Knight Foundation

This foundation emphacizes four major program areas: Community Initiatives, Journalism, Education, and Arts and Culture.
> www.knightfdn.org

National School and Business Partnerships Award

The National School and Business Partnerships Award supports and recognizes the efforts of schools and businesses that partner to improve the academic, social or physical well-being of students.
Maximum Award: $10,000
Eligibility: Partnerships involving kindergarten through 12th grade public schools and/or school districts and businesses.
> www.corpschoolpartners.org

Wallace Foundation

The Wallace Foundation funds educational projects in two different areas: *To develop effective educational leadership, especially among principals and superintendents, to improve student learning. *To improve the quality of out-of-school learning opportunities for children and families and to promote learning as a core community value.
> www.wallacefoundation.org/WF/GrantsPrograms/

Washington Mutual Corporate Giving

Washington Mutual, a banking and financial services company, seeks to make the communities it serves stronger through grants supporting K-12 public education, financial education and affordable housing.
> www.wamu.com/about/community/programspartnerships/education.asp

Smaller Learning Communities

School districts representing large high schools (with an enrollment of 1,000 or more students) are eligible for grants under the Smaller Learning Communities Program. Awards are based on school size and the number of schools served, ranging from $650,000-$1,175,000 for one school to $11,750,000 for local education agencies applying on behalf of up to 10 schools. Applicants must prioritize helping all students succeed in rigorous academic courses.
> www.ed.gov/programs/slcp/

The NEA Foundation

Grants are provided for the purpose of engaging in high-quality professional development or implementing project-based learning and break-the-mold innovations that raise student achievement.
Maximum Award: $5,000.
Eligibility: public school teachers, public school education support professionals, and faculty and staff in public higher education institutions.
> www.neafoundation.org/grants.htm

Edison Fund (Charles Thomas)

This foundation provides grants in the form of 82 experiments for teachers for classroom use. These are available for download from the website above. In addition, Grants are given for projects that without funding, would not otherwise "get off the ground." No formal application form is used; all grant requests should be submitted on the organization’s letterhead and signed by an administrator on behalf of the governing board. Open deadline (Fund representatives meet three times yearly (usually February, June, and December) to review requests for funding. For more information contact:
Charles Edison Foundation
One Riverfront Plaza
4th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: (973) 648-0500
Fax: (973) 648-0400
email: info@charlesedisonfund.org
> www.charlesedisonfund.org/thefund.html

State Farm Foundation

The State Farm Companies Foundation makes charitable contributions to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, Canadian charitable organizations, and educational institutions. The Foundation’s philanthropic interests are meeting the needs of their communities by focusing their giving in three areas: education, safety, and community development. Proposals are accepted year-round and are reviewed in a timely manner. However, approval time depends on the requesting amount and completeness of the proposal. Requests exceeding $100,000 are considered quarterly. For more information contact:
Public Affairs Office
Michigan Operations Center
410 East Drive
Marshall, Michigan 49069-0001
Telephone: (616) 789-5000
> www.statefarm.com/foundati/cogrants.htm

Kellogg Foundation Learning Initiatives for Young Children and Adolescents

Two initiatives -- SPARK: Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids and New Options for Youth Through Engaged Institutions -- will be launched immediately by the foundation, which plans to contribute $10 million toward their development over the next decade.

With a goal of ensuring that vulnerable children are ready for school and schools are ready for the children, SPARK will seek to create a seamless transition into school for children ages 3 to 6 in selected communities. (Vulnerable children are defined as those with two or more conditions that impede their learning.) The second initiative, New Options for Youth Through Engaged Institutions, will support partnerships between communities and post-secondary institutions to identify and create new ways to help vulnerable young people achieve higher levels of learning.
> www.wkkf.org
> www.wkkf.org/default.aspx?tabid=63&ItemID=6&NID=41&LanguageID=0

MEEMIC Foundation for the Future of Education Minigrant Program

Are you an enthusiastic member of the educational community with innovative, original ideas for programs, events or projects that will enhance your students’ classroom experiences? The MEEMIC Foundation for the Future of Education, a non-profit organization created in 1992 by the MEEMIC Insurance Company offers financial assistance to schools and educators in the form of mini-grants. For more information, write the
MEEMIC Foundation Mini Grant Program
691 N. Squirrel Rd.
Suite 100
Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326
Email: foundation@meemic.com
Phone: (248) 375-7535
Fax: (248) 375-7549
> www.meemic.com/comfndoverCKR.htm

Motorola Foundation Education Grants

The foundation provides education support for under-represented populations with emphasis on IL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, NJ, PA, TX. Pre-K-12 and higher education are supported. Program areas include At-risk/character, early childhood, family services, general education, math, science/environment. Recipients include Public and private/charter schools as well as institutions of higher education. Average grants range from $10,000 to $100,000.
> www.motorola.com/MotorolaFoundation

Tiger Woods Foundation

Who May Apply: Non-profit entities providing opportunities to underserved youth ages 5-17 are eligible for funding.
Description: Tiger Woods Foundation grants focus on providing opportunities to underserved youth, ages 5-17. Current areas of funding are education and youth development. For more information about the grant program, including how to apply, visit the Tiger Woods Foundation Web site at:
> www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org

AT&T Foundation Education Grants

The foundation’s scope is national, emphasizing support of higher education and institutions and national organizations serving the academic community, and K-12 education. Areas of funding under this category include programs/projects that use technology to enhance teaching and learning, encourage family involvement in schools, provide professional development opportunities for educators, prepare future teachers for the learning environment, and implement plans for lifelong learning and community collaboration. The foundation maintains a local giving program to serve communities where the company has a presence. Types of support include annual campaigns, consulting services, emergency funds, matching funds, employee matching gifts, fellowships, program development, general/operating support, and technical assistance.
> www.att.com/foundation

Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative is designed to fund the implementation of community-wide strategies for creating safe and drug-free schools and promoting healthy childhood development.
> www.ed.gov/GrantApps/#84.184L

Star Schools Program

U.S. Department of Education Star Schools Program encourages improved instruction in mathematics, science, and foreign languages, as well as other subjects (such as literacy skills and vocational education); and serves underserved populations, including disadvantaged, illiterate, limited English proficient populations, and individuals with disabilities through grants to eligible telecommunications partnerships to enable the partnerships to: (i) Develop, construct, acquire, maintain and operate telecommunications audio and visual facilities and equipment; (ii) Develop and acquire educational and instructional programming; and iii) Obtain technical assistance for the use of such facilities and instructional programming.
Maximum Award: $1,500,000-$3,000,000.
Eligibility: school districts and LEAs that serve a significant number of elementary and secondary schools; state educational agencies; adult and family education program; institutions of higher education or a State higher education agency; teacher training centers; public or private elementary or secondary schools.
> a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-4441.htm

Immigration Curriculum Project Grants

American Immigration Law Foundation funds a limited number of K-12 grade level projects that provide education about immigrants and immigration.
Maximum Award: $500-$1000
Eligibility: Educators teaching in public or private primary, intermediate, and secondary level schools.
> www.ailf.org/teach/grants/2005teachergrants.shtml

IBM Corporation

IBM’s main philanthropic focus is education in major initiatives such as Reinventing Education, KidSmart, and Project FIRST.
> www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/grant/

Corning Foundation

Selected public K-12 school districts, 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.
> www.corning.com/inside_corning/foundation.asp

Gear Up Program

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
The GEAR UP program is a discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides five-year grants to States and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.

GEAR UP partnerships supplement (not supplant) existing reform efforts, offer services that promote academic preparation and the understanding of necessary costs to attend college, provide professional development, and continuously build capacity so that projects can be sustained beyond the term of the grant.
> www.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html

General Mills Box Tops for Education

A nationwide fundraising program that helps K-8 schools earn extra cash for items that are not covered by shrinking school budgets. With Box Tops for Education, your school can earn up to $10,000 in cash for new playground equipment. Library books. Technology. Art supplies. Whatever your school needs most!
> www.boxtops4education.com

MetLife Foundation Bridge Builders Grant

MetLife Foundation Bridge Builders Grant Program and The National Association of Secondary School Principals is inviting proposals from public middle level and high schools serving large numbers of low-income students and/or underrepresented minorities (40% or more of the student body) to apply for a grant to implement a special initiative aimed at building better relationships among adults and students.
Maximum Award: $5,000.
Eligibility: Middle level and high school principals in public schools serving large numbers of low income and/or large numbers of minority students (more than 40% of the student body) in the United States.
> www.principals.org

Award Excellent Urban Schools

San Diego State University has established the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST), designed to identify, study, and promote the best practices of very high-achieving urban schools and districts. The Center is sponsoring its first annual Excellence in Education Award Program through which it will recognize urban schools and districts that have achieved outstanding records of academic achievement for all of the populations of students they serve. The NCUST Excellence in Education Award is only for public schools or public charter schools serving urban communities. At least 50 percent of the school’s students must qualify for the federal free- or reduced-price lunch program. The NCUST Excellence in Education Award winners will receive a check for $1,000 and a banner bearing their name. As well, each school will receive travel costs for one representative to attend the NCUST Symposium in San Diego, California, May 5-6, 2006.
> edweb.sdsu.edu/ncust/awards/index.html

Excellence in Summer Learning Award

The Excellence in Summer Learning Award recognizes an outstanding summer program that demonstrates excellence in accelerating academic achievement and promoting positive development for young people between kindergarten and twelfth grade.
Award: national recognition, increased press opportunities, conference presentations and complimentary registrations, professional development opportunities for staff, and increased publishing opportunities.
Eligibility: public or private organization or agency (schools, community-based organizations, libraries, universities, faith-based organizations, etc.) serving young people between the ages of kindergarten and twelfth grade over the summer months.
> www.summerlearning.org/events/excellence.html

National School and Business Partnerships Award

The National School and Business Partnerships Award supports and recognizes the efforts of schools and businesses that partner to improve the academic, social or physical well-being of students.
Maximum Award: $10,000
Eligibility: Partnerships involving kindergarten through 12th grade public schools and/or school districts and businesses.
> www.corpschoolpartners.org

Foundations for Life

Foundations for Life is a maxim-based essay and recognition program that enhances the reading, critical thinking and composition skills required by the new SAT exam, state and federal standards, and No Child Left Behind proficiency testing. This free program is available for teachers in Grades 3-12. Based upon quotes and maxims, students express in their own words the underlying wisdom of the quotations. With generous support from the John Templeton Foundation, opportunity is also available for students to participate in the National Essay Contest. You can call the Josephson Institute at (800) 711-2670 or e-mail FFL@jiethics.org to request that a free kit be mailed to you. Or you can download free materials and information:
> www.ffl-essays.org

Jordan Fundamentals Public School Grant Program

Founded by Michael Jordan, the Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program recognizes outstanding teaching and instructional creativity in public schools that serve economically disadvantaged students. The program is presented by the Jordan Brand, a division of Nike, Inc., and administered by Scholarship America (www.scholarshipamerica.org).

Applicants to the program must be public school teachers or paraprofessionals working with students in grades one through twelve and be employed by an accredited public school where at least 50 percent of the school’s student population is eligible for the free or reduced school lunch program.

Applicants must develop an original lesson plan or thematic unit (a series of lessons with related learning objectives united by a common theme) that demonstrates high expectations for students. Applicants are encouraged to involve students in the development of this plan or unit. The plan or unit should not be derived from any commercial package.

Grants of $2,500 will be awarded. Grant funds must be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, or other costs related to field trips, software, and other items required to implement and assess the proposed lesson or thematic unit. Funds may not be used to supplant expenditures that are the normal responsibility of the school district (e.g., salaries).

In 2006, the program has earmarked two hundred grants for teachers impacted directly by hurricanes Rita and Katrina, regardless of free/reduced lunch program eligibility. See the application materials for a list of eligible schools.

Program guidelines and application materials are available through the Nike Web site.
> www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=26&item=jordan

RGK Foundation

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.
> www.rgkfoundation.org/guidelines.php#programs

UPS Foundation Education Grants

UPS Foundation Education Grants fund high impact philanthropic programs that raise the level of educational instruction, family learning opportunities, and school involvement projects.
Maximum Award: varies.
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations.
Deadline: N/A.
> www.community.ups.com/philanthropy/grant.html

Hasbro Programs for Children Grants

Hasbro Children Foundation grants to support the development and/or expansion of programs for children.
Maximum Award: $500-$35,000
Eligibility: Programs must provide direct services to children under age 13. They must serve children and families who are economically disadvantaged. They must be innovative and provide a model from which others can learn.
Deadline: N/A.
> www.hasbro.org

National Endowment for the Humanities

National Endowment for the Humanities supports projects that improve specific areas of humanities education and serve as national models of excellence. Projects must draw upon scholarship in the humanities and use scholars and teachers as advisers. NEH is especially interested in projects that offer solutions to problems frequently encountered by teachers.
Maximum Award: $1000-$100,000
Eligibility: Any U.S. nonprofit organization or institution with 501(c)3 status; state and local government agencies are also eligible.
> www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/teachinglearning.html

Braitmayer Foundation Education Grants

Description: These grants support K-12 education through curricular and school reform initiatives, professional development for teachers and local community efforts. Typically, the grants are used for seed money or challenge grants.

Program areas: General education, professional development
Recipients: Public, private/charter
Average amount: Up to $35,000 per grant
Contact person: Robert L. Kirkpatrick Jr.
Telephone: 860-638-4688
> www.braitmayerfoundation.org/guid.htm

Carnegie Corporation of New York Grants

Grants are given to support programs which advance literacy, and focus on urban school reform and teacher education reform.
Recipients: Public school, private/charter school, higher education, other
> www.carnegie.org/sub/program/education.html

KnowledgeWorks Foundation National Search for Excellence

KnowledgeWorks Foundation National Search for Excellence seeks schools that reflect the emerging trend of designing schools that serve as centers of community -- schools that welcome community use and benefit from community resources that support student and community success.
Eligibility: all public schools.
Maximum Award: $5000
> www.nationalschoolsearch.org/about_search/2005/

Staples Foundation for Learning

The mission of Staples Foundation for Learning is to provide funding to programs that support or provide job skills and/or education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth.
> www.staplesfoundation.org/foundapplication.html

American School Board Journal Magna Awards

Presented by American School Board Journal, with the generous support of Sodexho School Services, the annual Magna Awards recognize local school boards that are putting student achievement and community engagement at the center of their work.

Tell us about an effective program you’ve put in place to accomplish such key district strategies as implementing NCLB, developing a vision for the district, setting standards for student performance, or creating a positive climate for student success.

Tell us the program’s objective, how it is designed to meet that objective, and what its results have been. Describe the board’s involvement in initiating, endorsing, and/or advancing the program. And be sure to provide clear evidence that the program is successful.

A distinguished panel of independent judges will select up to two dozen winners and award cash prizes of $3,500 each to three Grand Prize Winners, one from each of three enrollment categories: under 5,000, 5,000-20,000, and over 20,000. Within each enrollment category, the judges will look for programs that are:

• The result of direct board involvement.
• Successful in view of the program’s objectives.
• Developed or actively supported by the school board.
• Important in promoting the district’s mission and advancing student learning.
• Capable of being replicated by other school boards with similar conditions and resources.
• The result of collaboration between the school board and others.

> www.asbj.com/magna/

Blockbuster Community Relations

Blockbuster sponsors several programs that use movies both to teach and reward students in schools across the U.S. More than 11,000 elementary schools are also taking part in our BLOCKBUSTER Class Act Award program, which allows elementary school teachers to reward their students’ efforts with free movie rentals from BLOCKBUSTER. In addition, along with the American Film Institute and Channel One, our Film Curriculum program uses movies to get students and teachers talking about issues like tolerance and respect. So far, 12,000 middle schools and high schools across the country are taking part.
> www.blockbuster.com/corporate/displayAboutBlockbusterDetails.action?articleId=1082958

McKenzie Foundation

The McKenzie Foundation has selected four initiatives that will shape its grantmaking for the next few years. These are early childhood development, education, the environment, and arts and culture. The Foundation believes that assisting families is one of the most effective and lasting ways to strengthen communities and therefore supports opportunities and experiences that enrich learning for all ages.

Also listed under Grants for Nonprofits: children and youth, education, environment and arts.
> www.mckenziefoundation.us/guidelines.php

Casey Foundation (Annie E.) Support For Public Education

The Annie E. Casey Foundation considers support for public education and disadvantaged children one of its priorities. It is primarily interested in "initiatives that have significant potential to demonstrate innovative policy, service delivery, and community supports for children and families." Collaborative projects that engage parents in school improvement and the academic success of their children are within the foundation’s area of interest. There are no deadlines. The first step in the grant-seeking process is to send the foundation a 2-3 page letter summarizing the proposed project, its goals, a brief history/background of the school, the population to be served, and the amount requested. If the foundation sees potential in the project, it will invite you to write a full proposal. The address: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Attention:
Office of the President
701 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Grant guidelines are also available at the foundation Web site, or from External Resources and Partnerships (ERP) by calling 773/553-2610, or e-mail at: erp@cps.k12.il.us.
> www.aecf.org

The Janus Foundation

The Janus Foundation accepts grant applications from nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. for the first two giving categories:

• At-risk youth through education
• Community service and volunteerism

Grants will be made to organizations and programs that are considered innovative and visionary, and that have a long lasting impact, ultimately leading their constituents to self-sufficiency. The foundation prefers to support specific programs rather than general operating funds and capital campaigns. Applicants should have clearly defined goals and anticipated outcomes and be able to demonstrate the success of their programs through quantitative and qualitative evaluations. An organization may submit only one grant proposal per calendar year.

All grant proposals must be submitted to:
The Janus Foundation
151 Detroit Street
Denver, CO 80206
Contact Person: Tracy
Contact Phone: 303-333-3863
Contact Email: janusfoundation@janus.com