There is a wealth of private funding opportunities for public education systems but it can be difficult to keep track of all the deadlines, geographic eligibility requirements and rules for applying.
We’re aiming to help you stay on top of the opportunities available in your region with these grant guidelines.
Those with the most immediate deadlines include the American Honda Foundation (August 1) and Texas Instruments Foundation (August 1) followed by the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (September 29).
American Honda Foundation
Description
The American Honda Foundation supports youth education with a specific focus on STEM subjects in addition to the environment, job training and literacy. Programs should be:
- Innovative and creative that propose untried methods which ultimately may result in providing solutions to the complex educational concerns currently facing the American society.
- Broad in scope, intent, impact and outreach.
- Possess a high potential for success with a relatively low incidence of duplication of effort (i.e. other organizations administering the same programs).
- Dedicated to improving the human condition of all mankind.
- Operate from a position of financial and administrative soundness.
- In urgent need of funding from a priority basis (not necessarily financial need); i.e., the relative importance of the program or project to the public.
Amount
$20,000 to $75,000 over a one-year period
Deadline
The American Honda Foundation (AHF) accepts applications three times per year. New organizations (those that have never received funding from AHF) can apply for either the February 1 or the August 1 deadline date. The May 1 deadline date is reserved for returning organizations only (those funded at least once in the last 10 years).
Notes
Organizations may only submit one request in a 12-month period.
Find more information in the American Honda Foundation Grant Application FAQ.
Lockheed Martin Corporation Grants
Description
Lockheed Martin provides generous funding to STEM education outreach activities for students from elementary school through college. To be considered, your school must:
- Apply through Lockheed Martin’s online CyberGrants system.
- Be a public elementary/secondary school or be a qualifying US-based institute of higher education.
- Align with one or more of Lockheed Martin’s strategic focus area on STEM education
- Be located or operate in a community in which Lockheed Martin has employees or business interests.
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Applications are accepted year-round. Evaluations are typically performed quarterly. Some grant applications may not be able to be considered until the next year’s budget cycle, particularly those received in the second half of the year.
Notes
Applicants are limited to one grant per year, except in unusual circumstances.
Motorola Solutions Foundation
Description
Motorola Solutions Foundation’s Technology & Engineering Education grants support STEM programs that:
- Engage students in innovative, hands-on technology and engineering activities, such as coding, programming and robotics
- Provide vocational skills and certifications in engineering or information technology
- Help teachers improve their teaching of STEM subjects
- Elevate system change through field-building
- High priority will be placed on middle school-university programs
Amount
$10,000-$60,000
Deadline
Applications for the Innovation Generation Grants for STEM education programs are accepted from January through February each year.
Notes
Motorola Solutions Foundation strongly prioritizes programs that take place in or near the metropolitan area of Motorola Solutions offices. For our customers, that includes those near Linthicum, Maryland.
More information can be found in this FAQ.
Texas Instruments Foundation
Description
The Texas Instruments (TI) Foundation supports K-12 public education system within its own communities. With a focus on STEM education, TI especially works to increase these skills in under-resourced communities and among under-represented minority students and girls. Programs must:
- Enhance teacher effectiveness in STEM through professional development and increasing the number of qualified math and science teachers
- Improve student engagement and achievement in STEM curriculum, especially by underrepresented populations, by providing innovative methods, programs and resources to teachers and classrooms
- Provide access to educational resources in TI’s international site communities
Amount
Not specified
Deadline
Grant applications are reviewed twice a year – August 1st and February 1st each year.
Notes
Find application instructions here.
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation
Description
Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grants support projects that fall into one of the following categories: technology upgrades, tools for STEM programs, facility renovations and safety improvements. Read the full list of Giving Guidelines here.
Amount
$2,000-$10,000
Deadline
Spring Cycle: December 19, 2016 – February 10, 2017 (CLOSED)
Fall Cycle: August 7, 2017 – September 29, 2017
Notes
You can only apply for one grant program once every 12 months.
Find more information on Lowe’s Grants FAQ page.
Ecolab Foundation
Description
The goal of Ecolab’s Visions for Learning educator grants (for school educators: teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and other licensed staff in pre-k through high schools) is to encourage and reward individual educators’ creativity and innovation in classroom learning by providing opportunities that will motivate and challenge students intellectually, raise student achievement, as well as increase their understanding of academic content and the connection between school and life.
Amount
Not specified
Deadline
TBD. Visions for Learning 2018 grant applications will be open in spring 2018.
Notes
To qualify, an organization must fall within one of Ecolab U.S. regional communities where they have operations. For our customers, that includes those in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Walton Family Foundation
Description
The Walton Family Foundation is particularly interested in supporting public K-12 charter schools that represent:
- Novel school models, including those that have new approaches to career and technical education
- Citywide enrollment models that include both traditional and public charter schools
- New ways — beyond test scores — to advance long-term success, including understanding noncognitive attributes
The foundation accepts only solicited proposals so an organization interested in applying for a grant needs first to send a brief letter of inquiry. The letter should succinctly describe the organization and the proposed project, specify and briefly explain its relevance to a particular Walton Family Foundation funding area and initiative, and provide an estimate of the funds that would be requested.
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling
Notes
As part of its 2020 K-12 strategic plan, the Walton Family Foundation plans to focus its grantmaking on select cities across the country. For our customers, that includes those in Washington, D.C.
Download the formal grant proposal here.
