Category Archives: Education

NEA Foundation Learning & Leadership Grants

Learning & Leadership Grants from the NEA Foundation provide funding for professional development opportunities to educators in the United States. Awards of up to $5,000 are available for educators to expand their own knowledge in ways that can be applied in the classroom.

Applications are accepted through three annual cycles. The current cycle opened on March 1, 2024 and will close on May 1st.

Grant Types

Individual

Individual educators may apply for grants to attend conferences, seminars, summer institutes, and study aboard opportunities.

Group

Groups of educators can apply for grants to fund study groups, lesson plan development, and mentoring programs.

Eligibility

Applicants for this grant must be:

Non-NEA members can participate in group grant activities, but can not be the lead applicant.

Allowable Expenses

Individual

Individual grant funds may be spent on expenses such as:

  • Registration fees
  • Travel
  • Meals
  • Lodging
  • Materials

Group

Group grant funds may be spent on expenses such as:

  • Stipends
  • Substitute fees
  • Travel
  • Meals
  • Materials

Neither grant type may be used to pay for:

  • Indirect costs
  • Grant administration
  • Salaries
  • Political activities
  • Religious activities
  • Reimbursing funds spent prior to the grant period

Funding Priorities

Applications focused on the following topics are the most likely to be funded:

  • Enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Mastery of essential academic content
  • Communication and collaboration skills
  • Project-based learning
  • Learning experiences connected to real-world issues

It Gets Better Project: 50 States, 50 Grants, 5000 Voices

The 50 States, 50 Grants, 5000 Voices grant from the It Gets Better Project aims to fund projects in all 50 states to support LGBTQ+ youth and educators. Schools can apply for for activities that will empower members of the LGBTQ+ community and help foster acceptance.

Applications for up to $10,000 are due by April 1, 2024.

Eligibility

This grant is open to public or charter middle/junior high and high schools in the United States and its territories.

Allowable Activities

Grant funds can be spent on a wide variety of projects supporting LGBTQ+/2SLGBTQ+ students and educators. Examples include

  • Forming a Gender & Sexualities Alliance or similar group and providing leadership training for its leaders.
  • Purchasing books to create an LGBTQ+/2SLGBTQ+ section in your school library.
  • Creating an art installation depicting local LGBTQ+/2SLGBTQ+ history.
  • Building a float for your city’s Pride parade.

Funds may not be spent on political activities, research, scholarships, or projects that benefit only one person.

Evaluation Criteria

All applications will be evaluated based on:

  • School Environment – 15%
  • Project Vision – 50%
  • Project Budget – 15%
  • Overall Review – 20%

Priority Consideration

Schools will receive priority consideration and an additional 10% added to their evaluation score if they have:

  • A diverse student population
  • Federally recognized Title I status (i.e. 40% or more of students come from low-income homes)
  • Demonstrated support for LGBTQ+ students through policies, curriculum, etc.
  • Incorporation of broader community involvement
  • A plan that can continue beyond the grant year

Rural Technology Education Grant

The Rural Technology Fund is bridging the digital divide between rural and suburban/urban schools in the United States through their Rural Technology Education Grant. They hope to spark interest in technology careers like computer engineering, programming, and robotics.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis and reviewed every 30-60 days. The average grant is $500 – $2,500, but larger requests will be considered for projects that will impact a greater number of students.

Eligibility

This grant is open to public schools and 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in the U.S.

Topic Areas

Potential topic areas for tech grants include:

  • Coding/Programming
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Engineering
  • Design
  • Digital Art
  • Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Robotics

Dovetail Impact Foundation

The Dovetail Impact Foundation practices Christian stewardship by supporting projects in 35 countries that promote human flourishing. They currently fund through their Domestic Portfolio in Texas, Scale Portfolio, and Acceleration Portfolio.

Grants are by invitation only, but interested organizations may introduce themselves at any time.

Eligibility

Funding through the Domestic Portfolio is available to nonprofit organizations in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties in Texas.

Funding through the Scale Portfolio is available to nonprofit organizations in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, typically with an operating budget of $500,000 – $5 million.

Funding through the Acceleration Portfolio is available to nonprofit organizations in Africa, typically with an operating budget of less than $300,000.

Fundamental Principles

Dovetail looks for three fundamental principles in the organizations with which they partner:

  1. The ability to accomplish a lot with a little
  2. The potential to impact millions of people
  3. A sustainable model of operations, not entirely reliant on private philanthropy

Ideal partners will also have:

  • A unique, well defined mission
  • A 3-5 year strategic plan
  • A business model that demonstrates increased efficiency over time
  • Evidence of impact or a plan to measure results
  • A strong, effective Board or the intention to establish one
  • Strong executive talent with a coachable spirit

Funding Limitations

Dovetail typically does not fund requests focused on:

  • The Arts
  • Disaster response
  • Higher education
  • Events
  • Endowments
  • Scholarships
  • Individual assistance, such as tuition or emergency aid

Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation

The Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation supports projects that help youth in the United States up to age 21 achieve their full potential. This may include the arts, education, health, and welfare services.

Letters of Interest for requests of $1,000 – $10,000 are due annually by March 31st. Full proposals for those invited to submit will be due by August 1st.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. The Foundation does not award grants to large, national level organizations such as the United Way or the American Cancer Society.

Echo360 e3 Tech Grants 

Echo360 e3 Tech Grants support educators and researchers in the U.S. as they advance equity, engagement, and evidence through the use of Echo360 products. EchoImpact Grants are available for applicants who are already using Echo360 and EchoInnovation Grants will provide Echo360 software to grantees. Grants specifically for Historically Black Colleges and Universities are also available under both categories.

Applications for all grants are due by March 22, 2024. Funding or software provided varies by grant category.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • K-12 schools
  • Colleges and universities
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • For-profit businesses

Grant Categories

EchoImpact

Standard

Recipients of the EchoImpact Grant will receive up to $2,000, as well as paid travel and accommodations to attend a 2 day workshop with their peers.

HBCUs

To address the systemic underfunding of schools for people of color, HBCUs will receive up to $4,000, as well as paid travel and accommodations to attend a 2 day workshop with their peers.

EchoInnovation

Standard

Recipients of the EchoInnovation Grant will receive up to $5,000 worth of Echo360 software.

HBCUs

HBCU recipients of the EchoInnovation Grant will receive up to $5,000 worth of Echo360 software.

Advanced Nursing Education – Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Program

The Advanced Nursing Education – Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Program from the Health Resources and Services Administration will address the dearth of professionals trained to perform forensic examinations on sexual assault survivors.  

HRSA expects to award 28 grants of up to $500,000 per year for 3 years, subject to congressional appropriations. There is no cost share or match required. Applications are due by April 2, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to:

  • Accredited public and private schools of nursing
  • Nonprofit organizations with a designation from the IRS
  • City, county, and township governments
  • State and U.S. territory governments
  • Special district governments 
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments and organizations

Trainees

Trainees under this program must be:

  • United States citizens, non-citizen nationals, lawfully admitted permanent residents, or otherwise qualified aliens
  • Registered Nurses (RNs) with an active and unencumbered license
  • Practicing as either a generalist RN, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Forensic Nurse or enrolled as a student in an advanced nursing education program, including Advanced Practice Registered Nursing and Forensic Nursing Programs.

Program Goals

Photo by Павел Сорокин: https://www.pexels.com/photo/surgeons-performing-surgery-2324837/

The goals of this program are to:

  • Increase the number of trained and certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)
  • Increase the number of available SANE trainings 
  • Expand access to sexual assault forensic examinations, especially in rural and underserved areas
  • Foster an environment that supports SANE training, practice and retention

Funding Priorities

Priority consideration will be given to programs that:

  • Substantially benefit rural populations
  • Substantially benefit underserved populations
  • Help meet public health nursing needs in state or local health departments

Funding Limitations

In addition to the cost of training, grant funds may be used to provide health insurance to trainees. It may not be used for:

  • Indirect costs equally more than 8% of direct costs
  • Accreditation costs
  • Membership dues that directly fund lobbying activities
  • Liability insurance, unemployment insurance, life insurance, taxes, fees, retirement plans, or other fringe benefits for trainees
  • Faculty/staff release time
  • Foreign travel

Biodiversity Conservation Grant: Enhancing Pollinator Habitats

The Biodiversity Conservation Grant: Enhancing Pollinator Habitats is a partnership between the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) and Toyota Motor North America. This program offers awards of $50,000 – $100,000 for one year projects that create or restore habitats for pollinator species. A total of $200,000 in funding is available.

Letters of Intent are due by March 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST. After an initial review period, some applicants will be invited to submit a full application due May 1, 2024. Grants will be awarded on June 10th.

Eligibility

Applicant

This funding opportunity is open to:

  • Federal, state, or local government agencies
  • Federally recognized Native American Tribes
  • 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
  • Educational institutions

Project

Image by Myriams-Fotos

Eligible projects must:

  • Take place on public land (i.e. accessible to everyone)
  • Cover at least 200 acres
  • Apply best management practices to the creation and maintenance of pollinator habitats
  • Incorporate community outreach and education

Application Requirements

Applicants should be prepared to submit the following if their LOI is approved:

  • A step-by-step plan for the creation or reclamation of the pollinator habitat
  • A detailed timeline of the grant year including educational and community engagement events
  • Letters of Support from all project partners
  • Annual organizational budget
  • Audit for previous fiscal year or balance sheet and profit/loss statement, if audit unavailable

Projects Near Toyota Sites

One of the final projects selected for funding will be within one hour of the following communities, located near a Toyota manufacturing or corporate sites:

Image by PublicDomainPictures
  • Long Beach, CA
  • Henderson, NV
  • Chandler, AZ
  • San Antonio, TX
  • Plano, TX
  • Troy, MO
  • Tupelo, MS
  • Huntsville, AL
  • Alpharetta, GA
  • Greensboro, NC
  • Georgetown, KY
  • Jackson, TN
  • Buffalo, WV
  • Evansville, IN
  • Ann Arbor, MI

McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Academic Enrichment Grant

Professors Sarah McCarthey and Mark Dressman from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign founded the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation to assist dedicated teachers in creating extraordinary programs. They did so in recognition of the many challenges teachers face and how that can come at the expense of our most vulnerable students.

The Academic Enrichment Grant can be used for classroom or after school learning programs targeting low income students. Applications will be accepted until April 15, 2024 or when they reach 200 applicants, whichever comes first. Awards of up to $10,000 or $20,000 over two years are available.

Eligibility

This grant is open to educators in the United States who:

  • Work in a school or at a non-profit organization
  • Work with Pre-K – Grade 12 students
  • Work with students from low income households
  • Have the skills and experience to complete the proposed project
  • Are willing to collaborate with the Foundation

Application Requirements

All applications must include:

  • Two references such as books, articles, or models that support the project
  • A timeline for executing the project
  • A complete budget
  • Three references to whom the Foundation can send information

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation supports organizations working with or impacting children and youth from low-income, urban communities in the United States, India, and South Africa.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis for requests of $50,000 or more in Education (all), Health and Wellness (U.S.), and Family Economic Stability (India, South Africa, Central Texas, and Greater Boston).

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • Governments
  • Social enterprises
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Charitable trusts
  • Community foundations
  • Private foundations
  • Schools
  • Educational organizations
  • Religious organizations

Focus Areas

Education

Projects submitted under Education should concentrate on:

Health and Wellness

Image by congerdesign

Health and Wellness projects should concentrate on:

  • Healthy Communities
  • Healthy Food

Family Economic Stability

Projects under this focus area should concentrate on:

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may not be spent on:

  • Computers, tablets, or other hardware
  • Endowments
  • Fundraisers or event sponsorships
  • Lobbying
  • Medical research
  • Infrastructure

Request

Requests must be for $50,000 or more. However, the Foundation typically does not fund more than 25% of a project or 10% of an organization’s total annual operating expenses.