50,000 or more.
The foundation does not provide grants to support:
- Individuals
- Medical research projects
- Event fundraisers or sponsorships
- Lobbying of any kind
- Endowments
- Infrastructure
- Requests for computers, laptops, tablets, or other hardware
Goals of the Foundation:
The Foundation gives teachers access to resources that help improve instruction and close gaps like the more than half of US students from low-income backgrounds who are below basic proficiency in literacy and math. Each year, the Foundation creates opportunities for more than five million low-income students to attend high-quality schools, and helps over 350,000 low-income students to earn university degrees.
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
.
25. OMRON Foundation (USA and Japan, disaster relief, education)
Award: From $250 to $100,000 or higher, typically for one year only.
Who Is It For?
- Only organizations with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status are considered for funding
- Generally, the Foundation prefers to fund specific programs, rather than general operating requests
- OFI prefers organizations local to its communities
- Preference is typically given to qualifying organizations where our employees volunteer
The Foundation generally will NOT consider requests from:
- Organizations which do not have an IRS 501(c)(3) public charity or equivalent status
- Political organizations or parties, candidates or lobbying activities
- Labor unions or organizations
- Fraternal organizations
- Local athletic or sports programs
- Veterans’ organizations that have a limited membership
- Individuals
- Religious organizations (other than organizations whose exclusive mission is an approved non-discriminatory purpose such as education, health, cultural, civic, etc.)
- Organizations not operating for the benefit of the general public
The Omron Foundation will NOT typically award gifts for the following:
- Travel funds for tours, expeditions, or trips by individuals or groups
- Dues or gifts to national or local alumni groups or clubs or fraternities
- Institutional memberships or subscription fees for publications
- Donations for benefit events, raffle tickets or fundraising efforts that involve value returned to the donor
- Gifts to individual churches, synagogues or other similar groups
Goals of the Foundation:
The Foundation divides its charitable resources to benefit the following focus areas:
- Disaster relief
- Basic needs (food, clothing and shelter)
- Disabilities
- Education (elementary education to college education with a focus on engineering, science, mathematics and technology)
- Health — wellness, research, disease prevention, and treatment
- Japanese-American cross-cultural enrichment
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
.
26. Pitsco Grant (National, teachers)
Award: One $350-value Pitsco voucher awarded monthly, with each applicant able to claim only one voucher in any 12-month period.
Who Is It For?
The Pitsco Teacher’s Grant is open to PreK–college educators in traditional classrooms, out-of-school settings, and homeschool.
Goals of the Grant:
To support classroom teachers.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Applications are accepted from the first day of each month to the last day of the month (for example, the January grant application period is January 1 – 31).
Award: Varies, averaging around $22,700 based on information provided here.
Who Is It For?
The Foundation does not generally support:
- Fundraising or donor cultivation events
- Sponsorships
- Walks, runs, golf outings, or neighborhood- or school-specific events
- Nor does the Foundation purchase raffle tickets or tables for fundraising events or support courtesy advertising
The Foundation does not make grants to:
- Individuals
- Religious organizations unless they are engaged in programs benefiting the entire community which would otherwise meet the guidelines
- To political causes or candidates
- To organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status or national origin
The Foundation does not give to other private foundations or to endowments, preferring to support projects and programs directly rather than through other grant-making organizations or programs.
Goals of the Foundation:
To support projects seeking to improve quality of life in Northern Kentucky.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Requests are accepted year round. Response is normally within 90 days.
28. Reynolds American Foundation
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
To be eligible for funding consideration, an applicant must generally be:
- A nonprofit agency with tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or an appropriate government agency
- Serving residents in communities where significant numbers of Reynolds American Inc. and R.J. Reynolds employees live and/or work
- Operated and organized so that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability, in terms of hiring practices, service provisions or board-member selection
The Foundation will not generally consider funding requests for:
- Endowments
- Support for individuals
- General operating expenses
- Requests from churches
- Programs that promote religious doctrine
- Requests for political candidates and organizations
- Requests for travel expenses for individuals or organizations
- Sponsorship of most special events
- Request for programs that have already received support from the Reynolds American Foundation or R.J. Reynolds for three consecutive years
Goals of the Foundation:
The R.J. Reynolds foundation exists to support:
- K–12 Public Education public-school and community programs that prepare children to enter school ready to learn and programs that primarily focus on improving academic performance of low-performing and economically disadvantaged students. Except for business-partner relationships, all school grants are made through the superintendents’ offices. Individual day-care centers are not eligible for grants
- Local Community Campaigns in target communities
- Employee-Directed Giving programs to encourage employee community support including the foundation’s Matching Grants Program and the Scholarship Program for children of employees
Key Dates/Deadlines:
The Reynolds American Foundation awards grants on a quarterly basis according to the following schedule:
Apply
Mail a grant proposal to:
Reynolds American Foundation
P.O. Box 891
Plaza Building — 14th Floor
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-0891
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
Eligibility is determined by statute. Awards are issued annually by the Rural and Low-Income School Program (RLIS) to State education agencies (SEAs), which make subgrants to local education agencies (LEAs) that meet the applicable requirements. Awards are made to all SEAs that apply and meet the applicable requirements.
To be eligible, school districts must have at least 20% of the children they serve come from families with incomes below the poverty line and be located in a rural area.
Goals of the Program:
The RLIS funds SEAs and, through them, LEAs:
- Improving basic programs operated by Local Education Agencies
- Supporting effective instruction
- Language instruction for English learners and immigrant students
- Student support and academic enrichment
- Parental and family engagement
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
Within the US, Sony focuses the majority of its charitable giving on art, culture, technology and the environment, with a particular emphasis on education in each of those areas.
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
Sony does not fund:
- Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, age, national origin or sexual orientation
- Partisan political organizations, committees, or candidates and public office holders
- Religious organizations in support of their sacramental or theological functions
- Labor unions
- Endowment or capital campaigns of national origin
- Organizations whose primary purpose is to influence legislation
- Testimonial dinners, in general
- For-profit publications or organizations seeking advertisements or promotional support
- Individuals seeking self-advancement
- Foreign or non US-based organizations
Goals of the Foundation:
Sony seeks to apply its financial, technological and human resources to the encouragement of the creative, artistic, technical and scientific skills required of tomorrow's workforce.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Notification of grant request approval or regret will be made in writing within one month of the receipt of all proposed materials.
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
The Foundation is interested in grant opportunities that align with its five priority areas of interest:
- Education
- Physical and mental health
- Ecological well-being
- Arts/culture
- Human services
The Foundation has a particular interest in considering proposals that have:
- A plan for addressing significant community needs
- Innovative or unique approaches to solving community problems
- A focus on addressing root causes of problems
- Efficient use of community resources. Strong consideration will be given to requests that include plans for coordination, cooperation and sharing among nonprofit organizations, with a view toward strengthening service provision and avoiding unnecessary duplication
- Support from the community, including potential funders, other nonprofits, community leaders and potential beneficiaries
- The ability to track and report clear, measurable results
- A thoughtful, reasonable plan for obtaining continuing financial support from internal and/or external sources once Foundation grant funds are expended
Goals of the Foundation:
The purpose of the Stranahan Foundation is to assist individuals and groups in their efforts to become more self-sufficient and contribute to the improvement of society and the environment.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
The Stranahan Foundation reviews letters of inquiry and grant applications twice annually:
Cycle 1:
- October 15 by noon Eastern — Letter of Inquiry is due. You will be informed by mid-December whether you are invited to submit a full application
- January 10 by noon Eastern — Full Application is due. You will be notified in late May whether your request has been approved. If the request is approved, the earliest that funds would be available would be July 1
Cycle 2:
- April 15 by noon Eastern — Letter of Inquiry is due. You will be informed by early June whether you are invited to submit a full application
- July 1 by noon Eastern — Full Application is due. You will be notified in late November whether your request has been approved. If the request is approved, the earliest that funds would be available would be the following January 1
- Apply here
- More information
32. Turner Industries Fund (Greater Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama, education and health)
Turner Industries benefits workforce development and community improvement as it relates to health and education.
Award: Varies widely, from $250 to $173,000, according to information presented here.
Who Is It For?
The Fund supports nonprofit organizations in the greater Louisiana communities of Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Shreveport, New Iberia and New Orleans, and the Texas communities of Port Arthur, Houston, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Victoria and Paris, and Decatur, Alabama.
Organizations must have a non-discriminatory policy and must demonstrate that they manage their business wisely, and that an appropriate percentage of the grant will go to programs rather than administration.
Goals of the Fund:
Investing charitable dollars back into the communities where Turner Industries works.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Submissions are twice yearly, on May 15 and November 15.
Award:
$100,000 to $325,000.
Who Is It For?
Schools must:
- Demonstrate strong potential for delivering excellent academic results for K–12 students, as measured by standardized achievement tests
- Seek to serve a significant percentage of students from low-income families
- NOT represent a for-profit entity
- Either have opened in 2019, or plan on opening in fall of 2020 or 2021 to be eligible for startup funding in 2020. Eligible schools must currently be authorized or expect to be authorized in summer 2020
- Be in ‘startup’ mode, which is the period that begins 18 months before opening and ends at the culmination of the school's first year of operations
- Draw a majority of its students from one of the foundation’s targeted districts
Schools from the following locations are eligible:
- Arkansas: Any District
- California: Los Angeles Unified School District, Oakland Unified School District
- Colorado: Denver Public Schools
- Georgia: Atlanta Public Schools
- Indiana: Indianapolis Public Schools
- Louisiana: Orleans Parish School Board
- Massachusetts: Boston Public Schools
- New Jersey: Camden City School District
- New York: New York City
- Oklahoma: Any District
- Tennessee: Shelby County Schools
- Texas: Houston Independent School District, San Antonio Metro Area
- Washington, D.C.: District of Columbia Public Schools
Goals of the Foundation:
The Walton Family Foundation’s Public Charter Startup Grant Program focuses on supporting high-quality and high-potential charter schools serving low-income children in target geographies. The foundation has invested more than $407 million to grow high-quality charter schools since 1997.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Applicants for the 2020 round were required to:
Complete online eligibility form by May 15.
Receive invitation from the Walton Family Foundation to apply for funding by June 30.
Complete application and foundation interview in July – August.
34. Western Indiana Community Foundation (Fountain County and Vermillion County, Western Indiana, education and community)
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
Western Indiana Community Foundation funds:
- Startup costs for new programs
- One-time projects
- Capital needs beyond an organization’s capabilities
- Projects that affect a broad scope of people
- Projects that fill a gap in service or meet a need
- Projects that enable an organization to better serve the people of Fountain or Vermillion Counties
- Projects that, when possible, demonstrate cooperation or partnership with other organizations
The Foundation typically does not fund:
- Projects that do not affect people locally
- ‘Third party’ projects
- Projects whose effectiveness can’t be measured or for which there is no evidence of need
- Requests from individuals
- Regular operating budgets or long-term funding for projects or events
- Post-event situations such as requests for reimbursement of expenses which occurred prior to a grant application
- Political organizations
- Religious purposes
- Organizations not in good standing with the Community Foundation
- Projects that are not core to the mission of an organization
Goals of the Foundation:
To use donated monies for the betterment of local communities. The Foundation has four separate and distinct affiliate funds serving their geographical areas (school district boundaries):
- Attica Community Foundation
- Covington Community Foundation
- Southeast Fountain Community Foundation
- Vermillion County Community Foundation
Key Dates/Deadlines: Ongoing
Award: Varies.
Who Is It For?
The Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund concentrates the majority of its funding in seven focus areas:
- Affordable housing
- Education and youth development
- Environmental stewardship
- Human services
- Civic and cultural growth
- Workforce development
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
The Fund directs its support to communities where it manages forest land in the USA and Canada.
Preference is given to projects and programs that:
- Serve a broad range of community residents
- Meet an important community need within the Fund’s key areas of focus
- Show strong support from community leaders and other funders
- Are sustainable and managed competently with a history of accountability, results, cost-effectiveness, strong leadership and innovation
- Provide a significant and measurable impact on quality of life
To be eligible for funding, a program must:
- Serve a Weyerhaeuser community
- Be one of the following:
- A tax-exempt, nonprofit public charity classified under Section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code
- A registered charity in Canada with a Canada Revenue Agency number or registered as a provincial nonprofit society
- A public education institution or government entity qualified under Section 170(c)(1) of the US Internal Revenue Code
- Qualified as a Canadian municipality
Goals of the Fund:
To support development within the defined focus areas, in the locations where the company manages forest land.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
The 2022 grant cycle is open until Sept. 30, 2022.
Apply:
The Fund’s giving is local and specific to each of its communities. It recommends making a local connection with the company’s employee advisory committee members in your area.
Award:
Grants typically range from $5,000 to $40,000, and the average grant size is approximately $20,000.
Who Is It For?
The Trust’s areas of interest are:
- Educational opportunities for deserving and needy students
- Preservation and protection of the natural environment
- Medical research and care for the treatment, prevention and cure of arthritis, blindness and diabetes
- Assistance for the poor, especially those of Appalachia and those of American Indian ancestry
- Assistance and care for orphaned children who are unlikely to be adopted because of age, handicap, or for other reasons
Grants are primarily made in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties in FL; however, requests are also entertained from the Appalachian region of the US, and other locations in Florida and the US as determined by the trustees.
Goals of the Grant:
Supporting nonprofit organizations providing services for education, the environment, medical needs, the underprivileged and other charitable purposes.
Key Dates/Deadlines:
Annually on September 15.
If there’s a grant you think we should know about, please contact us here so that we can share it with others.
The Ultimate Guide to School Grant Programs and COVID-19 Relief Funds
More Resources
For additional school grant funding and COVD-19 resources, please visit our previous blogs: