Category Archives: Education

Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation

The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program supports alliances of 4 or more institutions of higher education working to increase the number of underrepresented people in STEM.

Seven project types are supported under this program; eligibility, maximum request amount, and grant term varies by type. Applications for Bridge to STEM Graduate Degrees in National Priorities (BD-Master’s) and STEM Networking Incentives and Engagement (NETWORKS) are due by June 24, 2024 at 5:00 PM local time. All other applications are due by November 15, 2024 at 5:00 PM local time.

Program Priorities

The main priorities of the LSAMP program are to:

Increase enrollment and completion of baccalaureate degrees for Blacks, Hispanics, Latinx, Native Americans, Native Alaskans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
Enable the above populations to successfully transition from two-year to four-year institutions in STEM degree programs
Increase use of evidence-based, high quality, and highly impactful practices in STEM recruitment and retention
Facilitate the smooth transition of underrepresented groups into STEM graduate programs and degree completion
Foster new research and learning on broadening participation in STEM disciplines

Grant Types

Alliance Development Grants

This grant is open to accredited two and four year institutions of higher education in the United States to develop alliances. The ultimate goal is for the alliance to pursue a Bridge-to-the-Baccalaureate or STEM Pathways Implementation-Only program. NSF expects to award up to 10 grants of up to $125,000 for 18 months.

Bridge-to-the-Baccalaureate (B2B)

This grant is open to accredited two year institutions of higher education in the United States who award STEM associates degrees. B2B alliances assist underrepresented populations with transitioning into 4 year baccalaureate STEM degrees. NSF expects to award up to 10 grants of up to $125,000 for 18 months.

STEM Pathways Implementation-Only (SPIO)

This grant is open to accredited two and four year institutions of higher education in the United States. SPIO alliances are intended for new or reestablished groups to increase the number of underrepresented individuals in STEM undergraduate programs and help them transition into graduate school. NSF expects to award up to 10 grants of up to $5 million for 60 months.

STEM Pathways Research Alliances (SPRA)

This grant is open to accredited two and four year institutions of higher education in the United States. SPRA are intended for well established alliances to conduct activities similar to SPIO alliances as well as producing and distributing research on increasing participation in STEM programs and careers and assessing the sustainability of the alliance. NSF expects to award up to 6 grants of up to $4 million for 60 months.

Bridge to STEM Graduate Degrees in National Priorities (BD-Master’s)

This grant is open to Master’s Comprehensive institutions of higher education as defined by the Carnegie Classification. BD-Master’s programs support cohorts of 6 Masters of Science degree students with stipends and tutition assistance. NSF expects to award up to 8 grants of up to $597,000 for 36 months.

Bridge to STEM Graduate Degrees in National Priorities (BD-Doctoral)

This grant is open to accredited four year institutions of higher education in the United States. BD-Doctoral programs support cohorts of 12 STEM PhD students with stipends and tutition assistance. NSF expects to award up to 8 grants of up to $1,173,000 for 36 months.

STEM Networking Incentives and Engagement (NETWORKS)

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NETWORKS incentivizes underrepresented populations to participate in STEM networks. NSF expects to award up to 10 grants of up to $600,000 for 36 months. This grant is open to:

Accredited two and four year institutions of higher education in the United States
Nonprofit, non academic organizations engaged in educational or research activities
For-profit businesses

Coca-Cola Foundation

The Coca-Cola Foundation is investing in change around the world through grants and sponsorships of transformative ideas and institutions. More than $1.5 billion have been given to organizations focused on complex global challenges.

Currently, the Foundation is focusing on six Impact Areas: Sustainable Access to Safe Water, Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Preparedness and Response, Circular Economy, Economic Empowerment, Hometown, and Employee Giving. Requests for funding can be submitted at any time.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the United States and international groups with an equivalent designation in their country.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be spent on:

Salaries and benefits
Consultant fees and expenses
Administrative expenses
Other

The Foundation typically does not fund:

Individual scholarships
Programs primarily focused on nutrition, weight loss, or physical activity
Movies and television
Website development
Concerts or other entertainment type events
Local sports teams

Impact Areas

Sustainable Access to Safe Water

This area funds programs that present solutions for the 2 billion people globally who lack safe drinking water.

Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Preparedness and Response

This impact area supports projects that help vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change as well as providing direct relief to those impacted by natural disasters.

Circular Economy

A circular economy is one in which products are reused rather than disposed to alleviate the accumulation of plastic waste, in particular, in the world’s waterways. Grants in this area fund solutions to the 12.7 million metric tons of plastic that pollute our water each year.

Economic Empowerment

This impact area focuses on education, workforce development and entrepreneurship opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

Hometown

Hometown projects build a more inclusive community in Coca-Cola’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. This is done through civic engagement, arts and culture, economic empowerment, education, and youth development.

Employee Giving

Coca-Cola employees in the United States donate both time and money in the communities where they live and the Foundation matches that support.

Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance

The Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance grant from the Administration for Native Americans supports community-based projects to ensure the survival and vitality of Native American languages.

Applications are due by May 20, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. ANA expects to make 4 awards, for which the minimum request amount is $100,000. The maximum is $300,000 over 12 months, $600,000 over 24 months, or $900,000 over 36 months. There is a match requirement of 20% of the total project cost in non-federal cash or in kind donations.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

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Federally recognized Native American tribes
Incorporated non-federally recognized tribes
Incorporated state-recognized tribes
Consortia of tribes
Incorporated, community-based nonprofit Native American organizations
Native Community Development Financial Institutions
Alaska Native villages and/or nonprofit village consortia
Nonprofit Native organizations in Alaska with village-specific projects
Incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multipurpose, community-based organizations
Nonprofit Alaska Native Regional Corporations/Associations in Alaska with village specific projects
Nonprofit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies
Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native Hawaiians
National or regional incorporated, nonprofit, Native American organizations with Native American, community-specific objectives
Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native peoples from Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Tribal Colleges and Universities; and colleges and universities located in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that serve Native American Pacific Islanders

Applicants who are not federally or state recognized tribes, Alaska Native village governments, or public government agencies in a US territory must provide documentation that a majority of their board members are members of Native American communities served by ANA and the project. They must belong to one or more of the following:

Members of federally or state-recognized tribes
Individuals recognized by members of an eligible Native American community as having a cultural relationship with that community
Individuals considered to be Native American as defined in 45 CFR §1336.10 and Native American Pacific Islanders as defined in Section 815 of the Native American Programs Act (NAPA)

Potential Projects

Potential projects under this grant include:

Native American Language Revitalization

Teaching one or more Native languages to increase fluency and proficiency
Offering training or certification programs for teachers of Native American languages
Developing instructional materials for language revitalization programs

Intergenerational Native American Language Projects

Bringing Native youth and Elders together to engage in the sharing of language skills.

Interpretation and Translation

Training Native individuals to act as interpreters and translators of Native languages.

Technology, Transcription, and Language Materials

Creating and disseminating materials for establishing or enhancing a Native American language program
Training Native Americans to work on television, radio, or podcast programs recorded in a Native American language
Compiling, transcribing, and analyzing oral testimony to preserve a Native American language
Developing language learning apps or technological tools to preserve a Native American language

Spencer Foundation Small Research Grants on Education Program

The Spencer Foundation Small Research Grants on Education Program supports research projects that broadly contribute to the improvement of education.

Applications from anywhere in the world are due by April 30, 2024 at 12:00 PM CDT. Requests may be up to $50,000 for projects lasting 1-5 years. Cash or in-kind matches are not required.

Eligibility

This grant is open to Principle Investigators with a PhD in an academic discipline or professional field or with appropriate experience in an education research-related profession. Graduate students may assist with the project but they may not be the PI or co-PI.

Applicants must be associated with a:

Nonprofit or public institution of higher education
Public school district
Research facility
Nonprofit organization with their country’s equivalent of a 501(c)3 designation

Research Types

The Foundation welcomes creativity in scholarship and is open to many different types of research.

Methodology

Methodologies may include, but are not limited to:

Qualitative
Quantitative
Mixed-methods
Ethnographies
Computational modeling
Design-based research
Participatory methods
Historical research

Field

Proposals for research in a variety of fields is welcome, so long as it focuses on a question central to education. This may include, but is not limited to:

Anthropology
Economics
Education
History
Law
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Psychology
Sociology

Optional Supplemental Course Release

Professors with a course load of 6 or more per academic year may request an additional $10,000 to ‘buy’ a portion of their time.

Foundation for Financial Planning Grants

The Foundation for Financial Planning supports nonprofits and financial planning organizations in the U.S. connecting underserved individuals with free, quality financial planning.

Financial planning organizations may apply for $1,250 at any time. Decisions will be made within a month and money awarded immediately. Applications from nonprofit organizations are due by April 30, 2024. Grants typically range from $5,000 – $40,000 and will be sent in January 2025.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
Chapters of financial planning organizations, like the Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

Required Activities

All programs must:

Enlist at least one professional credentialed as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ to work for the program pro bono
Conduct one-on-one appointments between volunteer financial planners and clients
Assist underserved individuals who can’t afford quality financial planning advice

Allowable Expenses

Grant funding may be used for:

Staff time for program development, management, data collection and evaluation
Outreach and promotion
Program materials
Rental fees for space and equipment
Child care and transportation vouchers for participants
Volunteer recruitment, training, and recognition
Impact studies

Alexandra Armstrong Innovation Grant

The Alexandra Armstrong Innovation Grant is awarded to one nonprofit that has shown remarkable creativity and potential for impact with its financial planning program. All applicants are automatically considered.

USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants

Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture support projects that connect rural communitities to each other and the world using telecommunications technology.

Applications for $50,000 – $1 million over 3 years are due by April 29, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. There is a required 15% match of non-federal funds.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Nonprofit organizations
For profit businesses
State and local governments
Federally recognized Native American tribes
Consorita of eligible applicants

Applicants must operate in an area with a population of 20,000 or fewer.

Eligible Grant Purposes

Applicants may request grant funding for the purpose of:

Acquiring and installing, by lease or purchase, eligible equipment
Purchases of extended warranties, site licenses, and maintenance contracts
Acquiring or developing instructional programming that is a capital asset
Providing technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment (up to 10% of grant funding)
Purchasing and installing broadband facilities (up to 20% of grant funding)

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

Computer hardware, software, and network components
Audio and video equipment
Cyber security software
Training simulators
Video conferencing platform licenses
Instructional programming

Scoring Criteria

All applications will be scored based on:

Rurality (40 points) – Census population data
Economic Need (30 points) – Poverty data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates Program
Special Considerations (10 points) – Considerations may include Tribal lands, Distressed communities, Socially vulnerable communities
Need for Services and Project Benefits (30 points) – How will the grant meet the communities needs and what benefits will it provide?

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation funds the purchase of lifesaving equipment and outreach education on public safety in the United States.

Grants are awarded quarterly, but only 600 applications will be accepted each quarter. The grant portal will open in 2024 on April 4th, July 11th, and October 10th at 10 AM ET. Awards are typically $15,000 – $35,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Fire departments
Law enforcement agencies
Emergency Medical Services
Municipal and state governments
Public safety organizations
Nonprofit organizations
Schools

Resources are focused in areas within 60 miles of a Firehouse Subs restaurant. However, the Foundation recognizes the needs of rural organizations and will accept applications from outside that radius.

Focus Areas

Lifesaving Equipment

Funds the purchase of equipment such as:

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
Bunker gear
Bulletproof vests
All-terrain vehicles
Fire hoses

Prevention Education

Funds the purchase of prevention education tools such as:

Fire extinguisher training systems
Educational materials focused on distracted driving, carbon monoxide poisoning, CPR training, etc.

Scholarships and Continued Education

Financial assistance for individuals pursuing a career in public safety.

Disaster Relief

Funds assistance for survivors and first responders during and after a natural disaster.

Support for Members of the Military

Support for individuals who have served in any branch of the U.S. military.

Funding Limitations

Grant funds may be not be used for:

Dashboard cameras
Drones and drone accessories
Use of force equipment such as guns, tasers, and riot gear
Radar detectors
Surveillance equipment
Promotional items

GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Grant Program

The GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Grant Program supports programs that increase access to mental health services on college campuses to reduce suicide and stigma. Funds should primarily be used for capacity building.

SAMHSA expects to award 23 grants of up to $102,000 per year for up to 3 years. There is a required 1:1 match of nonfederal funds, unless the applicant can demonstrate extraordinary need. Applications are due by May 6, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to public and private institutions of higher education in the United States.

Required Activities

All projects must:

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Build a network of members of the applicant institution, trained behavioral health care providers, and local behavioral health crisis response services
Create a plan to get input from stakeholders
Provide voluntary screenings for mental health and substance use disorders and referrals to treatment services as needed
Provide evidence based training to students, faculty, and staff to identify and respond to mental health crises
Operate a hotline and/or promote available 24/7 crisis services
Conduct outreach to educate students on resources and services for mental health and substance use disorders
Disseminate educational materials to students, families, faculty, and staff about suicide, mental health issues, substance use disorders, and prevention
Conduct educational seminars that teach life skills, resilience, and promote social connectedness
Develop strategies to limit student access to lethal means
Assess the mental health and substance misuse needs of the student population

Allowable Activities

In addition to the required activities, grant funds may be used to:

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Create a plan to provide mental health and substance use disorder prevention and treatment services
Create polices to support students who need to take a medical leave of absence due to mental health or substance use disorders
Provide support to campus groups educating students about mental health and reducing stigma
Conduct research on outreach, prevention, and the provision of clinical services
Create new, evidence based practices, including culturally specific and trauma informed practices

Evaluation

All applications will be scored based on:

Population of Focus and Statement of Need (25 points)
Proposed Implementation Approach (40 points)
Staff and Organizational Experience (15 points )
Data Collection and Performance Measurement (20 points)

Dollar General Literacy Foundation: Youth Literacy Grants

Since 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has been supporting educational attainment in the United States. Through their grant programs, they help people learn English, learn to read, and prepare for the General Equivalency Development (GED) exam.

The Youth Literacy Grants program is designed to help students reading below grade level or struggling because of a learning disability. Applications for up to $4,000 are due by April 25, 2024. Organizations who received a Youth Literacy Grant in 2022 and 2023 are not eligible to apply this year.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofits
Public libraries
Public or private K-12 schools
Public colleges and universities

Applicants must be located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store.

Allowable Activities

Grant funds may be used to:

Establish or expand a youth literacy program
Purchase technology or equipment for a youth literacy program
Purchase books, materials, or software for a literacy program

Walmart Spark Good Local Grants

The Walmart Foundation supports projects in the communities where they operate through their Spark Good Local Grants. This program allows them to meet the unique needs of each community.

Applications for $250 – $5,000 are accepted and reviewed by store management on a quarterly basis. In 2024, open submission periods are:

Quarter 1: March 1 – April 15
Quarter 2: May 1 – July 15
Quarter 3: August 1 – October 15
Quarter 4: November 1 – December 31

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofits
City, county, or state government entities
K-12 public, nonprofit private, or charter schools
Community or junior colleges
State or private colleges and universities
Churches or religious organizations

Eligible applicants must also:

Operate on the local level
Directly benefit the service area of the store to which they are applying
Be verified through Deed

Space Tool

This tool allows organizations to request space outside their local Walmart for fundraisers and community awareness campaigns. Requests must be submitted at least 21 days prior to the proposed date and cannot be for more than 8 consecutive hours on 3 days.

For-profit businesses are not eligible, but non-501(c)3 nonprofits are.