The E-line Archives, Vol. 3, #25

Grant writing and finding grants

Proposal Writing Short Course from The Foundation Center

http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html

Most teacher grants don't require a huge grant proposal document, but for those who do, here's a very good brief outline of the grant application process from The Foundation Center. The Center provides a variety of grant services, including an up-to-date searchable database of grants (see The Searchzone, link is lower left on the menu items). Some services, including their newsletter of new offerings, require payment. The Searchzone and this "short course" are free.

Basic Elements of Grant Writing, from CPB

http://www.cpb.org/grants/grantwriting.html

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting provides this excellent overview of the grant writing process, including thoughtful suggestions about defining goals and looking for a good funding match. CPB is a funding source itself - check http://www.cpb.org/ed/funding/ for the latest offerings.

"Show Me the Money," from Education World

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev039.shtml

Education World's how-to article is also loaded with links to helps and grant resources.

Grants & Funding from eSchool News

http://www.eschoolnews.com/erc/funding/

This is a general funding resource location, with lists of some current offerings and articles written by experienced grant writers and grant watchers.

School Grants

http://www.schoolgrants.org/

This site is perhaps the easiest, most accessible grant writing resource for teachers. There are hints for grant writing and examples of successful applications. Their list of grant sources is nicely organized, but woefully out of date, with many links broken.

Some Grant Funding Sources

General

Pay It Forward Foundation

http://payitforwardfoundation.org/

Based on the book by Catherine Ryan Hyde and the movie based on it, this foundation specializes in small grants to programs for students who want to address "challenges [for] their communities....The Foundation provides seed money for such worthwhile projects." Applications are taken all school year.

Adopt a Classroom

http://www.adoptaclassroom.com/

This simple concept might work for your class! The site serves as a source of contact for businesses wishing to partner with specific classes at the $500 level. If you're a teacher, you can get listed in their database and hope that a business picks you out. There are resources on the site to help you find such support in your own community.

Community Investments from Dollar General

http://www.dollargeneral.com/community/communityinvestments.aspx

Dollar General gives out several grants spread over the school year, including simple merchandise donations. The deadline in August is for $5,000 grants for the purchase of materials for the library media center or school literacy program.

Teaching Tolerance Grant Program

http://www.tolerance.org/teach/grants/guide.jsp

Contributors to the Southern Poverty Law Center provide the funding and support for Tolerance.org and its grants. $2,000 class or school grants are awarded to initiatives aimed at involving students in tolerance and activist projects. There is no deadline for these grants.

Subject-Specific

Toshiba America Foundation

http://www.toshiba.com/taf/

Toshiba's interest is in the use of technology in support of mathematics and science. Deadline for the $1,000 elementary grants is October 1, and applications for the under-$5,000 secondary grants are accepted all year. Larger grants are also given. There are lots of examples of successful grants on this site, with complete application resources.

Starbucks Foundation Grants

http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/grantinfo.asp

Starbucks Foundation's two grant arms are "Power of Literacy" and "Leaders in Diversity." Grants are awarded twice a year, and there are examples of successful grant recipients on the site.

Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation

http://www.mhopus.org/apply.htm

This foundation does not give cash awards, but can contribute towards the purchase of new instruments or the repair of old. The brainchild of the film's composer, Michael Kamen (who died in 2003), the foundation targets schools, special programs, and individuals.

Technology

AECT Classroom Technology Grant

http://www.ismf-forum.net/grants/about.php

These $1,000 grants are aimed at technology/media enhancement in the classroom. There's no deadline.

te@ch from Best Buy

http://communications.bestbuy.com/communityrelations/teach.asp

This grant awards $2,500 gift cards, redeemable at Best Buy stores. One of the really nice things about this grant, is that the application process is short, sweet, and online!