Grant Writing Tips for Teachers
Articles & Insights
Fantastic new funding source
Teachers fillout a simple application online for a project grant to get supplies. Anonymous donors choose what projects to fund. Donors receive thank you notes and pictures. A brilliant and successful program for those environmental projects requiring kits or equipment.
www.donorschoose.org/homepage/main.html
An Outdoor Classroom Grant Program – Don’t miss out!
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor classroom grant program to provide schools with additional resources to improve their science curriculum by engaging students in hands-on experiences outside the traditional classroom. All K-12 public schools in the United States are welcome to apply.
This school year, the program will award grants up to $2,000 to at least 100 schools. In some cases, grants for up to $20,000 may be awarded to schools or school districts with major outdoor classroom projects. The grants can be used to build a new outdoor classroom or to enhance a current outdoor classroom at the school.
This program only considers outdoor classroom proposals. Please submit all other grant proposals for community improvement projects and K-12 public school initiatives to the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation at www.lowes.com/community.
Click here to begin your online grant application.
Classroom Grants for Enviro-ed
Classroom Grants for Enviro-ed with a Virginia emphasis on mandated meaningful watershed experience but lots of new and continuing sponsorships for other states too! Take a look at an awesome variety of grants available for individual students, classrooms, non-profits, school districts, nature centers, museums, etc. Provided by the:
Virginia Naturally
c/o Department of Environmental Quality
Virginia Naturally Coordinator
PO Box 10009
Richmond, VA 23240
tel: 804-698-4235
fax: 804-698-4533.
http://www.vanaturally.com/grants.html
California benefits from the Whales Tail Grant Program which supports projects up to $50,000
This program focuses on funding programs that teach California’s children and the general public to value and take action to improve the health of the state’s marine and coastal resources. For more information about these grants, check out:
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/pendx.html
Grant Writing Tips and Links
Environmental Education Grants listed on North American Association for Environmental Education
http://eelink.net/grants-eespecificresources.html
EPA Environmental Education Grant Program- Visit this site in late summer or fall for grants with submission deadlines usually in January; grant writing tutorial with examples
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html
Now take a look at some grant writing tutorials. These links are excellent detailed resources:
http://www.mcf.org/mcf/grant/writing.htm
http://7-12educators.about.com/library/weekly/aa061500a.htm
Tellabs Foundation Environment Grants
- Support programs to encourage understanding and protection of environment
- Primarily for institutions that allocate funds to local/national protection or improvement programs
- Focus on public health, clean air, clean water, recycling, waste reduction
More information: www.tellabs.com/about/foundation.shtml
At the 2002 National Science Teachers’ Association Conference in San Diego, Jim Calaway (Grant Writing for the Classroom Teacher) said “If I can do $1.5 million in grants and help hundreds of teachers get millions of dollars, then you can get grant money for your school, class, or project. Everyone sees the world through their value glasses according to Festinger’s theory. Also, we speak “EDUCATIONESE” and many people who give money to education still do not understand our abbreviations and lingo. Ideas are a premium, then you have a plan, then you write the plan down. Once you write down your idea, the grant writing process begins. Now we find the money.”
Most important considerations:
- Match the grant to your idea. Search the recommended fund sources websites listed here for topics that fit with your project ideas.
- Write the grant as the instructions mandate, not one dot or title otherwise.
- Apply in July and August for a year in advance.
- Small grants create larger grants. Many grants, especially the larger amounts, require in-kind money. This is money you would have had to spend if it wasn’t donated. If teachers donate their time, this is in-kind money. Calculate the teacher’s time based on a fair hourly rate. If you get TV or radio coverage donation, use the going rate, e.g., $64 per second for any TV coverage. Other in-kind resources are donated materials and tools, financial donations, and matching funds. Start your search at the local level, followed by regional, state, and finally national.
- Abstracts become the place that make or break you. Succinctly establish goals with enthusiasm structured with sequential flow. Be sure to quote them back their mission statement as part of your goals.
- General strategies for monitoring and restoration proposals: Show how the project will lead to additional action, projects, and future grants. Do your homework on the rules and procedures and philosophy of the funder. Be clear on your rationale, e.g., why these sites or volunteers, this equipment, protocol. Outline the key players.
- If you are approved or declined, always ask why.
If you want to talk to a grant writing consultant and biology teacher in person, contact James Calaway (jcalaway@lcisp.com). Jim has helped hundreds of teachers find millions of dollars and does Grant Writing Seminars and In-Service workshops for K-12. He is a 9th Grade Biology teacher at MacArthur Jr. High School, in Lawton, OK.
EPA Makes it easier to find FUNDING Sources for Watershed Protection ON-LINE
EPA has recently updated the Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection. This Catalog is now online as an easy to use, searchable Web site. The Web site provides information for watershed practitioners and others on 84 Federal funding sources that may be available to help fund various watershed-related projects. To view the Web site, go to: http://www.epa.gov/watershedfunding.
Funding for Kids in Science
While local funding to add resources to your science department may be trickling in there is another way to enrich your students without reaching into your own pocket. Local service organizations are not normally contributors to school budgets, but when students are part of a club or activity that takes place outside the classroom there are some options. One of the champions for supporting children is Optimist International whose members abide by the motto “Friends of Youth”. Here is a proposed outline to follow:
- Go to the following website www.optimist.org and find your local club.
- Find a core group of students prepared to monitor a local body of water. Visit the LaMotte website www.lamotte.com and call the technical service department (800-344-3100) to assist you in determining what LaMotte test kits would achieve your goals.
- Call the local contact on the internet and let them know your plans for a student monitoring program and offer to present a request.
- Visit the Optimist Club event with at least one student who can communicate the important project goals. Offer to report test results on an annual basis.
- Give them two choices in the low to mid price range ($100 to $250+) and await their decision. It may take several weeks for their board to meet and allocate the funding to groups requesting assistance.
Note: A well conceived plan with student involvement can go a long way to provide a lasting relationship with a local service organization. They raise money specifically to help contribute to the development of youth. One final word is if you like what you see go ahead and join!
Go to National Science Teachers Association Website for a list of current grants: http://www.nsta.org
More State-Specific Classroom Grants
Up-to-date list of grant opportunities, some national and some are North Carolina specific: http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/