A competitive grant awards funds on the basis of a competitive process. The applications go through a formal review process in light of the grant requirements and selection criteria established for a program. The review process allows for discretion to determine which applications best address the program requirements and are, therefore, most worthy of funding.

If there is an external or competitive grant you are interested in applying for, you must first seek permission from the district to apply for the grant on behalf of Columbus City Schools.  

Teachers' Dream Grant

Will provide individual grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to Columbus City Schools teachers to assist in improving teaching and learning in CCS.  This is an excellent opportunity for interested teachers to acquire resources to support an innovative project to increase student achievement, improve social climate and/or promote social justice.

All applications must be submitted online by 4:00 p.m. on April 21, 2023.

This is a district-sponsored grant; applicants will not need to submit a Grant Endorsement application to apply but will need their principal's or supervisor's approval.  NOTE:  A CCS email account is required to submit online.  To submit your application, go to http://www.columbus.k12.oh.us/dreamgrant and enter your ILead login username and password.

Snapdragon Book Foundation School Library Grant

Description: The Snapdragon Book Foundation provides funds to improve school libraries for disadvantaged children.  Founded by a former school librarian, this foundation exists to put books in the hands of students.  In a time when many schools are reallocating their funds to technology and audiovisual equipment, Snapdragon Book Foundation hopes to make sure that school libraries are still offering children good books to read.  Grant funding is to be spent on traditional books, processing or cataloguing fees, reference materials for student use, and magazine or newspaper subscriptions.  Other media, such as posters, arts and crafts supplies, software, hardware, or online databases, are not eligible.  Projects that include significant technology are not likely to be funded unless they express a strong connection to the mission of the organization.

Award(s):  Range from $500 to $20,000

Deadline(s):  Applications are accepted from November 1 through February 5, 2023

Focus:  Library/Media, Literacy, PreK, Technology Equipment/Devices, Underserved Populations/At Risk

Grade Level(s):  6-8, 9-12, 3-5, K-2, PreK

American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation Grant

Amount: Varies, but the average award is $10,000

Description: Funds can be used for needs like meal programs or for learning initiatives like reading programs.

Who Qualifies: Teachers and educators who work for nonprofit schools, libraries, community centers, or other nonprofit organizations

Deadline: Applications are accepted in February of each year.

STEM Fund

Description: The Stem Fund is another Spotlight Fund opportunity from Adopt a Classroom and is offered in partnership with Staples, the office supply store. Teachers can apply for funding toward materials like lab supplies and calculators to teach STEM in their classrooms in an engaging way.

Who Qualifies: K-12 teachers      

Deadline: January through March each year

Youth Career Exploration and Employment Skills Training Grants

The Subaru Foundation of America awards grants to support two types of programs, Youth Career Exploration and Employment Skills Training. Career exploration programs should target students in middle school and high school from underserved communities with opportunities for relevant, experiential activities that address hard and soft skills for job and career success. Employment skills training programs should target individuals aged 16 to 26 in underserved communities with training in hard and soft work skills, support for internships that can lead to employment, and assistance in obtaining  industry-required certifications for employment. There are two grant cycles yearly and organizations are limited to one request per 12-month period. 

Focus:  Career and College Readiness, Career and Technical Ed (CTE), Interning/Mentoring/Apprenticeship, Technology Equipment/Devices, Underserved Populations/At Risk Awards vary.    Applications are due March 30 and October 12, annually

MicroGrant Program for Educators & Teachers

• Sponsor: Educators of America
• Award: Equipment (varies by request)
• Number of Awards: Not specified
• Application Deadline: Ongoing (twice per year, April and September)

Jordan Fundamentals Grant

Amount: Varies, but the average award is $10,000

Description: The Jordan Brand, a division of Nike, supports this grant. The grant aims to provide funding for schools and improve academic outcomes, teacher-student relations, school communities, and teacher development.

Who Qualifies: K-12 public school teachers at high-needs schools. The Jordan brand defines a high-needs school as one where 50% or more of students receive free or reduced lunch.     Deadline:  April 15 of each year

Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Grant

Amount: $2,500

Description: The International Literacy Association (ILA) awards this grant to help teachers improve writing and reading education in their classrooms.

Who Qualifies: K-8 teachers who serve high-needs schools. The ILA defines a high-needs school as one where 60% or more of students receive free or reduced lunch. You’ll also need to be an ILA member to apply.         Deadline:  June 1 each year

STEM + Computing Grant

Description: The STEM + Computing (STEM+C) grant is awarded by the National Science Foundation. The grant is designed to encourage integrated STEM+C learning for students. Teachers or schools who want to apply should propose a project integrating these areas with the goal of improving student learning.

Who Qualifies: K-12 teachers              Deadline: July of each year, usually mid-month

ONGOING GRANT OPPORTUNITIES  (Rolling)

Education Grants, Savros Niarchos Foundation

Description:  The Stavros Niarchos Foundation awards grants to fund projects in education as well as arts and culture, health and sports, and social welfare.  Previous education grants have been awarded to colleges, schools, mentoring programs, and "edible schoolyard" gardening programs.  Applications must be submitted online.

Award(s):  Vary

Deadline:  Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Focus:  Disaster Relief (COVID-19), Family/Social Services, General Education, Professional Development, Sports/Esports/Recreation, Technology Equipment/Devices, Underserved Populations/At Risk

Grade Level:  PreK, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Adult, Higher Ed

Classroom Technology Grants

Amount: $250-$5,000

Description: Educators of America offers these grants to help get updated technology to teachers and classrooms. Funding can be used for interactive whiteboards, laptops, or tablets for student use and more.

Who Qualifies: K-12 teachers                      Deadline: Rolling. Applications are reviewed four times a year in January, April, July, and October

Verizon Foundation Education Grants

Amount: Varies

Description: Verizon’s education grants are meant to be used to enhance STEM programming at schools throughout the country. This can include funds for extracurricular activities, integrated programming, and teaching education. Funds can’t be used to purchase classroom computers.

Who Qualifies: K-12 teachers                      Deadline: Rolling

Arts Fund

Amount: Varies

Description: The Arts Fund is one of five “Spotlight Funds” from Adopt a Classroom. Unlike Adopt a Classroom’s typical crowdfunding model, Spotlight Funds let teachers apply for grants and get funding for specific school needs. Money from the Arts Fund can be used toward art supplies, musical instruments, theater costumes, and more.

Who Qualifies: K-12 teachers                     Deadline: Rolling

Target Field Trip Grants

The Target Field Trip Grants Program was designed to help teachers bring learning to life for students and enhance classroom studies. The grants can be used to cover the cost of transportation, entry fees, supplies, and classroom resource materials so that teachers may continue using the valuable experiential learning gained from math and science, language, social studies and arts-focused field trips. The maximum award is $700.

Fender Music Foundation Grants [arts]

Fender Music Foundation grants are awarded to music academies, schools, local music programs, and national music programs across America, particularly in-school music classes in which the students make music; after-school music programs that are not run by a school; and music therapy programs, in which the participants make the music. The foundation provides musical instruments and/or equipment.  Deadline:  Rolling 

Safeway Foundation Grants

The Safeway Foundation seeks to fund nonprofit organizations that have programs that align with its four priority areas: hunger relief, education, health and human services, and assisting people with disabilities. Maximum award: Grant amounts vary for organizations that are national in scope, but a first-time funded organization will typically receive a grant of $10,000 to $25,000. Eligibility: 501(C)(3) organization located in an area where there are Safeway stores.  Deadline:  Rolling

Share Our Strength: No Kid Hungry Grants

Share Our Strength awards grants to eligible organizations involved in increasing access to summer meals programs supported through the Summer Food Service Program or the National School Lunch "Seamless Summer" Program; educating and enrolling more eligible families in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program; increasing the availability of school breakfast through alternative models such as "in-classroom" breakfast and "grab-n-go" breakfasts; increasing access to afterschool snack and meal programs, as well as child care programs, supported through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP); and advocacy around any of the above anti-hunger issues. Maximum award: $10,000. Eligibility: nonprofit organizations and schools in the U.S.            Deadline:  Rolling

Chef Ann Foundation and Healthy Skoop’s Project Produce: Fruit and Veggie Grants for Schools

The Chef Ann Foundation and Healthy Skoop have teamed up to launch Project Produce: Fruit and Veggie Grants for Schools. These $2,500 grants will help schools increase kids’ access to fresh fruits and veggies and nutrition education. Proposed projects must be planned with the intention of offering activities to all students in the school building.  Deadline:  Rolling

SC Johnson’s Education Grants

SC Johnson foundation makes grants in the areas of arts, culture, and humanities; community and economic development; education; health and wellness; social services; and environment and sustainability. Education Grants include support for programs that emphasize student academic achievement, with a focus on academic enrichment and advancement, early childhood, and kindergarten through grade 12 education; postsecondary institutions; and technical and vocational schools.  Deadline:  Rolling

Erie Insurance Giving Network

Erie Insurance supports organizations in the communities where Erie Insurance has presences in these community areas of focus: community building, arts and culture, education, health and human services, safety, disaster relief, and environmental responsibility. Priority is given to organizations that ensure their governing bodies include representatives from the communities they serve. Applications must be submitted online.

Focus:  Arts, Science

Applications for requests up to $10,000 are accepted year-round

https://www.erieinsurance.com/givingnetwork/

Cornell Douglas Foundation Grants

The Cornell Douglas Foundation offers small grants to non-profit organizations that work to advocate for environmental health and justice, promote stewardship, and encourage respect for sustainability. With grant amounts averaging $10,000, the Foundation supports programs in environmental health, sustainability, and education for elementary and high school students.  Deadline:  Rolling

Teaching Tolerance Educator Grants

Teaching Tolerance support projects that “create affirming school climates and educate young people how to thrive in a diverse democracy.” Ranging from $500 to $10,000, grants fund projects at the school, classroom, and district levels. Projects at the school and district levels should focus on improving school climate, responding to and preventing incidents of hate, and embracing principles of tolerance and inclusion. At the classroom level, grants should help teachers promote empathy and kindness, positive identity development, and critical thinking. Deadline: Rolling

Amgen Foundation Science Education Grants

With a mission to inspire future innovators and inventors, the Amgen Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations that advance scientific education at local and national levels. Two main funding priorities are professional development opportunities in math and science for teachers, and pivotal hands-on science experience for students. Award amounts range from $10,000 to multi-million dollar grants. Deadline:  Rolling

Guitar Center Music Education Grants

The Guitar Center believes that music “inspires creativity and personal expression, builds self-esteem and teaches cooperation.” To that end, Guitar Center considers requests from 501(c)(3) organizations that support music education for all young people. Deadline: Rolling

Comprehensive School Safety Initiative Grants

The Sidgmore Family Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations that work to improve the quality of education and develop creative solutions to social problems. Among others, previous projects have furthered gender equality in education, invested in early childhood education to close the achievement gap for underserved youth, worked to end teen dating violence and abuse, developed career and professional skills through internships and mentorship, and offered English language programs for immigrant families.              Deadline:  Rolling

Farrell Family Foundation’s Education Grants

The Farrell Family Foundation wants to create a better world by supporting initiatives in education, health, and the arts. The Foundation makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations with a proven history of purpose and impact. The Education Grants focus on technology and ideally will serve underprivileged children by giving them the support and resources they need in order to fulfill their potential.          Deadline:  Rolling

Naiku Innovative Teacher Grant

Deadline: Ongoing (approx. 10 awards per month)

Sony Grants for Education

Deadline: Ongoing (grants awarded on a rolling basis)

Fund for Teachers: Grants

The Fund for Teachers provides funds for direct grants to teachers to support summer learning opportunities of their own design. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: teachers who work with students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, with a minimum of three years teaching experience, full-time, spending at least 50 percent of the time in the classroom at the time grants are approved and made.   Deadline:  Varies by State

Adobe: ConnectED software grants

As part of the White House's ConnectEd initiative, Adobe is offering creative tools and teacher professional development to schools across the United States. Maximum award: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Presenter, Adobe Captivate, Adobe Echosign, and a range of teacher training resources. Eligibility: public, state-operated, county-operated school, or BIA schools at the elementary or secondary school level that receive Title I funds. Deadline:  Rolling

Wish You Well Foundation: Grants for Literacy

The Wish You Well Foundation's mission is to foster and promote the development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs. Maximum award: $10,000. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations. Deadline:  Rolling

US Department of Education’s Carol M. White Physical Education Program

The Carol M. White Physical Education Program provides grants to local educational agencies and community-based organizations to initiate, expand, or enhance physical education programs, including after-school programs, for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Grant recipients must implement programs that help students make progress toward meeting state standards. Projects must be designed to help students meet the state’s physical education standards by undertaking instruction in healthy eating habits and good nutrition and at least one of the authorized physical fitness activities.      Deadline:  Rolling

Tina B. Carver Fund

Established in memory of a longtime English as a Second Language (ESL) educator, Tina B. Carver Fund provides grants to teachers for funding student classroom learning materials and teacher materials. Grants are available to members of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or its affiliates. The grants must be submitted on behalf of community-based organizations, charitable institutions, or non-profits with 501©(3) status. Awards are based on itemized expenses for materials to be purchased with the grant. Applications must be submitted online.    Deadline:  Rolling

Educational Assistance and Training Programs

The Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation (CICF) encourages the creation and expansion of learning experiences and opportunities at the primary, secondary, and higher education levels, particularly for minority and disadvantaged students. Areas of special interest to CICF include educational and training programs designed to improve literacy, teach basic life skills, promote good citizenship and public services, and increase reading, mathematics, and science proficiencies.       Deadline:  Rolling

PPG Industries Foundation Education and Community Grants

The PPG Industries Foundation favors projects that promote academic excellence and prepare the next generation of leaders in business, science, and technology. Support for students of high academic achievement and programs that attract young people to the study of science remain priorities for the foundation. PPG’s strategy for support of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives is defined by the emerging macro trends that predict core markets, product offerings, and technology needs.             Deadline:  Rolling

CVS/Caremark Community Grants

CVS/Caremark Community Grants fund programs for children with disabilities under age 21; academic and enrichment programs at public schools; and programs that provide access to quality health care services and health education for at-risk and underserved populations of all ages. The maximum award is $5,000.  Deadline:  Rolling

Webb Family Foundation Education and Youth Grants

Corning Foundation

Description: Selected elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, and four-year institutions of higher learning are the consistent beneficiaries of Corning Foundation support. Corning's areas of involvement have included community service programs for students, curriculum enrichment, student scholarships, facility improvement, and instructional technology projects for the classroom.

Application Form Required? Yes   No          Detailed proposal required

Funding Amount: Varies.

Deadline: Contact for deadline.

corning.com/inside_corning/foundation.asp

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.

Description of Grant: Toyota sponsors the Toyota TAPESTRY program that offers grants to k-12 science teachers for innovative projects that enhance science education in the school and/or school district. Projects are funded in the environmental science education category that emphasize the efficient use of natural resources and protection of the environment. Students participating in these projects should gain an increased awareness of the terrestrial, aquatic, and/or atmospheric environment and an understanding of their own interdependence with the natural world.

Funding Amount: Up to $2,500 for mini-grants, $10,000 for larger grants.

Deadline: Contact for deadline.

https://www.toyota.com/usa/community/index.html#!/grant-guidelines-and-applications

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Grants 

Award:  No more than 10% of an organization's annual operating expenses or 25% of the total budget for the project being funded; awards have ranged from the hundreds to the millions of dollars.
Number of Awards:  Varies 
Qualification:  Project should "directly serve or impact children living in urban poverty, particularly in the areas of education, family economic stability (including micro finance) and childhood health."              Deadline:  Ongoing

https://www.msdf.org/apply/ 

American Honda Foundation STEM Grants

Mobile Beacon Connect for Success 

MicroGrant Program for Educators & Teachers

In order to apply for any external, competitive grants on behalf of Columbus City Schools or as a CCS employee you must first go through the grant approval process.