Jordan Fundamentals Public School Grant Program

Founded by Michael Jordan, the Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program recognizes outstanding teaching and instructional creativity in public schools that serve economically disadvantaged students. The program is presented by the Jordan Brand, a division of Nike, Inc., and administered by Scholarship America (http://www.scholarshipamerica.org/).

Applicants to the program must be public school teachers or paraprofessionals working with students in grades one through twelve and be employed by an accredited public school where at least 50 percent of the school's student population is eligible for the free or reduced school lunch program. Applicants must develop an original lesson plan or thematic unit (a series of lessons with related learning objectives united by a common theme) that demonstrates high expectations for students. Applicants are encouraged to involve students in the development of this plan or unit. The plan or unit should not be derived from any commercial package.

A minimum of 200 small grants, averaging $2500 will be awarded to individual teachers, to support the development of more effective approaches or more effective implementation of traditional strategies to engage students and foster improved outcomes.

Medium-sized grants, averaging $10,000 may be awarded to teams of teachers to support scaling-up the implementation of approaches developed with Innovation Grants that hold promise for scalability and being replicated. Multi-year funding for Inspiration Grants will require evidence of sustainability.

> http://www.nike.com/jumpman23/features/fundamentals/guidelines.html

MetLife Foundation Bridge Builders Grant

MetLife Foundation Bridge Builders Grant Program and The National Association of Secondary School Principals is inviting proposals from public middle level and high schools serving large numbers of low-income students and/or underrepresented minorities (40% or more of the student body) to apply for a grant to implement a special initiative aimed at building better relationships among adults and students. Maximum Award: $5,000. Eligibility: Middle level and high school principals in public schools serving large numbers of low income and/or large numbers of minority students (more than 40% of the student body) in the United States.

> http://www.principals.org/s_nassp/sec.asp?CID=568&DID=48228

NCUST Award Excellent Urban Schools

National Center for Urban School Transformation Excellence in Education Award Criteria

The NCUST Excellence in Education Award was established exclusively to recognize public schools or public charter schools serving urban communities. To help urban school districts and their partners transform urban schools into places where all students achieve academic proficiency, evidence a love of learning, and graduate well prepared to succeed in post-secondary education, the workplace, and their communities.

Eligibility Criteria - The district where the school is located must serve a city with a population of at least 50,000. At least 50 percent of the school's students must meet the eligibility criteria for the federal free- or reduced-price lunch program. Secondary schools, however, may be considered if at least 50 percent of the students meet the federal criteria in two-thirds of the elementary schools that feed into the secondary school. To be considered for an Excellence in Education Award, a school may not have any selective admissions criteria. A school must have met AYP performance goals for all student subgroups for the previous two academic years.

> http://edweb.sdsu.edu/ncust/awards/criteria.html

Staples Foundation

Thank you for your interest in receiving funding from Staples Foundation for Learning®. The Foundation considers educational funding to be an investment in the future of our communities. Our goal is to help local groups with programs and services that will positively impact their communities every day.

Mission and Giving Focus of Staples Foundation for Learning, Inc. The mission of Staples Foundation for Learning is to provide funding to programs that support or provide job skills and/or education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth.

> http://www.staplesfoundation.org/foundapplication.html

Casey Foundation (Annie E.) Support For Public Education

With a mission and history rooted in an ambitious vision of building better futures for disadvantaged children, the Casey Foundation’s approach to philanthropy has always embraced more than giving grants to achieve our goals.

We use our resources to partner with and forge collaborations among institutions, agencies, decision makers, and community leaders so they can work together to transform tough places to raise families. We fund research, technical assistance, and multi-site demonstrations that help service and support systems like public schools, juvenile justice agencies, and child welfare systems get better results for kids and families. We directly deliver exemplary services, identify and measure what works, and share lessons learned to demonstrate the potential of reforming public policies and services on behalf of children and their families. No one single investment approach can fully meet the needs nor truly make a lasting difference in the lives of the significant numbers of vulnerable children and families encompassed by Casey's mission. However, taken as a whole, these approaches to philanthropy and "change-making" help increase our positive impact on the populations we care about most; expand our influence with key audiences; and maximize our ability to leverage even more resources for the kids, families, and communities at the heart of our mission.

> http://www.aecf.org/AboutUs/GrantInformation.aspx

The Janus Foundation

The Janus Foundation accepts grant applications from nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. for the first two giving categories:

• At-risk youth through education • Community service and volunteerism

Grants will be made to organizations and programs that are considered innovative and visionary, and that have a long lasting impact, ultimately leading their constituents to self-sufficiency. The foundation prefers to support specific programs rather than general operating funds and capital campaigns. Applicants should have clearly defined goals and anticipated outcomes and be able to demonstrate the success of their programs through quantitative and qualitative evaluations. An organization may submit only one grant proposal per calendar year.

All grant proposals must be submitted to: The Janus Foundation, 151 Detroit Street, Denver, CO 80206. Contact Person: Tracy Contact Phone: 303-333-3863 Contact Email: janusfoundation@janus.com

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Grant for Enrichment Programs

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation partners with educational organizations and institutions that share our commitment to enabling exceptionally promising lower-income students to reach their full potential. Through strategically targeted grants, the Foundation works to expand educational opportunities for thousands of remarkable students whose families, schools, and communities need additional resources to help these students fulfill their promise.

Elementary School The Foundation’s Enrichment and Accelerated Learning Grants are designed to provide targeted support to organizations that offer challenging out-of-school and summer enrichment programs for elementary-school children with financial need.

Middle School The Foundation’s Young Scholars Pipeline Grants support schools and out-of-school programs that offer exceptional middle-school students with financial need the challenging and engaging content they need to develop and deepen their academic interests.

Fine and Performing Arts The Foundation offers special support to low- to moderate-income students who show exceptional promise in fine and performing arts through innovative partnerships with local and national arts organizations and through the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.

Gifted & Talented The Foundation partners with university-based gifted and talented centers to provide access to accelerated learning and specialized enrichment programs for high-achieving, low- to moderate-income students across the country.

Twice Exceptional The Foundation’s Twice-Exceptional Education Grants are designed to ensure that extraordinary students who possess a high level of academic ability as well as learning differences receive the extra resources they need to nurture their talents.

> http://www.jkcf.org/grants/youth-education/

Read Across America Library Books Awards

In collaboration with the National Education Association, The NEA Foundation will make approximately 50 awards of $1,000 each to public schools serving economically disadvantaged students to purchase books for school libraries.

> http://neafoundation.org/grants.htm

Improving Literacy Through School Libraries

This program helps LEAs improve reading achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media centers; and professionally certified school library media specialists.

Who May Apply: (specifically) Local education agencies (LEAs) in which at least 20 percent of students served are from families with incomes below the poverty line may apply. Outlying areas (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are eligible for funds under a set-aside.

> http://www.ed.gov/programs/lsl/index.html

Washington Mutual School Improvement Strategies

Washington Mutual makes grants to education programs that benefit K-12 public schools where a majority of students receive free and reduced-price lunches. Our goal is to help strengthen the educational curriculum and give students an opportunity to graduate equipped for success in higher education or the workplace. Our K-12 education grants are focused on the following areas:

• Professional development for teachers and principals: We're looking for programs that have clearly measurable results and help educators grow professionally, learn from experience and work with their peers to improve their skills.
• School improvement strategies: This includes assistance to improve student achievement and help for parents to take advantage of the benefits available in the school system for their child.

The following categories are generally ineligible for funding associated with this focus area:

• Capital gifts for physical property developments
• Community education programs unconnected to local school needs or priorities
• Grants to private schools

Grant Limitations

Washington Mutual does not provide grants to individuals or to organizations that:

• Are not tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, governmental entities, including public schools, or tribal organizations that are classified as governmental entities for federal tax purposes
• Discriminate for any reason, including race, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation or national origin
• Are religious, unless the program or project to be funded fits into one of the specified focus areas and is for nonreligious purposes
• Are seeking funding for programs or projects that are outside the areas where Washington Mutual does business
• Are fiscal agents or fiscal sponsors

http://www.jpmorganchase.com/cm/cs?pagename=Chase/Href&urlname=jpmc/community/grants/educ

Washington Mutual Professional Development For Teachers and Principals

Washington Mutual makes grants to education programs that benefit K-12 public schools where a majority of students receive free and reduced-price lunches. Our goal is to help strengthen the educational curriculum and give students an opportunity to graduate equipped for success in higher education or the workplace.

Our K-12 education grants are focused on the following areas:

• Professional development for teachers and principals: We're looking for programs that have clearly measurable results and help educators grow professionally, learn from experience and work with their peers to improve their skills.
• School improvement strategies: This includes assistance to improve student achievement and help for parents to take advantage of the benefits available in the school system for their child.  

The following categories are generally ineligible for funding associated with this focus area:

• Capital gifts for physical property developments
• Community education programs unconnected to local school needs or priorities
• Grants to private schools

Grant Limitations Washington Mutual does not provide grants to individuals or to organizations that:

• Are not tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, governmental entities, including public schools, or tribal organizations that are classified as governmental entities for federal tax purposes
• Discriminate for any reason, including race, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation or national origin
• Are religious, unless the program or project to be funded fits into one of the specified focus areas and is for nonreligious purposes
• Are seeking funding for programs or projects that are outside the areas where Washington Mutual does business
• Are fiscal agents or fiscal sponsors

> https://www.wamu.com/about/community/grantsguidelines/k12publiceducation.htm

Closing the Achievement Gaps

Many economically disadvantaged and minority students do not have the same opportunities for academic success as their more affluent peers. With support from The NEA Foundation, partnerships led by NEA affiliates, school districts, and community organizations will take action to accelerate the achievement rate for disadvantaged and minority students, while raising achievement for all groups of students.

Using the resources of its partner organizations, the funding provided by The NEA Foundation, and the expertise of education professionals, grant recipients will:

• Reduce the drop-out rate, improve academic performance, and increase the rate at which students go to college without the need for remediation
• Ensure that every low-performing school in the district has well-qualified, highly accomplished staff
• Use data to develop and support district-wide systems of continuous improvement Empower teachers and staff leaders to make instructional decisions that improve student performance
• Strengthen partnerships with families and the civic, business, and philanthropic sectors
• Ensure that needy schools have highly accomplished teachers, and that all students have the instructional support necessary to succeed with a rigorous curriculum

> http://www.neafoundation.org/programs/closingthegap.htm

Laura Bush School Library Grant

In order to promote a love of reading, the goal of the Laura Bush Foundation (LBF) is to provide books to the school libraries and students that most need them. Consequently, funds are available only for library books and magazine/serial copies and subscriptions. The Laura Bush Foundation is unable to honor requests for staffing, shelving, furniture, equipment, software, videos, classroom book sets or any kind of book guides, tests or exams.

The Foundation strives for wide geographic distribution in the support it offers, making grants of up to $6,000 to update, extend, and diversify the book collections of the libraries that receive them. All LBF grants are made to individual schools rather than to school districts, county systems, private organizations, foundations, or other entities. Only one application per school is allowed per year.

Because research demonstrates a clear relationship between family income and a student’s access to books, the LBF gives selection preference to schools in which 90% or more of the students receive free or reduced lunches (FRL) and are likely to have the fewest books at home.

> http://www.laurabushfoundation.org/

NEA Student Achievement Grant

The vision of the NEA Foundation is a great public education for every student.

<br>: The NEA Foundation provides grants to improve the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area(s). The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection.

Proposals for work resulting in low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged.

The Student Achievement Grants replace the Foundation’s Innovation Grants, which have been discontinued.

Amount: The grant amount is $5,000.

Grant funds may be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, software, or scholars-in-residence. Although some funds may be used to support the professional development necessary to implement the project, the majority of grant funds must be spent on materials or educational experiences for students.

> http://neafoundation.org/programs/StudentAchievement_Guidelines.htm

AT&T High School Success Special Grants Program

In April 2008, the AT&T Foundation launched a new grant program focused on high school success for at-risk students. The program will direct funds to eligible nonprofit organizations and schools across the country and offers two types of grants:

• Project support is for existing high school retention programs with a successful track record of achieving effective results. The support may be used to continue programs in their current form, expand them to serve additional students, or add a component to strengthen the program. Grant payout will range from $50,000 - $100,000 a year for up to four years (2008 - 2011).
• Planning/capacity-building support is for efforts that need additional planning time and resources. Applicants for these grants must demonstrate that they will be able to identify the administrative, financial and programmatic support needed to commence program implementation during the first semester of the 2009 - 2010 school year. Grant payout will range from $25,000 - $35,000 for one year only.

The AT&T Foundation seeks to support the most effective programs that:

1. Intervene early. Priority will be given to programs that begin serving students who are either in ninth grade or are making the transition from eighth to ninth grade. Funding will also be considered for programs that begin serving students in 10th grade; however, no funding will be provided to programs that begin serving students after 10th grade.

2. Get results. AT&T is looking for programs that will produce reliable data on the characteristics of the students they serve and produce measurable results on the outcomes for the students participating in the programs.

Qualifying Organizations

• School districts and school district foundations (Note: Foundations must have 501(c)(3) public charity status. Private foundations are not eligible.)
• Charter school foundations and private school foundations (Note: Foundations must have 501(c)(3) public charity status. Private foundations are not eligible.)

> http://www.att.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=11520

McKenzie Foundation

The purpose of The McKenzie Foundation is to encourage and support non-profit programs primarily in the areas of education, health, human services, and cultural and environmental concerns. Faced with the task of translating these broad-reaching goals into a more focused set of grant guidelines, the Board has selected four initiatives that will shape its grant making for the next few years:

• early childhood development
• education
• the environment
• arts and culture

The Foundation has chosen these four initiatives for its initial years of grant making because of its fundamental belief that assisting families is one of the most effective and lasting ways to strengthen communities. The McKenzie Foundation supports opportunities and experiences that enrich learning for all ages. Special consideration will be given to charitable efforts that inspire excellence and encourage personal development. In addition, the Foundation recognizes the power of arts and culture to nurture the vitality of people of all ages and backgrounds.

From time to time, the Foundation considers proposals in other areas that, due to particular circumstances, have become of special interest to the Foundation. This consideration is not open to general requests for funding. The Foundation also makes a limited number of grants annually to projects of special interest to the McKenzie family. Generally, The McKenzie Foundation looks for creative projects or programs which can serve as catalytic agents in their fields and that can have an impact that will continue after the specific project has been completed. The McKenzie Foundation seeks proposals that support the most effective and promising approaches to make a significant difference in the initiative areas and are well matched to the size and capabilities of the organization making the request.

> http://www.mckenziefoundation.us/guidelines.php

National Education Foundation Funding Program

This Federal program is known as Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB). NEF has teamed up with banks to make it possible for all eligible schools -- those with 35% of students on free or reduced lunch -- to receive QZAB funds for renovation, equipment, curriculum, professional development etc. NEF also donates the 10% match required, and helps to build a world class CyberLearning Academy that enables students to acquire key 21st Century workforce skills.

One Stop Solution

The National Education Foundation (NEF) believes that QZAB is a very flexible funding program, and when used properly, it can make a significant difference in the lives of the students of the disadvantaged schools. Thus, NEF’s QZAB mission is to help as many school districts as possible to use QZAB to improve the performance of their students and teachers.

Once the school district requests NEF assistance in issuing the QZAB, NEF sends a team of QZAB experts (a Qzab specialist, qualified matching grant donation specialist, qualified financial advisor and a qualified Bond Issuer) to the school district to help the business manager with the QZAB application, 10% match and the QZAB issue by a “Qualified Issuer” (bank, insurance company etc.).   QZAB matching grants are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

> http://www.qzab.org/

Music Matters Announces Music Education Grant Guidelines

The Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation's mission is to support and redefine music education. Through music education, a child can better achieve his or her full potential and stimulate personal and educational growth.

Grants will be awarded to schools and music programs throughout the United States.

Music education -- vocal or instrumental -- must be the key component of any music program requesting funds. Public school programs (qualifying for Title I federal funding and serving a minmum of 70 percent low-income students) or nonprofit 501(c)(3) programs directly funding music education (serving students regardless of their ability to pay) are eligible to apply.

Schools and programs must already employ a music educator(s) and have an existing music program in place. Grant requests must articulate specific music program needs for existing and/or planned programs.

Priority will be given to music education programs serving students in grades K-12, programs involving innovative educational reform, programs serving economically disadvantaged children, programs having established collaborative partnerships with parent-teacher-student associations and other community groups, and programs including the basic need of music instruments and educational materials.

> http://heart.muzak.com/

Immigration Themed Projects

Do you have a creative project that needs funding? The American Immigration Law Foundation's Curriculum Center is here to help! In an effort to support teachers in engaging their students and communities in thoughtful dialogues centered on the issue of immigration and multiculturalism, the Center awards bi-annual grants for immigration- themed classroom projects.

ABOUT OUR GRANT PROGRAM

The American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) will award grants of $100 to $500 to fund K-12 grade level projects that provide education about immigrants and immigration. The Foundation seeks to fund activities that are innovative and support AILF's mission of promoting the benefits of immigrants to our nation.

WHAT WE FUND

The Foundation is always looking for innovative and creative classroom ideas. Applications for immigration-themed projects will be considered for all subject areas, although special consideration will be given for proposals that relate to the following categories:

• Innovative use of technology
• Underrepresented minorities
• Community outreach and partnerships with community-based organizations
• Math and science

Applications are limited to educators teaching in public or private primary, intermediate, and secondary-level schools. Proposals that are classroom-based will receive strong consideration. The Foundation encourages projects that can be replicated in other classrooms across the nation.

> http://www.ailf.org/teach/grants.shtml

IRA Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Grant

The International Reading Association will honor an outstanding mainstream, elementary classroom teacher dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of reading and writing, across the curriculum in real world contexts in grades grades K–6 (ages 5–12). At least 60% of the school's students must be eligible for free or reduced lunch. The grant may not be used for purchase of commercial programs The US$2,500 award is supported by a grant from Regie Routman. All applicants must be Association members.

> http://www.reading.org/association/awards/teachers_routman.html

J.P. Morgan Grants

What we fund:

• We support programs that promote early childhood literacy and school readiness.
• We promote partnerships that build capacity within public schools, with particular emphasis on programs that support the middle-school years and engage students in the arts and/or technology.
• We support financial literacy programs for young people.
• We support programs that help non-traditional and underserved students prepare for and gain access to college.

http://www.jpmorganchase.com/cm/cs?pagename=Chase/Href&urlname=jpmc/community/grants/obtain

Gear Up Program

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

The GEAR UP program is a discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides five-year grants to States and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.

GEAR UP partnerships supplement (not supplant) existing reform efforts, offer services that promote academic preparation and the understanding of necessary costs to attend college, provide professional development, and continuously build capacity so that projects can be sustained beyond the term of the grant.

> http://www.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html

STAR Schools

The purpose of this program is to support distance education projects that: encourage improved instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, and other subjects.

* Serve underserved populations, including disadvantaged, nonreading, and limited English proficient (LEP) populations and individuals with disabilities. Star Schools grants are made to eligible telecommunications partnerships, to enable such partnerships to: (a) develop, construct, acquire, maintain, and operate telecommunications audio and visual facilities and equipment; (b) develop and acquire educational and instructional programming; and (c) obtain technical assistance for the use of such facilities and instructional programming.

Grants are used to obtain telecommunications facilities and equipment; develop and acquire instructional programming for students; provide preservice and in-service staff development for teachers; provide educational programming for parents and community members; obtain technical assistance for teachers, school personnel, and other educators in the use of the facilities and programming; and improve instruction in the areas of reading and math by utilizing emerging mobile technologies and the use of games and simulations.

> http://www.ed.gov/programs/starschools/index.html

Great American Dine Out

Great American Dine Out Grants Help Support Programs and Projects that Help Connect Children Who Are At Risk of Hunger With Nutritious Food Where They Live, Learn and Play.

Over the course of the year, more than 12 million children in America are at risk of hunger. That’s one in six with limited or uncertain access to the nutritious foods they need to lead healthy, active lives. During one week in September, thousands of participating restaurants all across the country donated a percentage of their sales to support Share Our Strength’s work to end childhood hunger and to make sure no child in America grows up hungry.

Available Grants

The Great American Dine Out grants are available to organizations that propose programs that will accomplish the following

• Increase access to public and private programs that provide food to children and their families
• Strengthen community resources that connect children to these programs
• Educate families about nutrition
• Improve families’ knowledge about food and nutrition programs and facilitates their access to related programs and services, especially in vulnerable or underserved communities

Examples of programs that might be funded under this category include but are not limited to:

• School food and nutrition programs
• Community gardens
• Food pantries and shelters
• Recreation and community center programs
• Nutrition education programs
• Programs designed to increase use of the Earned Income Tax Credit
• Programs designed to increase utilization of federal child food and nutrition programs, e.g. food stamps, etc
• Child food and nutrition-related advocacy programs
• Programs designed to increase access to fresh produce

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants for Great American Dine Out grants include the following who submit a proposal for programs as described above under Available Grants:

• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) IRS status
• Schools, universities, colleges
• Hospitals and clinics
• Community-based organizations
• Faith-based organizations
• Federally recognized or state-recognized American Indian/Alaska Native tribal governments
• American Indian/Alaska native tribally designated organizations
• Alaska Native health corporations
• Urban Indian health organizations
• State and local government agencies

> http://join.strength.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GADO_learn_grants

BellSouth Foundation Grants Program

The fundamental mission of the foundation is to stimulate far-reaching and lasting improvements in the results achieved by public K-12 education in southeastern United States. Three areas of concentration promote the development of the people in education, including teacher training programs; development of the places in education, including school reform and collaborative projects; and education technology. The foundation's grantmaking philosophy emphasizes the initiation, rather than the ongoing maintenance, of education reform programs. In reviewing applications, the foundation looks for evidence that a proposal reflects one or more of the foundation's core values: to exert a positive impact on all populations, especially racial minorities; to use new technology, where appropriate, as a tool to stimulate innovative strategies for teaching and learning; and to promote collaborations among institutions that can lead to established, long-term support for a program. Applications may be submitted electronically via the foundation's Web site.

> http://www.ntlf.com/html/grants/115696.htm

Verizon Foundation

The Verizon Foundation is in the business of improving lives in literacy, knowledge and a readiness for the 21st Century.

Specifically, we help people to: Increase their literacy and educational achievement Avoid being an abuser or a victim of domestic violence Achieve and sustain their health and safety Eligible organizations seeking grants from the Verizon Foundation must be prepared to track and report program outcomes as well as specific results that demonstrate measurable human impact. In the grant application, organizations must indicate what outcomes are targeted through programming and what results, as specified on the grant application, the organization will measure.

Defining Program Results The Verizon Foundation targets our philanthropic investments to partners and programs that achieve meaningful outcomes and measurable results in specific areas within each of our Funding Priorities. Grant applicants are required to select one or more outcomes and results for grants in each of our Funding Priorities. Click on a funding area below to see the list of targeted outcomes and results that are specified in the online grant application.

Education
Literacy
Domestic Violence Prevention
Healthcare and Accessibility
Internet Safety

> http://www.verizonreads.net/grant/guidelines.shtml