Category Archives: Education

ProLiteracy National Book Fund

The ProLiteracy National Book Fund provides print materials to literacy programs in the United States. Awards are typically $500 – $2,000, but materials must be purchased through New Readers Press.

Applications will be accepted February 1 – March 15, 2025. There is a required 20% match for non-ProLiteracy members.

Eligibility

This grant is open to organizations that:

  • Have a clearly defined need that this award will meet
  • Will use awarded materials to work with students in a literacy program and/or literacy staff, instructors, or volunteers
  • Have not received a National Book Fund grant in the last two years

Just One More Foundation

The Just One More Foundation supports individuals who have faced serious obstacles and organizations who provide services to them. Their focus areas are Mental Health, Drug Misuse, Health Challenges, and Education.

Applications will open January 1 and be due by March 31, 2025.

Eligibility

This grant is open to nonprofit organizations and individuals who have developed a constructive plan for overcoming their obstacles.

The Foundation prefers to provide tuition-based grants to individuals.

Core Values

The Foundation’s grantmaking is based on their core values:

  • Hope
  • Compassion
  • Humility
  • Hard work
  • Perseverance
  • Accountability
  • Effectiveness

New Earth Foundation

The New Earth Foundation provides grant funding to US-based organizations working around the world to create a brighter future.

Letters of Inquiry are due annually by February 1st and July 1st.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
  • Organizations with a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor

Smaller, newer organizations will receive priority consideration.

Vision and Mission

All applications must meet the Foundation’s Vision and Mission.

Vision – “assisting to create an enhanced worldwide awareness, manifesting as universal peace and respect for all forms of life, the responsible use of Earth’s resources in sustainable ways, and a common realization that all is interconnected and One.”

Mission – “peace and delight to fund innovative, humanitarian projects according to the vision of New Earth Foundation, from community efforts that create models of social sustainability, to educational innovations that prepare youth to be future socially responsible leaders; from strategies that offer economic advances, to environmental initiatives that curb pollution and save the planet’s precious resources and earth’s natural biosphere.”

Funding Criteria

Applications must also:

  • Outline one specific project with clearly defined goals, an implementation plan, and expected results
  • Indicate who will benefit and how
  • Endeavor to involve the target population in the planning process
  • Include plans for replication
  • Contain an evaluation process
  • Seek community involvement and/or collaboration with other organizations
  • Be cost-effective with a realistic budget
  • Have a plan for acquiring future funding from other sources

Funding Limitations

The Foundation does not fund:

  • General operating expenses
  • Real estate, repairs, maintenance, building or renovation
  • Mainstream social services
  • Standard after-school programs, summer camps, or gardening programs

U.S. Venture Program Grants

Program Grants from U.S. Venture support organizations improving the quality of people’s lives and strengthening the communities where their facilities are located.

Applications are accepted quarterly. Due dates for 2025 are January 24th, April 25th, July 25th, and October 24th. All applications must have documented support from a U.S. Venture team member or shareholder.

Eligibility

This grant is open to nonprofit organizations, preferably with a 501(c)3 designation, within the geographic footprint of U.S. Venture facilities.

Focus Areas

Applications will be considered that focus on one or more of the following:

  • Education
  • Jobs & Economy
  • Family Support & Social Connectedness
  • Physical Health
  • Psychological Health & Addiction
  • Human Services

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for a specific program, capital support, or general operating expenses.

Required Attachments

All applications must include:

  • Current Annual Organization Budget
  • Current Organization Balance Sheet
  • End of Year Financials (previous 2 years)
  • 990 Form
  • W-9
  • Board of Directors Roster

American Mathematical Society Young Scholars Program

The American Mathematical Society Young Scholars Program supports summer programs for high school students to engage with math in a deeper way.

Seed funding of $5,000 is available for newer programs. More established programs may apply for $2,500 – $15,000. Applications are due by January 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to summer math programs in the U.S. that:

  • Have been in operation at least one year (preferably more)
  • Are directed by mathematicians
  • Are run for multiple weeks, primarily or entirely from May – September
  • Engage with at least 20 high school students with mathematical talent

Applications may only be submitted by the program director.

Allowable Expenses

At least 50% of grant funds must be used for scholarships. The remainder may be used to cover program expenses. Institutional overhead and indirect costs are not allowed.

Math Disciplines

Programs may focus on any math discipline including pure or applied, problem solving, or mathematical research.

Your Big Year: Global Citizens Challenge

The Global Citizens Challenge from Your Big Year is an opportunity for youth aged 15-20 to engage with other young leaders from around the world. Up to 200 participants will dedicate approximately 10 hours to completing the virtual challenge activities.

Applications for the February 6-9, 2025 Challenge are due by January 15, 2025. Individuals may apply directly or educators, program leaders, organizations and parents can nominate a School or Classroom. There is no cost to participate, but participants must provide their own internet connected device.

Program Activities

Over the course of the program, youth will engage in:

  • Penpal Sessions – video calls to engage with other participants
  • Interactive Activities & Virtual Passports – team based projects
  • Industry Speakers – presentations and panel discussions from travel and tourism industry professionals
  • International Action Hub – brainstorming and collaborative work

Program Values

Applications will be evaluated according to their alignment with Your Big Year values. They are seeking participating who:

  • Are passionate about making a change
  • Are eager to learn about different cultures from peers with diverse backgrounds
  • Have a desire to meet and connect with a variety of people
  • Wish to grow as young professionals through an online experience
  • Aim to grow personally, gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and their community
  • Seek to make a meaningful impact in their life and the world

Your Big Year Fellowship

Following the Challenge, participants will have access to the 3 month, self-paced Your Big Year Fellowship. Through the curriculum, youth will learn confidence, innovative thinking, cultural competency, self-reliance, and resiliency, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The program also involves peer collaboration, coaching, and industry mentorship.

State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Grants

State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Grants support programs in the United States with a long-term, sustainable impact. Their three focus areas are Safety, Community Development, and Education.

Grants are by invitation only, but interested organizations may submit Support Requests.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
  • 501(c)4 volunteer fire departments
  • Educational institutions
  • Municipal, county, state, and federal government entities

Focus Areas

Safety

Safety grants are awarded to projects focusing on:

  • Auto safety
  • Home safety
  • Disaster preparedness and mitigation
  • Disaster recovery

Community Development

Community development grants are awarded to projects focusing on:

  • Affordable housing
  • Commercial/small business development
  • Job training
  • Neighborhood revitalization 
  • Financial literacy
  • Sustainable housing and transportation
  • Food insecurity

Education

Education grants are awarded to projects focusing on:

  • Higher education
  • K-12 academic performance
  • K-12 STEM
  • Pathways for college and career success

Andrew Family Foundation: Junior Board Grants

Andrew Family Foundation Junior Board Grants support youth focused projects in the U.S. in Education, Arts Education, and Sustainable Living.

Letters of Inquiry from eligible applicants are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations who:

  • Have been in operation for at least five years (unless a Board member is familiar with the organization)
  • Have an annual budget of less than $5 million

They prefer to fund project or program specific requests, rather than general operating expenses.

NEA Big Read

The NEA Big Read is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest which supports community shared reading programs. Their goals are to build connections through meaningful conversations and a celebration of local creativty in the United States and its territories.

Awards of $5,000 – $20,000 are available with a required 1:1 match. Intent to Apply forms are due by January 23, 2025 and full applications are due by January 30, 2025.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
  • Divisions of U.S. state, local, and tribal government
  • Tax exempt public libraries
  • School districts
  • Arts and culture organizations
  • Museums
  • Institutions of higher education

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

  • Project staff salaries
  • Purchasing books
  • Supplies
  • Promotions
  • Speaker and artist fees
  • Venue rentals

Theme

The theme for the 2025-26 Big Read is OUR NATURE: How Our Physical Environment Can Lead Us to Seek Hope, Courage, and Connection. Applicants will choose one of the 22 books in the NEA Big Read Library and facilitate discussions, writing workshops, and creative activies that explore the theme and celebrate how it relates to their community.

Patrick Leahy Farm to School Turnkey Grant Program

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Turnkey Grant Program supports Action Planning, Agricultural Education, and Edible Gardens programs in the U.S.

The USDA Food & Nutrition Service expects to award 60 grants of $5,000 – $50,000 each for 24 months. There is a 25% matching requirement and applicants must commit to operating one or more federal Child Nutrition Programs. Applications are due by January 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Grant Tracks

The Farm to School Turnkey program has three tracks:

  • Action Planning for developing a roadmap for launching or enhancing farm to school activities
  • Agricultural Education for incorporating agricultural education into curricula
  • Edible Gardens for implementing a food production operation

Required Activities

All grantees, regardless of track, are required to:

  • Attend at least one national or regional-level networking and training event

Action Planning

https://pixabay.com/photos/meeting-adults-business-people-4784909/

Grantees in the Action Planning Track are required to:

  • Form and regularly convene a diverse farm to school planning team that represents the community served
  • Conduct an inclusive and comprehensive action planning process
  • Draft a plan that identifies at least one community need that the project will address and gather input/feedback from the community
  • Compile and share a final action plan
  • Submit a Farm to School Action Plan by the end of the 24 month grant period

Agricultural Education

Grantees in the Agricultural Education Track are required to:

  • Establish a vision, goals, and objectives for the curriculum, including if and how local foods will be incorporated
  • Establish the desired outcomes and competencies to be achieved
  • Identify connected State Standards
  • Identify the student population who will participate
  • Develop or procure the curriculum and gather input/feedback from relevant stakeholders
  • Determine how the curriculum will be integrated into participating CNP sites and then carry out that plan
  • Develop strategies for maintaining the curriculum in the school/site beyond the grant period
  • Perform an evaluation of the project

Edible Gardens

USDA Farm to School Grantee: Mancos Conservation District, Mancos, Colorado

Grantees in the Edible Gardens Track are required to:

  • Form a diverse edible garden team that represents the community served, including school/site food service professionals
  • Establish a vision, goals, and objectives for the edible garden project, including how you will comply with any applicable Federal, State, and/or local regulations
  • Create a garden food safety plan
  • Determine the processing, storage, and ultimate use of school garden foods
  • Procure supplies, install, and execute the edible garden project
  • Perform an evaluation of the project

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

  • Equipment and supplies
  • Greenhouses
  • Food – up to 10% of federal share and only for educational purposes
  • Partnerships – subgrantees, contractors, and others providing a service to the project
  • Evaluation
  • Promotional items – individuals items up to $5 each; no advertising or public relations
  • Staff development and/or Substitute pay
  • Stipends
  • Travel