December 2009

Grants

The Panasonic National School Change Awards honor six US schools that have improved and significantly changed. Each school receives $5,000 and other honors.  The change must be substantial, systemic, student-centered, and have measurable effects on student achievement.  A district can nominate more than one school. Deadline is March 4.  For more information, go to http://www.npli.org/nsca/overview.html

Pay It Forward Foundation Mini Grants provide $500 for one-time-only service-oriented projects. Projects must contain a "pay it forward" focus.  Youth or adults may write the application.  There are no deadlines but successful applications received between September 15 and February 15 are funded during the month of March. For more information see http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/educators/mini-grant.html

Physh Ed Grants provide up to $5,000 for programs that incorporate fishing and boating programs into physical education classes during school hours. The deadline for submission of applications is 5:00 PM on February 9.  For more information see http://futurefisherman.org/programs/physh_ed/grants.html

Digital Wish Grants' registration enters teachers' names in competition for 43 new technology grants from Olympus and Tool Factory. Grants provide software site licenses, digital cameras, or camera labs. Registration also allows teachers to make their technology needs public on the website, so that anyone seeking to donate technology can donate to their classroom on-line.  For more information go to http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/grant_awards

Barnes and Noble will give contributions to support K-12 education programs that work with them on in-store programming, including book fairs and holiday gift-wrapping. Proposals should be submitted to the community-relations manager or store manager at your local store. More information is at http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our_company/sponsorship/sponsorship_loc...

The Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grants give $5,000 to 1,000 schools or parent groups for projects that encourage parent involvement in schools and build stronger community spirit. Preferred projects have a permanent impact such as facility, landscaping/clean up projects. (Model projects are at http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/sample.html#11 ) The application must be submitted on-line but created off-line because it is not possible to save and go-back to an incomplete application. The next deadline is February 13, but that may be too late, since the site will close earlier if 1,500 applications have been received.  For guidelines and details see  http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=frameSet&url=apps.bridgetree.com/o...

Wilbooks donates one kindergarten through second grade-level classroom of books to schools across the country. Applications can be for one classroom only and all applications are considered on a first come, first served basis. Another similar program by the same organization offers free books for K-3 at the cost of 45 cents per book for shipping. For more information see http://www.wilbooks.com/freebooks/ To fill out the application for books at no-cost on-line go to http://www.wilbooks.com/freebooks/free_books_app.php

The American Association of School Libraries gives a number of awards each year accompanied by funds (approximately $1,000-$5,000) to support school libraries.  In addition, the AASL Innovative Reading Grants award $2,500 to one innovative program to motivate struggling readers. Most deadlines are February 1.  For more information and specific deadlines see http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslawards/aaslawards.htm

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Community Action Grants provide start-up grants of $5,000- $10,000 over one or two years. Topic areas should include a clearly defined activity that promotes education and equity for women and girls.  Deadline is January 15.  For more information, see http://www.aauw.org/education/fga/fellowships_grants/community_action.cfm

Captain Planet Foundation provides grants of $500 (and a limited number of $2,500 grants) for projects promoting the understanding of environmental issues and focusing on hands-on experiences for students ages 6-18.  The next deadline is December 31, with notification in four months.  Apply online at http://www.captainplanetfdn.org

The Mantis Award Program awards a garden tiller to schools to use in their school garden. The application is short but must include a photo of the garden space.  Deadline is February 28 (for mailed applications) or March 1 (for e-mailed applications).  For information about this and other gardening grants, see http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp

New Voices Grants provide up to $17,000 to launch new community news ventures. Funding is available for start-up news initiatives only. Ongoing efforts are not eligible to apply unless they are proposing a new venture. Successful applicants will: (1) Benefit a defined geographic or special-interest community and (2) Foster an open exchange of journalistically sound ideas, information, news and opinion in those communities. Proposals must be received by February 12.  For more information see http://www.j-newvoices.org/index.php/site/story/2010rfp/

The Payless ShoeSource Foundation gives grants for education in the communities where stores are located. The Foundation supports programs that achieve measurable results in these communities.  There are no deadlines, but proposals are reviewed from January through June for donations given in November. Proposals for grants of $5,000 or less will receive a reply within 60 days. For more information, see http://www.paylessinfo.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=74165&p=irol-corpCitPSS#grants

General Mills Champions Grants provide fifty $10,000 grants for improving the nutritional and physical activity patterns of young people.  Successful projects have both an activity and a nutrition component. Applications are due January 15.   For more information see  http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx

Teacher Opportunities

IRA & RR Reading Conference Grants award $200 to 500 K-3 teachers who want to attend International Reading Association or Reading Recovery conferences. Time for review of applications is required in advance of the conference, so educators should complete this form as soon as possible.    More information and an on-line application are at http://www.wilbooks.com/scholarships/travelgrant.php

The Personnel Exchange run by the National Center for Education Statistics provides travel funds for state or local elementary/secondary education agency staff to visit other education organizations in order to share knowledge about education data issues such as solving problems in computerizing data systems and concerns about effects of data elements on students, staff, and schools. There are no deadlines.  For more information, see http://nces.ed.gov/WhatsNew/conferences/confinfo.asp?confid=60

The Honeywell Educators at Space Academy Program funds 200 scholarships for middle school math and science teachers to attend its Honeywell Educators at Space Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. The Space Academy program provides 50 hours of intensive classroom, laboratory and training time, focusing on space science and space exploration. Applications must be downloaded, completed and returned no later than December 31.   For more information and the application, go to http://www51.honeywell.com/hhs/ourprograms-sub/scimathedu-sub/honeywelle...

The Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA) recognizes an outstanding biology educator (grades 7-12) in each state.  OBTA recipients are honored at the NABT National Conference and receive binoculars,  microscopes, video flex camera systems, certificates, and a one-year NABT membership. The nomination deadline is May 10. For more information see http://www.nabt.org/websites/institution/index.php?p=132#award8

Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program provides $5,000 per month for 10 months to outstanding K-12 math and science teachers who have at least five years full-time teaching experience, to work on assignment in a federal office in Washington, D.C.  Previous assignments have included the DOE, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NSF, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Former North teacher Steve Robinson was a previous winner of one of these fellowships and spent ten months in D.C. working on Capitol Hill.  Deadline for applications is in mid-January.  See http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/Einstein/about.htm

Student Opportunities

Annual Design-A-Poster Competition will choose winning paintings or drawings of animals protected by the International Fund for Animal Welfare for their official poster. Deadline is December 31.  For more information see http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw_international/join_campaigns/education/educatio...

The U. S. Department of State "Doors to Diplomacy" Program encourages middle school and high school students to produce web projects about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. Each student on the winning team receives a $2,000 scholarship, and the winning coaches' schools receive $500. Student teams are encouraged to register for the competition as soon as possible.  The final deadline for uploading web projects is March 16.  For more information see http://globalschoolhouse.org/gsh/doors

The Lemelson-MIT InvenTEams Program awards grants of up to $10,000 to high school teams to implement an invention they have developed.  InvenTeams are composed of students, their teacher and an industry mentor.  Applications for the 2010 program must be submitted by April 23, 2010. Up to 35 finalists will submit a second application in September 2010.  For more information see http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/apply.html

The YES Competition offers college scholarship awards to high school juniors and seniors who conduct outstanding research projects that apply epidemiological methods of analysis to a health-related issue.  Sixty students will receive $1,000 and two top winners will receive $50,000 each.  Deadline is February 1. For more information see  http://www.collegeboard.com/yes/fs/atc.html

The Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities Youth Achievement Award will award $1,000 and honor a young person with learning disabilities or ADHD who has demonstrated initiative, drive, talent, and determination resulting in a notable accomplishment.  Deadline is Dec. 31, 2009.  For more information see  http://www.smartkidswithld.org/award.html

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards go to K-12 student and teacher teams that select a technology and explore what it does, how it works, how it was invented, and what it could be like 20 years from now.  They must convey their vision through a written description and graphics simulating Web pages. Entries must be received by February 2, 2010.  Student prizes include a savings bond worth $10,000 at maturity. Winning schools will receive a Toshiba laptop computer.  For more information see http://www.exploravision.org/

The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS), provides outstanding low income African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students with full college scholarships. Funds are based on financial need. Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by January 11. For more information see http://www.gmsp.org/publicweb/aboutus.aspx