June 2009

Summer Grantwriting
Summer vacation is almost here.  Time to kick back, relax, and . . . write a grant? Although it may not be the first thing you think of when you think of summer activities, for some educators, writing a grant over the summer may offer a more relaxed opportunity to put a favorite project down on paper. The grants below have a summer or fall deadline or accept applications any time.  For those needing assistance, I will be checking e-mail regularly and can meet at the grants office by appointment.  Contact mazzarella@4j.lane.edu

EWEB Greenpower Grants fund high impact projects and programs that drive advancements in renewable energy for local customers, with emphasis on EWEB products, resources and priorities. The fall applications will be due Oct. 15, 2009. While the spring 2009 grant was a single award of $100,000, the fall 2009 award competition is designed to give smaller grants of up to $25,000 to several deserving proposals. For more information see http://eweb.org/content.aspx/9d936970-ac28-4ce7-8513-83a83a864066

The Nature of Learning Grants  provide up to $10,000 for start-up grants and up to $5,000 for follow-up grants for environmental education projects, such as outdoor classrooms or student-led stewardship projects that involve community groups, natural resource professionals or local businesses.  Deadline is June 15.  For more information, see
http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Browse_All_Programs&Template...
 
Go-Girl-Go Ambassador Team Awards will give awards of $2,500 to 20 high school female teams or organizations that have completed an exemplary project to motivate girls to participate in physical activity. Typical projects include sports clinics or classes to teach girls about sports and recruit them for participation. Deadline to submit the project is July 17.  For more information and the guidelines, see  http://66.40.5.5/Content/Grants-And-Scholarships/Grants/GoGirlGo-Ambassa...

The Ezra Jack Keats Mini-Grant Program for Public Schools and Public Libraries provides $500 grants for educators, parents and children to spread literacy and love of learning. Previously funded programs include: an ongoing pen-pal project that brought disparate communities together; multi-cultural portrait projects; bookmaking; art projects culminating in art shows, murals, or quilts; creation and performance of puppet shows; and inter-generational journals. Applications must be postmarked by September 15.   For more information, see  http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/programs/minigrant.html

Best Buy Teach Awards of $2,000 gift cards will be awarded to almost 1,500 K-12 schools using interactive technology creatively.   Eight schools will receive $10,000 to implement a new interactive technology project.  One district will receive $100,000. Best Buy defines interactive technology as actively involving and engaging students in learning (Watching a DVD or merely reading a web site would not qualify as “interactive.”)  Winning programs focus on kids using technology to learn standards-based curriculum.  Applications will be available starting in July.  For more information go to  http://www.bestbuyinc.com/community_relations/teach_awards.htm

MathMovesU will give Math Hero Awards of $2,500 grants to individual teachers and $2,500 grants to the school or math-related non-profit program of the nominated teacher's choice.  Awards go to an effective math teacher, math coach or event coordinator, someone who uses creativity working in math, or does a special math project.  Nominations by students, parents, colleagues, principals or volunteers. Deadline is July 15.  More information is at   http://www.mathmovesu.com/MathHeroAward.aspx

Donors Choose provides students in need with resources that public schools lack. At this web site, teachers submit very short project proposals for materials or experiences their students need in order to learn. Visitors to the website choose projects to fund-either partially or in full. Most projects range from $100 to $2,000, sound fun and innovative, and serve high poverty schools.  For more information go to http://www.donorschoose.org/about/how_it_works.html?zone=403

Engineering Information Foundation provides grants of $5,000 and $25,000 per year for programs to encourage middle school girls in engineering conducted by engineering educators and others. The program looks favorably on partnerships between higher education institutions and school districts, particularly programs that will be continued. Grants may be up to three years. Deadlines are February 28 and August 31. For more information see  http://www.eifgrants.org/index.html

Boeing funds elementary, secondary, and higher education projects that focus on preparing students for college and the real world. Boeing also works to improve school systems and teacher effectiveness in literacy, math, science, and school leadership. Boeing also may donate surplus equipment and services. Before applying, Oregon applicants are advised to contact Deanna Haley by e-mail at Deanna.m.haley@boeing.com. There is no deadline.  For more information see http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/community/corp_cash_grants....

The Toshiba America Foundation offers 75 grants of up to $1,000 for K-6 science and mathematics courses and up to $5,000 for Grade 7-12 science and mathematics courses. Deadline for grades 7-12 under $5,000 is ongoing, and the deadline for K-6 programs is October 1.  Grade 7-12 grants over $5,000 are due August 3.  For more information and application forms see   http://www.toshiba.com/taf/apply.html

Albertsons provides donations to nonprofits and schools in its operating communities. Priority areas are environmental stewardship; hunger relief; health and nutrition; and youth and education.  There is no deadline. It takes from six to eight weeks for grant requests to be processed. For more information, go to http://www.albertsons.com/abs_inthecommunity/community_support/how_to_gr...

Wal-Mart Foundation provides grants and matching grants to local agencies and schools. Amounts are unspecified, and there are no deadlines.  All requests for funding must be made through the Good Works Coordinator at your local Wal-mart.

The Key Foundation awards grants related to workforce development and financial education.  Most grants are $1,000-$10,000. There is no deadline.  Information on previous grants funded and instructions for completing an application to be sent to the nearest district office are available at http://www.key.com/html/A-12.3.html

NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education (NFIE) Learning and Leadership Grants fund recipients to participate in a high-quality professional development experience or organize a collegial study group that leads to improvements in practice, curriculum, and student achievement in the school. They award $2,000 for an individual and $5,000 for a group and give 75 grants per year.  Applications must be submitted online by October 15 and will be notified of funding January 15 for projects that begin after that date. See http://www.neafoundation.org/programs/Learning%26Leadership_Guidelines.htm

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund supports programs, fields, and equipment purchases to encourage youth participation in baseball. The first step is a brief letter of inquiry, which may be submitted at any time.  If your project is chosen for consideration, you may submit a full proposal, by April 1, July 1, October 1, or January 1 for funding three months later. For more information see
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/community/btf.jsp?content=grant_pro...

The Singing for Change Foundation awards $500-$10,000 grants for improving the health, education, and protection of children and families as well as teaching about the environment and conservation.  Deadlines are  rolling.  The first step is submitting a one-page letter describing your project.  For more information, see    http://www.margaritaville.com/index.php?page=sfc

American Honda Foundation grants range from $10,000 to $60,000 to K-12 schools and higher education for outstanding creative ideas for projects in science and math education.  Projects should not merely fill a local need but should be innovative enough to be disseminated and copied nationwide.  Deadlines are rolling.  See http://corporate.honda.com/america/philanthropy.aspx?id=ahf

United States Golf Association (USGA) Grants fund projects that introduce children from disadvantaged backgrounds to the game of golf.  Grants can fund instruction, facilities, or caddie or work-based curricula. Amounts vary. Projects with other sources of funds or matching funds are preferred.  Applications must be received by July 8.  For more information see http://www.usga.org/aboutus/foundation/grants/grants.html

Verizon Foundation provides grants of $5,000 to $10,000 that improve literacy or educational achievement or increase health and safety. The Verizon Foundation will review unsolicited proposals until October 31, 2009.    For more information, go to http://foundation.verizon.com/grant/guidelines.shtml

Healthy Sprouts Awards provide a $500 gift certificate to Gardener's Supply Company, seeds and lessons to schools with student gardens.  Applications are due October 17.  For more information, see http://www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts.asp
 
Hooked on Hydroponics Grants help schools start hydroponic gardens by providing equipment and curricula. Applications are due by September 18. For more information see http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants/HOH.asp

AIAA Foundation Classroom Grants provide up to $200 per teacher for science or math supplies or kits. Requests are considered four times per year.  For more information see http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=21

Teacher Opportunities
NWA Sol Hirsch Education Fund awards approximately ten $500 mini-grants to K-12 teachers  for meteorology education. Funds can be used to take an accredited course in atmospheric sciences, attend a conference, or purchase scientific materials or classroom equipment.  Applications are due by June 15.    Last year only 50 teachers applied, so odds are good. For more information, see http://www.nwas.org/grants/solhirsch.php

ThinkQuest Website-Building Competition awards prizes to teams of students and teachers for websites on specified educational  topics.  Each  winning team member and Primary Coach will be eligible to attend ThinkQuest Live @  OracleWorld in San Francisco. A new competition will be announced this summer, with coach sign-up beginning in summer, web site design beginning in August, and final judging completed in March 2010.  For more information see http://www.thinkquest.org/

The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, Inc. offers awards to outstanding high school journalism teachers who have taught for at least three years. One Teacher of the Year will receive a laptop computer, a $1,000 scholarship to give to a graduating senior, and other prizes.  Four runners-up will receive other prizes. Deadline is July 1.  For more information see http://www.newspaperfund.org

Student Opportunities
U.S. Senate Youth Program awards trips to Washington D.C. to meet lawmakers and judges and $5,000 scholarships to two high school juniors or seniors from each state who are involved in student government or other organizations.   Applications must be obtained from high school principals or the State-level Selection Administrator.  For Oregon information, see a high school counselor or contact Ms. Heidi Schulze, Manager and Executive Support to the Assistant Superintendent, Oregon Department of Education, 255 Capitol Street, NE, Salem, 97310-0203, (503) 947-5661, Heidi.Schulze@state.or.us.   Deadline is in October. For more information see  http://www.hearstfdn.org/ussyp/state_level.php

2009 Siemens Competition provides scholarships of $1,000 to $100,000 for outstanding research projects.  The deadline to register and submit projects for the 2009 Siemens Competition is October 1, 2009, 5 p.m. Eastern Time. For more information see  http://www.collegeboard.com/siemens/index.html

Notice
For every grant of $5,000 and above, a brief Grant Description Form, signed by an administrator must be submitted to Sheri Lee so that the Eugene 4J Board of Directors (School Board)  can review your project. The form is available to download at http://www.4j.lane.edu/forms

Notice: Free Humane Society Student Newspaper
The Eugene Education Fund announces that a donor will again pay for subscriptions to the monthly Kind News for any Eugene 4J elementary classroom (28 copies plus teacher materials)!  To subscribe for next year you must e-mail Stephanie Dahl at dahl_s@4j.lane.edu by June 5.  Please include Your name, School name, Level (Primary-K-2; Junior-3-4; Senior-5-6). Sample copies at;
Senior level       http://www.kindnews.org/aboutkn_sample.asp?filename=SampleSenior.swf
Junior Level      http://www.kindnews.org/aboutkn_sample.asp?filename=SampleJunior.swf
Primary Level   http://www.kindnews.org/aboutkn_sample.asp?filename=SamplePrimary.swf
(Note the website is aimed at Internet Explorer, but Firefox seems to work also.)