Funding Sources

Organization: Reading Pen Group, Inc.
Amount: 10 free Readingpen devices worth $1,000
Deadline: Ongoing

Designed to support innovative and effective uses of the Readingpen in classroom settings. The activities of the project must be focused on using the Readingpen in daily instruction, whether in the classroom or during homework assignments.

Up to 10 Readingpens for a team of 2-3 teachers at a single school who spend the majority of their time in direct instruction with students.

Applicants must complete and submit a Readingpen Grant Application.

Web site

Organization: Dollar General
Amount: Varies
Deadline: August 1, 2007

The Dollar General Back-To-School Grants provide funding to assist schools in meeting some financial challenges they face in implementing new programs or purchasing new equipment, materials, or software for their school library or literacy program.

Grant Applications will be available online April 2007.

For more information and frequently asked questions, visit the Dollar General Web site.

Organization: Michael Jordan Fundamentals Foundation
Amount: Range from $2,500 to $10,000
Deadline: May 15, 2007

A minimum of 200 small grants, averaging $2,500 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 Innovative Grants that hold promise for scalability and being replicated.

Grant requests larger than $10,000 for Innovative Grants will be considered if the proposal scope is appropriately in alignment with the requested amount.

Grant guidelines

How to apply

Organization: Toshiba America Foundation
Amount: $5,000 +
Deadline: Ongoing - except for grants of more than $5,000, applications are due Feb. 1 and Aug. 1 of each year.

Toshiba Foundation contributes to the quality of science and mathematics education by investing in projects designed by classroom teachers to improve instruction for students in grades 7-12.

For grades K-6: Projects must advance the teacher’s science and math teaching units in grades K-6. Amount is $1,000.

General information

For links to K-6 or 7-12 Applications and How to Apply

Organization: The Verizon Foundation
Amount: $5,000 - $10,000
Deadline: January 1 through November 30

Improving basic literacy skills in the United States is among the Verizon Foundation's major priorities with a focus on e-Learning.

Take their basic eligibility quiz before you start your application. If your project does not meet their requirements they may be able to suggest some other avenues of support.

Verizon Foundation only accepts electronic proposals through its Apply Online process. See Web site for guidelines and online application.

Web site

Organization: The Educational Foundation of America
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Ongoing

The Education Foundation of America (EFA) makes grants to qualifying non-profit organizations. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the environment, theatre, education, and human services. Important characteristics considered by EFA are intended broad impact, increasing independence, and correspondence with ETA objectives.

Applicants are required to send the EFA Inquiry Form via email as the first step.

Organization: Ford Motor Company Fund
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Ongoing

The Ford Fund supports not-for-profit organizations in three major areas: innovations and education, community development and American legacy, and auto-related environmental safety. Ford Fund places priority on supporting organizations that promote diversity and inclusion.

To apply for a grant, download, and submit the grant application form.

Organization: AT&T Foundation
Amount: Varies

The AT&T Foundation awards grants to education projects that focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning through the effective use of technology.

It funds programs designed to:

• Increase access to technology tools and resources
• Broaden technology training and professional skills development
• Reach and empower disadvantaged or underserved communities

Those who wish to submit an unsolicited proposal should send a brief letter of introduction and description of their organization and project to:

Secretary, AT&T Foundation
32 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Web site

Organization: The Citigroup Foundation
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Ongoing

The Citigroup Foundation provides thousands of grants each year to organizations around the world. The Foundation supports early primary through higher education programs that:

• Encourage early literacy development
• Promote innovative teaching strategies and curricula and share best practices
• Build the skills and confidence of low-performing students
• Enhance creativity through arts education
• Support innovative classroom technologies

In 2005, 2,491 grants were awarded ranging from $1,000 to $200,000 plus. They support a wide range of activities and programs from a classroom or school program to giving large amounts of funding to support education in a foreign country. You can look up the range of grants and funding by going to the website and doing a “Grants Search”.

They support small projects such as: math tutoring in high school, arts and music camp for an elementary school, to providing funding to an entire school district to set up a “district foundation” to provide their own classroom grants to teachers.

For information on applying for a grant, contact the U.S. Contribution Coordinator for Michigan:

Melanie DiLeo
Citi Mortgage
100 Galleria Officentre, Suite 300
Southfield, MI 48034-8409

Web site

Organization: The Corning, Inc. Foundation
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Ongoing

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. Currently the Foundation annually fulfills approximately 175 grants totaling some $3.0 million.

All requests to the Foundation for support must be made in writing. Grant seekers are advised to submit a two-to-three page letter of inquiry, signed by the senior administrative officer of the organization.

Mail inquiries to:

Ms. Karen C. Martin
Associate Director
Corning Incorporated Foundation
MP-BH-07
Corning, New York 14831

See website for information on submitting a full proposal.

Web site

Organization: State Farm Companies Foundation
Amount: Varies
Deadline: Ongoing
(requests exceeding $100,000 are only considered quarterly)

The State Farm Companies Foundation awards grants to K-12 public schools to support the following education initiatives:

• Education reform or curriculum changes that improve student achievement
• After-school programs
• Improving teacher quality
• School-to-work programs

Grant requests must be submitted in writing on the requesting organization’s letterhead. No telephone or e-mail solicitations. Proposals may be submitted to the appropriate State Farm office nearest you, attention: Public Affairs, GNC Coordinator.

Visit their website for guidelines for requesting grants:

Web site

Organization: Adopt-A-Class (a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization)
Eligibility: Teachers
Amount: $500 credit

Teachers who register at the Adopt-A-Classroom Web site can be adopted by an individual, a business, or a foundation. Once adopted, teachers will receive $500 worth of credit to purchase items that enrich the learning environment, including classroom technology. Every donor receives information about the classroom it has adopted, including an itemized list of what teachers bought so donors can see the impact of their donation.

Eligibility Requirements:

• You must teach at a U.S. public school
• Your school must be at least one year old
• You must have a valid email address

Expectations of Adopted Classroom:

You will be expected to communicate with your sponsor during the school year. (Some suggestions are listed on the Website)

Donors form partnerships with specific classrooms providing financial and moral support. This may sometimes result in a lasting partnership.
Note: You do not have to write a grant for this funding source.

Register online at www.adoptaclassroom.com. A “teacher registration” button is located at the top of the page. Follow directions to register.

NEA Learning & Leaderhip Grants

Organization: NEA
Amount: $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study

Deadline: October 15, 2006

This grant provides opportunities for teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to engage in high-quality professional development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. New guidelines on the Web site.

Web site

NEA Student Achievement Grants

Organization: NEA
Amount: $5,000

Deadline: October 15, 2006

The grant provides $5,000 to improve academic achievement of students by engaging in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter.

Web site

Organization: ING
Amount: $2,000

Deadline: April 30, 2007

Web site

Organization: MEEMIC Foundation
Amount: $2,500

Deadline: ongoing

Web site

The Foundation will only consider funding programs that, in some manner, show creativity on the part of the educator and the program. Programs that incorporate technology, science, literacy, mentoring or the arts will be the most highly regarded.

Complete online form

Organization: Coca-Cola Foundation
Amount: $10,000 – $100,000

Deadline: reviews quarterly

Web site

The Coca-Cola Foundation supports higher education, classroom teaching and learning and international education. For the Classroom Teaching and Learning, they are looking for innovative K-12 public school programs and smaller projects dealing with specific activities in the elementary and secondary classroom.

Complete their application form and submit along with your program description. Funding varies

Organization: Knight Family Charitable and Educational Foundation
Amount: $500-$10,000

Deadline: None; Final notifcation 2 months after submission

Purpose and activities: Funding for education, religion, health, and human services
Limitations: Giving primarily in Michigan

Contact Information:
15 N. Talbot St
Addison, MI 49220-9698
(517) 547-6131

Contact: N.J. Glasser, Secy.-Treas.

Organization: The Dart Foundation
Amount: $500-$300,000

Deadline: None

Purpose and activities: Giving primarily for education and youth services.
Limitations: Giving primarily in central Michigan. No grants to individuals.

Application information: Application form not required. Applicants should submit the following:

1. copy of IRS Determination Letter
2. detailed description of project and amount of funding requested

Types of support: Curriculum development, conferences/seminars, program development, general/operating support, matching/challenge support.

Contact Information:
500 Hogsback Rd.
Mason, MI 48854-9547

Contact: James D. Lammers, V.P.

Organization: Alden & Vada Dow Fund
Amount: $1,000-$33,975

Deadline: Feb. 15 and Sept. 15 annually

Purpose and activities: Primary areas of interest include arts and education; youth activities, recreation and nature and the environment.
Limitations: Giving primarily in Michigan. No grants to individuals.

Application information: Application form not required. Applicants should submit the following:

1. copy of IRS Determination Letter

Types of support: Equipment, general/operating support, conferences/seminars.

Contact Information:
315 Post St.
Midland, MI 48640-2658
(517) 839-7444 | (517) 839-2611 (fax)

Contact: Craig McDonald, Grants Coordinator
E-mail: info@abdow.org

Organization: W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Deadline: None

Web site

Purpose and activities: Kellogg Foundation was established to help people help themselves through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations. Youth and Education is just one of their many areas of interest. The goal is to support healthy infant, child, and youth development by mobilizing, strengthening, and aligning systems that affect children’s learning.
Limitations: Giving primarily in the U.S. No support for capital facilities, no grants to individuals and no grants for operating budgets.

Application information: Proposals must conform to specified program priorities. Application form not required. Applicants should submit the following:

1. contact person
2. name, address and phone number of organization
3. detailed description of project and amount of funding requested
4. results expected from proposed grant
5. timetable for implementation and evaluation of project
6. qualifications of key personnel
7. copy of current year’s organizational budget and/or project budget
8. listing of additional sources and amount of support
9. plans for cooperation with other organizations, if any
10. copy of IRS Determination Letter
11. listing of board of directors, trustees, officers and other key people and their affiliations

Types of Support: Matching/challenge support, seed money

Contact Information:
1 Michigan Ave, E.
Battle Creek, MI 49017-4058
(269) 968-1611 | (269) 968-0413 (fax)

Contact: Debbie Rey, Supervisor of Proposal Processing