Welcome to the Colorado League of Charter Schools Grants Center. Learn about current education grants, discover additional grant sources, and find grant writing tips and resources.

If you are interested in receiving grant announcements, please subscribe to the following websites:

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• http://www.charterresource.org/index.cfm?page=5 

Grant and Funding Information

NCFL/ Verizon: Tech Savvy Awards
The National Center for Family Literacy Verizon Tech Savvy Awards recognizes exemplary programs that demystify technology for parents and enable them to better guide their children in the use of new media.
Maximum award: $25,000.
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, including community-based nonprofits, libraries and schools.
Deadline: January 12, 2009.

General Mills Foundation: Champions for Healthy Kids
The General Mills Foundation Champions for Healthy Kids Program awards grants to community-based groups that develop creative ways to help youth adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle.
Maximum award: $10,000.
Eligibility: 501c(3) and 509(a) organizations; health departments; government agencies; schools and school districts; Native American tribes.
Deadline: January 15, 2009.

Astronauts Memorial Foundation: Technology in Education Award
The Astronauts Memorial Foundation's Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award recognizes excellence in the development and delivery of technology programs in the classroom or in the professional development of teachers.
Maximum award: $500 and recognition at the 25th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO, March 30-April 2, 2009.
Eligibility: K-12 educators and district-level personnel in the field of educational technology.
Deadline: Jan. 16, 2009.

Toshiba/NSTA: ExploraVision Awards
All inventions and innovations result from creative thinking and problem solving. The Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision Awards Program encourages kids to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science.
Maximum award: U.S. EE Savings Bond worth $10,000 at maturity for each student.
Eligibility: U.S. or Canadian citizens or legal residents, living within the United States, U.S. Territories or Canada who are full-time students grades K-12 attending a public, private, or home school.
Deadline: January 28, 2009.

Coming Up Taller Awards
The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities: Coming Up Taller Awards recognize and reward outstanding after-school and out-of-school arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth.
Maximum Award: $10,000.
Eligibility: programs initiated by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations, universities, colleges, arts centers, community service organizations, schools, businesses, and eligible government entities.
Deadline: January 30, 2009.

Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award
National Association of Geoscience Teachers Outstanding Earth Science Teacher awards are given for exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth Sciences at the secondary level.
Maximum award: $500 classroom improvement funds.
Eligibility: middle and high-school teachers of earth science.
Deadline: Feb. 1, 2009.

Amgen: Award for Science Teaching Excellence
The Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence recognizes extraordinary contributions by educators across the United States who are elevating the level of science literacy through creativity in the classroom and motivation of students.
Maximum award: $5,000 to recipient, $5,000 to the recipient's school for the expansion or enhancement of a school science program, for science resources, or for the professional development of the school's science teachers.
Eligibility: full-time classroom teachers grades K–12 in public or private school whose major responsibilities include teaching science and who work in California, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, or Washington state.
Deadline: Feb. 2, 2009.

United States-Japan Foundation: Elgin Heinz Award
The United States-Japan Foundation Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award recognizes exceptional teachers who further mutual understanding between Americans and Japanese. The award is presented annually to two pre-college teachers in two categories, humanities and Japanese language.
Maximum award: $7,500 ($2,500 monetary award, $5,000 in project funds).
Eligibility: current full-time K-12 classroom teachers of any relevant subject in the United States who have been teaching for at least five years.
Deadline: February 2, 2009.

Christopher Columbus Awards: Innovation Generation
The Christopher Columbus Awards Program combines science and technology with community problem solving. Students work in teams with the help of an adult coach to identify an issue they care about and, using science and technology, work with experts, conduct research, and put their ideas to the test to develop an innovative solution.
Maximum award: a $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant and an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World to attend the program's National Championship Week, plus a $200 development grant to further refine their idea, and a $2,000 U.S. Savings Bond for each team member.
Eligibility: middle-school-age (sixth, seventh, and eighth grade) children; teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter.
Deadline: Feb. 9, 2009.

Horace Mann: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Fellowships
Horace Mann and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) are offering fellowships to study the life and legacy of our 16th president.
Maximum award: $1,000 fellowship, featuring a five-day institute in June or July 2009 at the ALPLM in Springfield, Illinois.
Eligibility: full-time teachers K-12 at a public or private school in the United States.
Deadline: February 12, 2009.

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation: J-Lab Institute for Interactive Journalism
The Institute for Interactive Journalism and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation New Voices grants provide funds to seed innovative community news ventures in the United States.
Maximum award: $25,000.
Eligibility: 501(c) 3 organizations and education institutions, including civic groups, community organizations, public broadcasters, schools, colleges and universities; some preference will be given to projects from former Knight newspaper communities.
Deadline: February 12, 2009.

Action for Nature: International Young Eco-Hero Awards
AFN International Young Eco-Hero Awards recognize the individual accomplishments of young people whose personal actions have significantly improved the environment.
Maximum award: $500.
Eligibility: youth ages 8-16.
Deadline: Feb. 28, 2009.

Heinz: Ketchup Creativity Contest
The H.J. Heinz Co. is sponsoring a contest for young artists, in which winners’ designs will be on single-serving Heinz Ketchup packets for 2009.
Maximum award: $1,000 award for art supplies, $1,000 worth of Heinz Ketchup, and the winner’s art framed for display.
Eligibility: students grades 1-12.
Deadline: February 28, 2009.

Zaner-Bloser: National Handwriting Contest
The 18th annual Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest encourages legible handwriting by testing the printing (or "manuscript") acumen of first and second graders, and the cursive abilities of students in grades 2 through 8. Entries are judged on the Keys to Legibility: Shape, Slant, Spacing and Size.
Maximum award: recognition and a special prize package.
Eligibility: students grades 1-8 whose school uses Zaner-Bloser Handwriting curricula.
Deadline: March 2, 2009.

National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board/USA TODAY: SAMMY Scholarship Awards
Twenty-five student-athletes will win the Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Award, which entails a scholarship and a spot in a Milk Mustache ad to run in USA TODAY.
Maximum award: $7,500, an all-expense-paid trip to Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, FL, and a spot in a Milk Mustache ad.
Eligibility: legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States or the District of Columbia, and as of November 6, 2008, enrolled as full-time student in a state-accredited private or public high school, in good standing in grade 12, and a participant in a high school sport or club sport during the 2008-2009 school year.
Deadline: March 6, 2009.

The American Historical Association: Beveridge Family Teaching Prize
The American Historical Association Beveridge Family Teaching Prize recognizes excellence and innovation in elementary, middle school, and secondary history teaching, including career contributions and specific initiatives.
Maximum award: $1,500, plus travel expenses for group leader to travel to annual meeting in January 2010 to accept award.
Eligibility: K-12 teachers in groups.
Deadline: March 16, 2009.

Educational Resources: Essay Contest
The Educational Resources Essay Contest rewards schools that can show us how they are best at implementing technology for the advancement of student learning. Applicants must submit an essay detailing the technology used, how it is utilized and how it impacted student achievement.
Maximum award: $2,500 technology voucher.
Eligibility: legal residents of the United States at least 18 years of age.
Deadline: April 1, 2009.

Heartspring: Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education
The Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education honors professionals who get results for children with special needs using creative measures. New ideas create results that matter and educators who are outstanding innovators are the right applicants for this award -- only explorers, pioneers, risk-takers, and innovators need apply.
Maximum award: $1,000.
Eligibility: professionals who work with children with special needs.
Deadline: April 20, 2009.

Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams: High School Invention Grants
Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams grants foster inventiveness among high school students. InvenTeams composed of high school students, teachers and mentors are asked to collaboratively identify a problem that they want to solve, research the problem, and then develop a prototype invention as an in-class or extracurricular project.
Maximum award: $10,000.
Eligibility: High school science, mathematics and technology teachers--or teams of teachers--at public, private and vocational schools; intra- and inter-school collaborations are welcome.
Deadline: April 24, 2009.

ING: Unsung Heroes Awards
The ING Unsung Heroes awards program recognizes innovative and progressive thinking in education through monetary awards.
Maximum award: $25,000.
Eligibility: full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff members with effective projects that improve student learning at an accredited K-12 public or private school.
Deadline: April 30, 2009.

Thomson Gale: TEAMS Award
The Fifth Annual Thomson Gale TEAMS Award recognizes and encourages collaboration between teachers and media specialists to promote learning and increase student achievement.
Maximum award: $2,500, Gale products (approximate value: $500), a one-year subscription to Library Media Connection, and Educator's Professional Bookshelf (approximate value: $500), from Linworth Publishing.
Eligibility: K-12 public and private schools in the United States and Canada.
Deadline: June 15, 2009

"Access for Educators to C-SPAN Archival Footage"
The C-SPAN Archives Grants awardees are granted the videotapes of their choice from the extensive collection in the C-SPAN Archives for creative proposals for using the network's programming in the classroom or in research projects.
Eligibility: middle and high school teachers, college/university professors.
Maximum Award: N/A.
Deadline: N/A.

"Awards for Excellence in Educating Students About Math, Science, Technology & Engineering"
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation Classroom Grants are awarded to encourage excellence in educating students about math, science, technology, and engineering. Eligibility: current AIAA Educator Associate or AIAA Professional members actively engaged as K-12 classroom educators.
Maximum Award: $200.
Deadline: N/A.

“Barnes and Noble Grants”
Barnes and Noble booksellers is considering requests for grants from nonprofit organizations that focus on art, literacy, or education (K-12). Applicants must have a plan for promoting the grants program with Barnes and Noble and must be willing to work with the local stores on in-store programming.
Maximum Award: varies.
Eligibility: nonprofits that focus on art, literacy, or education (K-12).
Deadline: rolling.

"Barnes & Noble Corporate Contributions"
Barnes & Noble Corporate Contributions Program is committed to literary-based sponsorships and partners with organizations that focus their core businesses on higher learning, literacy and the arts.
Maximum Award: varies.
Eligibility: non-profit organizations that focus on literacy, the arts or education (K - 12).
Deadline: N/A.

"Beyond Words: The Dollar General School Library Relief Program"
Dollar General has created a grant program to benefit public school libraries in communities affected by disasters. The fund will provide grants for books, media, and/or equipment that support learning in a school library environment.
Maximum Award: $15,000.
Eligibility: Public school libraries that have incurred substantial damage or hardship due to a natural disaster (tornado, earthquake, hurricane, flood, avalanche, mudslide), fire or an act recognized by the federal government as terrorism. First priority for the initial grants will be given to school libraries impacted by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma -- either through direct loss or through an increase in enrollment due to displaced students.
Deadline: open.

"Comcast Foundation Grants Support Youth Leadership Development"
The Comcast Foundation is awarding grants to maximize the impact of community investments so they yield tangible, measurable benefits to the neighborhoods Comcast serves and the people who live there. The foundation's primary focus is in funding diversity-oriented programs that address literacy, volunteerism and youth leadership development.
Maximum Award: $570,000.
Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations operating within communities that Comcast serves.
Deadline: N/A.

"Classroom Grants for Excellence in Math, Science, Technology and Engineering"
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation Classroom Grants are awarded to encourage excellence in educating students about math, science, technology, and engineering.
Maximum Award: $200.
Eligibility: current AIAA Educator Associate or AIAA Professional members actively engaged as K-12 classroom educators.
Deadline: N/A.

"Do Something Plum Youth Grants"
Do Something Plum Youth Grants are available to young people who submit creative proposals to further the growth and success of their existing community action project.
Maximum Award: $500.
Eligibility: Applicant must be 25 or younger at the time of application.
Deadline: weekly.

"Funding for Teachers to Bring Monarch Butterflies Into the Classroom"
The Live Monarch Foundation Educator Outreach Program provides funding for teachers throughout the United States to enroll in the National Campaign to bring Monarch Butterflies into the classroom. This program provides education and materials to strengthen the Monarch’s 3,000 mile migratory route within North America by creating self-sustaining butterfly gardens and refuges. Current extreme weather has eliminated early milkweed growth... participation is critical. Materials will be provided for each participant to raise a virtual butterfly and start a real butterfly garden with professional instruction on each level of its maintenance and care, with insight into the shared responsibility of each person to protect our fragile environment one backyard at a time.
Maximum Award: n/a.
Eligibility: teachers and classrooms in areas on the monarch migratory route.
Deadline: rolling.

“Grants to Support Education, Child Advocacy, Medical Research & the Arts”
The Charles Lafitte Foundation Grants Program awards funds to help groups and individuals foster lasting improvement on the human condition by providing support to education, children's advocacy, medical research and the arts.
Maximum Award: varies.
Eligibility: 501c-3 institutions.
Deadline: n/a.

"Grants for Arts, Education, and Health Projects"
The Milagro Foundation seeks grants applications from community-based, grass-roots organizations that work with underprivileged children and youth in the areas of arts, education, and health.
Maximum Award: $5000.
Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations in the United States.
Deadline: N/A.

“Grants for Early Literary Professionals”
RA & RR Reading Conference Grants are available to help fund expenses for selected early literacy professionals attending International Reading Association or Reading Recovery conferences.
Maximum Award: $200.
Eligibility: early literacy professionals (grades K-3).
Deadline: N/A.

“Grants for Foreign Language Training and International Studies”
The U.S. Department of Education's International Education Programs Service (IEPS) offers funding to promote expertise and competence in foreign languages and area and international studies. The Group Projects Abroad Program supports overseas projects in training, research, and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies by U.S. teachers, students, and faculty engaged in a common endeavor.
Maximum Award: varies.
Eligibility: must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States and a faculty member in modern foreign languages or area studies; a teacher in an elementary or secondary school; or an experienced educator responsible for planning, conducting, or supervising programs in modern foreign languages or area studies at the elementary, secondary, or postsecondary levels.
Deadline: see website.

"Grants for Formal K-12 Education"
RGK Foundation awards grants within education to programs that focus on formal K-12 education (particularly mathematics, science and reading), teacher development, literacy, and higher education.
Maximum Award: $25,000.
Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations.
Deadline: N/ A.

"Grants for Math Mentoring Programs Using Actuaries"
The Actuarial Foundation Advancing Student Achievement Mentoring Program awards grants to schools and groups to develop a viable mentoring program involving actuaries in the teaching of mathematics to children in private and public schools. Collaboration among school systems, local actuarial clubs, corporations and other stakeholders in education is encouraged in order to enhance the chances of success, particularly on a long-term basis.
Maximum Award: $30,000.
Eligibility: All schools and groups willing to undertake a math mentoring program that involves local actuaries as volunteers.
Deadline: N/A.

"Grants for Nonprofit Music Programs"
The Guitar Center Music Foundation's mission is to aid nonprofit music programs across America that offer music instruction so that more people can experience the joys of making music.
Maximum Award: $5000.
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations. Qualifying applicants are established, ongoing and sustainable music programs across the United States that provide music instruction for people of any age who would not otherwise have the opportunity to make music.
Deadline: N/A.

"Grants to Increase Awareness & Understanding of Japan"
The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership is providing funding opportunities for small-scale education initiatives that will increase awareness and understanding of Japan through support of teacher training and related programs addressing the needs of the student and teacher community. Grants will be awarded for projects conducted from May 1-December 31, 2007.
Maximum Award: $5,000.
Eligibility: K-12 classrooms in Southern and Midwestern states.
Deadline: rolling.

"Grants for Inner-City Educators"
The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation Corporation's Limited GEO Grants to Help Inner City Educators will fund specific, one-time future education-related needs or ideas which promise to improve inner city education within one year of the grant award in one of eligible cities.
Maximum Award: $2,000.
Eligibility: small, concrete projects which will improve inner city education in Boston, Hartford, Providence, New York or Washington within the coming year.
Deadline: N/A.

"High Tech Camp for Girls"
Microsoft DigiGirlz High Tech Camp for girls works to dispel stereotypes of the high-tech industry and gives young people a chance to experience firsthand what it is like to develop cutting-edge technology. During the camp, girls are exposed to executive speakers, technology tours and demonstrations, networking and hands-on learning workshops.
Maximum Award: camp attendance.
Eligibility: girls grades 7-12; must be 13 at the time of attendance.
Deadline: varies; see website.

"Involving Actuaries in Teaching Mathematics"
The Actuarial Foundation Advancing Student Achievement Mentoring Program awards grants to schools and groups so that they develop a viable mentoring program involving actuaries in the teaching of mathematics to children in private and public schools. Collaboration among school systems, local actuarial clubs, corporations and other stakeholders in education is encouraged in order to enhance the chances of success, particularly on a long-term basis.
Maximum Award: $30,000.
Eligibility: any local group or organization.
Deadline: N/A.

"Labels for Education"
Campbell's Labels for Education Program gives schools free educational equipment in exchange for labels from Campbell products.
Maximum Award: N/A.
Eligibility: Schools or parents coordinate label drives to raise resources for schools.
Deadline: N/A.

“Mr. Holland’s Opus Music Foundation Grants”
Mr. Holland’s Opus Music Foundation Grants have two programs, The Melody Program that targets qualified school music programs in need of assistance, and The Special Projects Program that targets community schools of the arts, after school programs and youth orchestras in need of assistance.
Maximum Award: Programs fund instrument repair and the acquisition of new instruments; no cash grants.
Eligibility: school music programs K-12; community schools of the arts, after-school programs, and youth orchestras.
Deadline: none.

“NetAid Global Citizen Corps”
The NetAid Global Citizen Corps is a national network of high school students working to educate and mobilize their peers in efforts to end global poverty and address global challenges like HIV/AIDS, hunger, and access to education. Places are still available for this year’s online program.
Maximum Award: n/a.
Eligibility: students attending high school in the 2006-2007 school year.
Deadline: rolling.

"Outdoor Classroom Grant Program for the Natural Sciences"
Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer! Magazine have teamed up to create an outdoor classroom grant program whose focus is to engage students in hands-on natural science experiences and allow enrichment opportunities across the core curriculum.
Maximum Award: $2,000.
Eligibility: K-12 public schools in the United States.
Deadline: N/A.

"RGK Foundation Grants for Education"
RGK Foundation awards grants to programs that focus on formal K-12 education (particularly mathematics, science, and reading), teacher development, literacy, and higher education.
Maximum Award: $25,000.
Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations.
Deadline for Letter of Inquiry: N/A.

"Scholastic Lexus Environmental Challenge"
The Scholastic Lexus Environmental Challenge program is designed to educate and empower students to take action to improve the environment. The program encourages middle and high school students to develop and implement environmental programs that positively impact their communities. Middle and high school teams comprised of 5 to 10 students and one teacher advisor are invited to participate in four initial challenges, each addressing a different environmental element -- land, water, air, and climate.
Maximum Award: $75,000.
Eligibility: students in grades 6-12 and their teachers.
Deadline: varies.

"Teachers of Critical Language Program Grants"
The American Councils for International Education Teachers of Critical Languages Program brings qualified EFL teachers with at least five years experience from China and Jordan to America where they teach Chinese and Arabic for an academic year in schools that offer the languages as a course of study. They are currently looking for schools to host them.
Deadline: TBA

"TeachUNICEF Seeks Teachers for Pilot Program"
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is looking for teachers to pilot its new
"TeachUNICEF" curriculum materials. These lesson plans examine the lives of children in developing countries who are affected by poverty, armed conflict, child labor or disability. For more information, or to register to participate in the Fall 2007 pilot project, contact: Marie Bresnahan, Director of Education, U.S. Fund for UNICEF at: mbresnahan@unicefusa.org or 212-880-9135.
Eligibility: teachers of grades 6-8 and 9-12.
Deadline: n/a

"Wachovia Foundation Grants Support Educational Improvement"
The Wachovia Foundation is interested in working with non-profit organizations that are implementing and/or developing tailored approaches to improving education in their communities. Programs must support pre-K – 12 public education and address the systemic issues related to teachers and teaching, such as professional development, school support, recruitment or retention.
Maximum Award: $500,000.
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations with a mission to improve public education in AL, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, MD, MS, NC, NY, NJ, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, or Washington, D.C.
Deadline: n/a.

"Show Me the Money: Tips & Resources for Successful Grant Writing"
Many educators have found that outside funding, in the form of grants, allows them to provide their students with educational experiences and materials their own districts can't afford. Learn how they get those grants -- and how you can get one too. Included: Practical tips to help first-time grant writers get the grants they need.

"Department of Education Forecast of Funding"
This document lists virtually all programs and competitions under which the Department of Education has invited or expects to invite applications for new awards for FY 2006 and provides actual or estimated deadline dates for the transmittal of applications under these programs. The lists are in the form of charts -- organized according to the Department's principal program offices -- and includes previously announced programs and competitions, as well as those planned for announcement at a later date. Note: This document is advisory only and is not an official application notice of the Department of Education. They expect to provide regular updates to this document.