Grants

Youth Literacy Grants from Dollar General

Deadline: May 23, 2013

Do you have a program that’s aimed at improving literacy among young readers? If so, this might be the grant for you. The grants can be used to implement new programs, expand existing ones, or pay for new technology, books, or materials. Public schools, nonprofits, and public libraries in one of the 35 states in which Dollar General operates are eligible to apply.
Prize: The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is providing grants of up to $4,000 for programs that address students who are below reading level or experiencing difficulty with reading and comprehension. 

Florence Steiner Leadership in Foreign Language Education

Deadline: May 28, 2013

Members of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language can nominate language teachers for the Florence Steiner Leadership award. Nominees must have five years teaching experience, with at least half of that time as a foreign language instructor.
Prize: Florence Steiner recipients receive a $500 cash award. 

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Awards

Deadline: June 1, 2013

The MEAF supports nonprofits and schools that work with a variety of causes, including youth leadership in STEM and environment science, youth employment programs, and projects that benefit youth with disabilities. To be considered for a MEAF grant, applicants must submit a concept paper before the deadline. Each year, the organization awards six to 12 grants to various nonprofits and schools. 
Prize: Grants range from $10,000 to $75,000. 

Sol Hirsch Education Fund Grants

Deadline: June 1, 2013

Awards from the National Weather Association are available for K-12 teachers to help expand meteorology learning programs. Proposals designed to have the widest impact at schools with the greatest needs will receive priority consideration. 
Prize: The NWA is offering $750 grants. 

Playwright Discovery Award

Deadline: June 1, 2013

The 2013 VSA Playwright Discovery Award from The Kennedy Center is given to middle school and high school students. This year, students are encouraged to submit plays that examine how disability affects their lives and the lives of people around them. Scripts can be comedies, dramas, or even musicals. 
Prize: One high school winner will receive a $750 scholarship and $375 for his or her school, and one middle school winner (grades 6-8) will receive $375 for her school. 

NEW! State Farm Good Neighbor Student Achievement Grant

Deadline: June 23, 2013

State Farm and Youth Service America are offering grants to K-12 public schools in all 50 states for service learning programs. The grants will fund a 14-week “Semester of Service” and provide regional training for the program; the course is designed to promote 21st-century learning strategies, student achievement, and community partnerships. 
Prize: Grants of $1,500. 

The Awesome Foundation Grant

Deadline: Submissions are reviewed monthly

This foundation funds projects that bring communities together. Awesome ideas "spark an instant of joy and delight and inspire a long-term hope for a more awesome future." Some chapters also routinely contact applicants for interviews before awarding the fellowships. Anyone can apply. 
Prize: Grants of $1,000 are distributed monthly. 

>> MORE: Get information on how to find grants. And don't miss this 2009 webinar archive, "The Fundamentals of Funding: How to Identify, Write, and Submit Gr...

BACK TO TOP

Contests and Awards

Samsung Scholarship Essay Contest

Deadline: May 15, 2013

Samsung Digital Partners is asking high school students in the U.S. to write 300-word essays about technological advancements and how they will change the way we learn in the future. 
Prize: Five students will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for their winning writing projects, and essays will be judged on originality, relevance, and writing skill. 

ING Run for Something Better School Awards Program

Deadline: May 15, 2013

ING, in partnership with the National Association for Sports and Physical Education, wants to help public schools get more students to exercise. Eligible programs should be offered before, during, or after school, and in total, should last at least eight weeks. Up to seven grants are available in each state, and schools in all U.S. states and territories are welcome to apply.
Prize: ING is providing at least 50 grants of up to $2,500 to help schools implement a running program for K-8 students. 

The Popular Science Science Fair

Deadline: May 30, 2013

The magazine has teamed up with Delta to host its First Annual Science Fair and is now accepting submissions for best original science projects in the category of sustainability.
Prize: Cash awards and the chance to see your project in the pages of Popular Science magazine. 

2013 Parent Group of the Year Award

Deadline: June 3, 2013

K-8 parent groups should apply for this PTO award. Prize categories include Parent Group of the Year, Outreach to Multicultural Parents, and Outstanding Family Event. 
Prize: A grand prize of $3,000 cash award, plus 100,000 Labels for Education points, and $500 awards will be given in the other nine categories. 

Go to Mars with MAVEN Campaign

Deadline: July 1, 2013

Craft a haiku poem to be sent (with your name) on the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN). Messages will be voted on by the public; the top three most popular entries will be sent to Mars onboard the MAVEN spacecraft and will be prominently displayed on the MAVEN website.

BACK TO TOP

Classroom Resources

NEW! CommonSense Media’s Essential Books for Kids and Teens

In an effort to encourage a lifelong love for reading, CommonSense consulted teachers, librarians, and book critics to pull together +150 books -- from the classics, to fantasy, to funny must-reads -- for students ages 2 to 17.

NEW! SciStarter

This website is a place for scientists, teachers, parents, and kids of all ages to contribute to science through recreational activities and research projects. The site helps scientists share their research projects, and citizens to tinker, build, and explore science.

Better Money Habits

Bank of America has partnered with Sal Khan and the Khan Academy to provide a free online financial learning experience that's self-paced, fact-based, and conversational. Resources include videos and customizable features.

MindShift: Teachers' Guide to Videos

For educators who want to know how to use videos to enhance student learning, MindShift has created a resource with valuable tips, including video links for all kinds of subjects -- history, math, science, language arts, and more -- and ideas on how to inspire students to use videos as a conduit to ask questions and learn.

Environmental Education Resources from the EPA

Earth Day is April 22, and the annual event provides students an opportunity to learn about our planet and the environment. To help bring environmental education into the classroom, the Environmental Protection Agency has produced a valuable stockpile of education resources, including links to environmental lesson plans, guidelines, and other teaching resources.

SOLE: How to Bring Self-Organized Learning Environments to Your Com...

The 2013 TED Prize winner, educational researcher Sugata Mitra, set up "Hole in the Wall" self-learning experiments around the world. His research is proving that children are naturally self-motivated to learn and have an ability to problem-solve in peer groups. He has created a toolkit for educators, parents, and communities who want to try out a Self-Organized Learning Environment (SOLE).