Grants for Classroom Support

By Cheryl Belknap, Director of Education and Research, New Bedford Oceanarium


Grants that teachers can use for classroom support can vary widely, from the extremely
complicated but large grants available from the federal government, to the very simple ones generally available from corporations. There is a tendency to believe that grant seeking is complicated and time consuming. That is true in the case of the large grants. But you will find that if you ask, there are many simple grants available to you. Who do you ask? Start by asking other teachers, professional organizations such as the National Marine Educators and end by asking every single business in your area.


Simple Tips for Grant Writing


1. Make sure that your school will allow you to develop a grant for YOUR CLASSROOM
USE. Grant makers will not give you funding if the money goes into the school department’s general fund. Find out how your school system manages grants. Some
systems will take your suggestion and run with it, writing a grant for all of the system.

2. If the foundation or corporation provides a phone number and a name, or even just a
phone number – CALL FIRST. Tell them who you are and what you are looking for, and
ask them straight out if this is the sort of project they will fund.

3. When you are writing the grant, tell them what you want in the first sentence. I am
seeking funding to buy field science equipment for my 7th grade earth science class at
Hastings Middle School in Fairhaven, Massachusetts.


4. Tell them what you are doing with students. This is the second year I have been taking earth science students to New Bedford Harbor to collect water quality and weather data.


5. Tell them why this program is important; how it works; how many students; what your
community’s needs are. Include the sort of demographic information that makes your
need more compelling, i.e. low educational attainment levels.


6. Tell them about yourself as a teaching professional, how you are seeking to develop
professionally, programs you are participating in, courses you are taking.


7. Emphasize any partnerships, collaborations, and mentoring (i.e. are you a lead teacher, are you part of a team that is developing hands-on science programs, are you sharing your field experiences with other teachers and encouraging / helping them to develop programs of their own, are you working with area institutions of higher learning, non profits, etc.).


8. Keep your budget simple. Avoid overhead costs; funders are suspicious of overhead
when giving to public school systems. If there is a fee involved (i.e. janitorial) call it a fee
and be very clear in your budget narrative about what it is, and why you pay it. Call book
& equipment suppliers, bus companies, ahead of time, get quotes (haggle to get the price down), and don’t forget to include the cost of shipping in your budget. Explain to them that grants don’t come in within 30, or usually even 90, days and ask if they expect any tremendous changes in price. Put in some pad, there is always some unexpected expense.


9. Support letters. First, you should get a letter from the head of your department stating that this effort is endorsed and supported by the school administration. If you are working collaboratively, you should also ask for letters from collaborators (non profits, other teachers, scientists, etc.).

10. If you receive a grant you’ve only just begun with your funder. Write a thank you. Have
the principal write a thank you. Have the superintendent write a thank you. Send a
gushing, but short description of your program and the funders’ gift to all of your local
newspapers. Save the originals and make clean color copies. Keep careful records of
spending and keep receipts. Make photos of your students when utilizing the grant funds. Find a simple way to measure the impact of the funds on your students, and on your own effectiveness as their teacher. Keep some tests, or projects, that reflect the impact of these funds. Around the time the funds run out, or about 11 months after you receive the funds (whichever comes first), send a report (even if it isn’t required) to the funder. Include pictures, newspaper articles, student work, and the assessment tool that you developed to measure progress. Tell the funder how the program changed as you moved forward, what you would have done differently now that you have the benefit of experience. Describe what your near future plans are, are you going to expand the program?

To develop a grant proposal:


1. Organization mission statement.

In the case of an individual teacher a description of your school system and its demographics will have to serve here. Keep it brief.

2. General program description.

Describe the proposed program: Why do you want to do this program? Why should it be funded? This is your opportunity to present your program and to convince the foundation of the importance and desirability of the program.


3. Program detail
What are the goals and purpose of the program? How does the program relate to the mission of the foundation? What are the objectives for the program? Are they measurable? What are the specific activities that must be carried out to meet the objectives? Are they on schedule? Who are the members of the staff who will carry out the program? What are their backgrounds and qualifications? What is the relationship of this program to your organization's/institution's overall mission?


4. Program budget and narrative
Summary budget – usually they give you a specific format.
Narrative budget – this is where you would describe the uses for the funds and include an explanation of each line item in the budget (direct and indirect costs) and how the cost was determined.


5. Want help? Go to Associated Grantmakers at www.agmconnect.org and look at the grant writing tips or go to School Grants at http://www.schoolgrants.org/grant_tips.htm

 

Recommended Grants:


Toshiba - 7th -12th Grade Program
Applications accepted year round for grants under $5,000.


The 2004 Toyota TAPESTRY program will award 50 grants of up to $10,000 each and a
minimum of 20 "mini-grants" of $2,500 each to K-12 science teachers. Interested teachers should propose innovative science projects that can be implemented in their school or school district over a one-year period. Toyota TAPESTRY projects demonstrate creativity, involve risk-taking, possess a visionary quality, and model a novel way of presenting science. If you have a great way to make science come alive, apply for a Toyota TAPESTRY grant.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Outdoor Classroom
Program. To further environmental education across the Commonwealth's schools, the Outdoor Classroom Program is designed for municipalities, public schools, or public institutions of higher education in Massachusetts. The goal of the program is to assist these groups in restoring, improving, and/or researching natural areas on appropriately open and accessible private lands or public lands at a public school or municipal grounds. The state is very late this year in setting the budget – I urge you to keep close watch on this.

Also, Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary of Environmental Affairs and the Secretary’s Advisory Group on Environmental Education (SAGEE) are seeking nominations to honor individual schools, teachers, and students across the Commonwealth who have distinguished themselves in environmental education efforts. Through a formal award ceremony, Secretary Roy Herzfelder will honor individuals and programs that provide for an educational experience while promoting environmental awareness, conservation, and environmental stewardship. Winners may receive a cash award or certificates of recognition for the work they have done. The award ceremony will be held during Earth Week, April 2005. Award announcements and event information will be made available two months prior to the event. Applications for nominations can be accessed on line at http://www.state.ma.us/envir/ee. For more information, please contact Aurea Vazquez at
(617) 626-4917.

The Coca-Cola Foundation aims to provide youth with the educational opportunities and
support systems they need to become knowledgeable and productive citizens. The Foundation encourages new solutions to countless problems that impede educational systems today, and it supports existing programs that work including (1) Classroom Teaching and Learning Grants for innovative K-12 public school programs, (2) Teacher development programs, (3) Smaller projects dealing with specific activities in the elementary and secondary classroom.

Wal-Mart

Starting November 3rd and continuing through December 24th, every Wal-Mart
store, Supercenter and Neighborhood Market location nationwide will be eligible to give up to $5,000 to local charitable organizations. The Holiday Grant may be awarded to qualifying 501c3 charities, 501c4 civic groups, 501c19 veteran’s organizations, public schools and government agencies. (This may be more oriented toward hunger relief but it never hurts to ask, they may not have given all of this year’s budget away). Also - Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB provides grants to local schools to support environmental projects and education in communities where stores are located. On Earth Day, associates nationwide announce the names of local schools receiving an environmental grant earmarked for a project that will benefit their community. Captain Planet – Simple, on line form. Current limit $500. Buys supplies. Deadlines March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. All applicants will be informed of their proposal's status within four months of the application deadline.

Sea Grant

Local Cultural Council


Other recommendations for suitable grants:

Your Local Community:

  • Your PTO/PTA
  • Home Depot – Call your local Home Depot and ask to speak with the manager. Be brief, tell him/her what you do and what you are seeking and ask “Can Home Depot help?” Have some information materials ready and ask if you can drop them off. For the National Foundation - http://www.homedepotfoundation.org
  • Wal-Mart – Same as above.
  • Banks – Same as above.

MA Grants:


Regional / National Grants

  • Shaw’s Supermarkets – Terry Donlin, Dir. Of Public Relations


Grant and Teacher Resource Database