Top Tips For Education Grant Writing!

By Paige Greve | May 15, 2019

 Written by Carly Zeis

Grants and Scholarships

Upcoming Due Dates for 2019 Grants and Top Tips for Grant and Scholarship Applications

As educators across the academic spectrum are aware, funding for educational resources, technology, and curriculum implementation is crucial for student achievement in the classroom. In fact, there are three different studies done by PricewaterhouseCoopers, that show a statistically positive relationship between pupil retainment and capital investment. (i,ii,iii)

Often times these grants, scholarships, and other resources can be hard to find and quite competitive, with information on due dates and deadlines hard to find. However, the reward of a well-funded program, curriculum development plan, or other classroom technology is most certainly worth the jump through proverbial hoops.

To that end, Forward Edge wants to help districts take advantage of different funding avenues to reach their goals. The below tips and a list of current, upcoming deadlines can help your district in working through to a successful grant or scholarship application. We are proud to help educators achieve their goals in the classroom and hope these grants allow educators the ability to develop, create and expand programs critical to our empowering the students they serve.

Top Tier Tips for a Smooth Application Process

1. Start with the Three P’s of Grant Writing (iv);

  • Project – Have a project you want to do before you start searching for grants. This way you can make your grant and scholarship search more directed, finding a good fit for your project, not the other way around.
  • Permission – Make sure you have the support of your superintendent or principal; Many grants that are dedicated to over a few thousand dollars require a senior officer’s agreement to implement the project scope of the grant within the school system.
  • Plan – Formulate your plan before you attempt to start writing the grant or scholarship application. Make sure you analyze (down to the detail) what you need to do in order for your project to be successful; This includes a timeline, mission statement, total cost or time investment, required materials, personnel, and supplies, along with any other investment the project may need

2. Be Realistic and Do Your Research;

  • Make sure you are realistic about any timelines, due dates, and what amount of work can be accomplished to meet them. Grant and scholarship writing, along with their application processes, are a considerable time sink; While it is admirable to have an optimistic time table, it is better, in the long run, to be more realistic about completion.
  • Research, research, research; Knowing what grants and scholarships to apply to is only half the battle. It is important to know the most appropriate funding sources for the project, but also if others have done similar projects. If so, were they successful? How was that success carried out? Was there lasting student impact from those projects?

3. Assemble Your Support;

  • While you can do a grant application by yourself, you probably want to assemble a team or group of support in order to make the task more manageable. For instance, a proofreader, a knowledgeable writer, a researcher, and a faculty mentor who may have previous grant writing experience would be a great start!
  • In addition, those who are involved with the implementation of the project should also be involved with the actual application. This keeps everyone on the same page but also lends more heft and knowledge to the implementation process if the grant is awarded.

Grants and Scholarship Information and Upcoming Due Dates:

 

Georgia-Pacific Foundation Education Grants, amount varies
 “We support a variety of results-driven educational programs, including ones that boost literacy, get public school kids interested in STEM and train teachers so they can take their skills to the next level.”
This grant requires that your organization, school, or facility must be located within 30 miles of a Georgia-Pacific manufacturing location.
Funded by Georgia-Pacific Foundation.

 

The Foundation for Blended and Online Learning Innovative Educator Prize Program, up to $10,000
“The Foundation for Blended and Online Learning (The Foundation) has established the Innovative Educator Prize Program (IEPP) to support U.S.-based K-12 teachers in the design, development, implementation, and growth of new personalized learning projects.” This grant is for educators to use for technology, curriculum, classroom supplies, and related materials. Sponsored by Foundation for Blended and Online Learning

 

Learning & Leadership Grants, $2,000 – $5,000

“We have provided funding to thousands of educators, enabling them to develop their professional practice to improve student learning.”  Applicants must be members of the NEA. Funded by the NEA Association.

  • Application Deadline: June 1 and Oct. 15.
  • Apply Here

 

Instructional Technology Integration Partnership Grant, $500

“ITIP Ohio provides grant opportunities to Ohio teachers to reward excellence in teaching and promote innovative practices.” Any PreK-12 Ohio Teacher is eligible. This grant is funded by the Instructional Technology Integration Partnership of Ohio.

 

Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Grant to Educators, $3,000

“The Grants-Educators program encourages individual educators to try innovative, smaller-scale activities within their classroom, school, or district.”Any teacher (Pre-K – grade 12) or administrator in Ohio’s secular primary or secondary schools is eligible. Funded by The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation

  • Application Deadline: July 15, August 15, September 15, October 15
  • Apply Here

 

Toshiba K-5, $1,000

This grant is designed to aid teachers in bringing innovative, hands-on projects in classrooms. Science and math teachers in public or private (non-profit) schools are eligible. Funded by Toshiba America Foundation

 

Toshiba 6-12, amount varies

Toshiba America Foundation accepts applications from teachers who are passionate about making science and mathematics more engaging for their students. Grades 6-12 Grant requests for $5,000 or less are accepted throughout the calendar year. Grades 6-12 Grant requests for $5,000 or more are accepted and reviewed twice a year – May 1st and November 1st. Science and math teachers in public or private (non-profit) schools are eligible. This grant is funded by Toshiba America Foundation

  • Application Deadline: May 1st, November 1st & other various times throughout the year
  • Apply Here

 

Honda Grant, $20,000 to $75,000

Honda offers grants for many causes. However, they prioritize “youth education, specifically in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, the environment, job training and literacy.” This is funded by Honda.

 

Active Teacher Grant, up to $500

This grant is for teachers who want to show creativity in the classroom, and it is funded by the Indiana Retired Teachers Association.

Forward Edge provides IT hardware and related solutions to the K-12 and Higher Education market. We are committed to delivering the technologies, products, and services that our clients and partners can both build upon and expand in today’s environment. Through experience, understanding of the education market, and a persistent search for talented and skilled individuals, Forward Edge has established itself on the forefront of technology. At Forward Edge, we understand technology and the needs of our clients and are pleased to offer comprehensive design and installation services. What separates us from the rest? Here at Forward Edge, we consider ourselves an extension of our customer’s IT department. Our all-encompassing professional services allow us to provide our customers with the complete solutions they are seeking while producing the highest quality results. Forward Edge can help provide the answers to both your short term and long term IT needs.

Contact Us!

[i]PricewaterhouseCoopers (2003) Building Better Performance: An Empirical Assessment of the Learning and Other Impacts of Schools Capital Investment: DFES Research Report 407, March 2003

[ii]PricewaterhouseCoopers (2007) Building Schools for the Future: Technical Report: Appendix E: Literature Review: https://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinanceandbuilding/bsf/

[iii]PricewaterhouseCoopers (2010) Evaluation of Building Schools for the Future (BSF): 3rd Annual Report: Final Report February 2010: https://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinanceandbuilding/bsf/

[iv]https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev039.shtml

 

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