When you’re looking for ways to help fill in the gaps in your school’s limited budget—and for most teachers we know, this is an ongoing task that takes up as much time as you have to give—one of the best options available are grants.
Grants exist to provide resources to educators that they might not otherwise be able to get. Some grants can fund projects as large as improving a school’s playground or library; others are intended to fund specific education goals, like increasing literacy, or for professional development for educators.
A big reason why grants are one of the best options for gaining additional funding is that grants, unlike loans, don’t need to be paid back (as long as the money is spent in accordance with the terms of the grant award that allocates the funds).
If you’re thinking this sounds like a sweetheart deal, it is! It can also be a lot of work, but no worries, we have your head start right here, with our 2023-24 edition of grants for elementary schools!
U.S. General Services Administration Computers for Learning Program
Purpose: The Computers for Learning program assists federal agencies to give highest preference to schools and nonprofit organizations with the transfer, through gift or donation, of computers and related peripheral equipment excess to their needs. The program allows schools and educational nonprofit organizations to view and select the computer equipment that federal agencies have reported as excess.
This program is a result of an Executive Order from 1999, which includes making modern computer technology an integral part of every classroom, connecting classrooms to the national infrastructure, providing teachers with the professional development they need to use new technologies effectively and encouraging the use of innovative educational software.
Eligibility: All Computers for Learning participants must be located in the United States or U.S. territories. A school is eligible if it is public, private or parochial, serving pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students.
Deadline: No deadline, apply any time.
How to Apply: Register online and apply to request computers for your school.
DonorsChoose Grants
Purpose: These grants are similar to crowdfunding, but instead of just asking for donations from your own community or from random strangers on the internet, DonorsChoose helps teachers connect with teacher-favorite brands and over 5 million donors who want to help you turn any classroom dream into reality, from an inclusive classroom library to coding robots. Not to mention, many teachers we’ve worked with over the years have used this grant program!
Eligibility: Any teacher or school administrator with financial need.
Deadline: Set up your fundraiser, choose your own deadline, get started any time.
How to Apply: Create an account and set up a fundraiser, then share for others to donate.
Believe in Reading
Purpose: Believe in Reading awards grants to support successful literacy programs which serve populations that show out-of-the-ordinary needs, such as geographic areas with low reading scores and high poverty levels.
Funds must be earmarked for literacy, and reading must be the primary activity of the literacy program. Grant amounts can go up to $10,000, but the vast majority of grants awarded are for $3,000 or less. First time applicants will not be funded for more than $3,000. Grants are renewable for up to 3 years because addressing literacy is not a short-term process.
Eligibility: Tax exempt organization with existing and provably successful literacy programs. Programs should have been established for a minimum of 2 years.
Deadline: Ongoing, but it is recommended to apply long in advance of when you would like funding as the awarding organization commonly has many pending applications.
How to Apply: Grant applications will reopen later this year at this page.
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Dell Grants Support Program
Purpose: For education grants, the Dell Grants Support Program is intended to support projects that promote science, technology, engineering and math, including summer or after-school programs, as well as teacher training and research on improving learning in STEM areas through the use of technology. The amount of each grant varies based on the type of project the grant is intended to fund.
Eligibility: Any public agencies who would benefit from a grant to fund your technology project.
Deadline: Ongoing, apply any time.
How to Apply: Fill out the form for more information on available STEM grants.
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NEA Learning & Leadership Grants
Purpose: The National Education Association offers Learning & Leadership grants to support the professional development of NEA members by providing grants to both individual groups to help cover costs for opportunities such as summer institutes, conferences, lesson plan development, mentoring experiences and more. The amount of each grant varies based on the type of project the grant is intended to fund.
Eligibility: Teachers and school administrators who are current NEA members and have limited district funding for professional development activities.
Deadline: This grant has 3 application windows. June 15-September 15, with notifications of grant awards by November 15; December 1-February 1 of each year, with notifications of grant awards by April 1; and March 1-May 1, with notifications of grant awards by July 1.
How to Apply: Fill out the online application and submit a grant proposal (the next application window begins June 15). If you have any questions, be sure to review the Application Guidance page.
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Mini-Grants
Purpose: The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Mini-Grants are intended to fund programs that are creative and innovative activities that take place in class or out in the community, provide an enriching educational experience and are funded solely by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.
It is an opportunity for a public school teacher or librarian to present a special project outside the standard curriculum or an engaging way to help students meet curricular goals. The amount of each mini-grant varies based on the type of project the grant is intended to fund.
Eligibility: Public school, public library or preschool program educators.
Deadline: September 30.
How to Apply: Applications will be available in the Spring at this page, which also includes more information about the EJK Foundation Mini-Grants and tips to help with your application.
Walmart Local Community Grants
Purpose: These local community grants are awarded through an open application process and provide funding directly from Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities to local organizations in the U.S. Grants awarded range from $250 to $5,000 depending on the scope of the project the grant is intended to fund.
Eligibility: Eligible nonprofit organizations must operate on the local level (or be an affiliate/chapter of a larger organization that operates locally) and directly benefit the service area of the facility from which they are requesting funding.
Deadline: These grants are awarded quarterly. The application windows are August 1-October 15; November 1-December 31; February 1-April 15; and May 1-July 15.
How to Apply: Click the button at the bottom of this page to submit a Local Community Grant Application.
American Association of Educators Classroom Grant
Purpose: The American Association of Educators Classroom grants can be used for a variety of projects and materials including, but not limited to, books, software, calculators, math manipulatives, art supplies, audio-visual equipment and lab materials. Funds must be used within one year of the application deadline. Grants are available for up to $500.
Eligibility: Classroom grants are available to all full-time educators who have not received a scholarship or grant from AAE in the past two years. Awards are competitive (AAE members receive additional weight in the scoring rubric).
Deadline: October 1st (Autumn), March 1st (Spring).
How to Apply: Fill out the online application, which includes an information section and a grant proposal section.
NSF Discovery Research Grant
Purpose: The Discovery Research Grant from the National Science Foundation is an edtech grant that supports research and development to enhance STEM learning and teaching for preK-12 students. They anticipate having a total funding amount of $50,000,000 to be awarded to between 50 and 60 projects for the 2024 competition; the amount of each grant varies based on the type of project the grant is intended to fund.
Eligibility: PreK–12 educators with financial need.
Deadline: November 8, 2023 (second Wednesday in November annually).
How to Apply: Review the Summary of Program Requirements for instructions on how to submit a grant proposal.
Saxena Family Foundation Grants and Support Programs
Purpose: The Saxena Family Foundation is a privately funded, non-profit charitable organization based in Austin, TX. The Saxena Foundation awards grants and support programs that emphasize STEM education and seek to empower women throughout the United States and India. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000.
Eligibility: Public schools located in the United States and India.
Deadline: Ongoing
How to Apply: Inquire about grants and support programs via their website.
Toshiba America Foundation Grants
Purpose: The Toshiba America Foundation offers grants of up to $1,000 to elementary school teachers that demonstrate that they have innovative project ideas for teaching math and science in their classrooms. Projects need to have measurable outcomes in order to be eligible for the grant.
Eligibility: Kindergarten through 5th-Grade Teachers
Deadline: October 1st
How to Apply: Click the application link on the grant information page.
American Association of School Librarians Innovative Reading Grant
Purpose: The AASL Innovative Reading Grant supports the planning and implementation of a unique and innovative program for K-9 learners, which motivates and encourages reading, especially with struggling readers. The grant amount is $2,500.
Eligibility: Applicant must be a personal member of AASL.
Deadline: February 1.
How to Apply: All applications must be submitted online, via the Apply Now button that will appear at the top of this page when the next award season opens in early September 2023.
Snapdragon Book Foundation
Purpose: The Snapdragon Book Foundation provides annual grants to school libraries in need of books and literary resources to help enrich school reading programs. Grant amounts range from $500 to $12,000, depending on the scope of the project the grant is intended to fund.
Eligibility: School librarians who serve disadvantaged communities.
Deadline: February 1.
How to Apply: Submit your grant application by clicking the button at the top of this page when the 2024 application becomes available at the end of October 2023. If you have any questions, be sure to review the FAQ page.
Beyond the sampling of grants collected here, there are thousands of grants available for specific states and cities, for different specialized types of education and to improve support available for students with different education needs.
These opportunities are at the tips of your fingers. All it takes to get started is an internet search: just type the word “grant” along with any hyper-specific project you’d like to make happen at your school. You’ll probably be surprised when you see the options available!
Help Your Students Become Published Authors!
If you’re looking for a fun and exciting FREE project for your elementary class, look no further than one of our FREE classbook publishing kits. These kits help you combine your students’ writing and illustrations into a professionally bound, hardcover book, turning your class into published authors!
The process is easy and very straightforward. All you need to do is sign up online, and we’ll ship your publishing kit straight to you. A classbook collecting all of your students’ writing and illustrations will be a meaningful keepsake and time capsule for your classroom. Parents can order copies, too!
You can also check out our blog and online Teacher’s Lounge for more writing activities, lesson plans and teaching strategies. We hope that the grants we’ve listed in this post will help you add to your classroom budget and enrich your students’ learning experiences!
