Education grants are a fantastic - and sometimes, the only - way that teachers are able to provide their school districts with the necessary funds to build big projects. Playground makeovers, new garden spaces, new sports fields, or gymnasium renovations are expensive and can't really be done with spare pocket change. That's where education grants come into play.
Education grants can range in dollar amount, from hundreds of dollars to potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars, and exclusivity, ranging from district-wide grants to classroom-specific grants. And because applying for grants is often a time-consuming, laborious process that can take months to complete, time-strapped teachers are often reluctant to spend the time searching for them. Instead, they'll opt to spruce up their classroom through a DonorsChoose project or a #Clearthelists wishlist.
Here's the thing, though: if you're looking to give your school a large makeover, like the examples we gave above, you're going to need the resources a grant provides. DonorsChoose projects are amazing options for smaller projects, but grants are needed for the heavy lifting.
We gathered a list of five of our favorite grants below. Enjoy!
We've known about Fuel Up To Play 60 grants for a long time! Fuel Up To Play 60, which partners with the NFL (National Football League) to provide funding for kids to exercise for the CDC-recommended 60-minutes daily, has funded 26,000 schools and impacted nearly 25 million kids.
There are a few requirements for potential applicants to Fuel Up To Play 60, so be sure to read their "Eligibility and Guidelines" section to make sure you meet their criteria.
Fuel Up To Play 60 will begin accepting applications for the 2022 school year in the spring, so be sure to keep an eye on their website for updates!
KaBOOM! is a nationally recognized nonprofit that works to provide equity in play for all kids. Like Fuel Up To Play 60, we've known about KaBOOM! for many, many years, and have partnered with them on more than a few occasions.
KaBOOM! is currently accepting applications for two types of grants: 1) Community-Built Playspaces and 2) Creative Play. Check each of those individual grants to see if your school is eligible!
The U.S. Department of Education has dozens of grants for various types of play, from classroom lunch programs to recess makeovers to classroom upgrades. These opportunities can sometimes be state-specific (or even county-specific) grants, so be sure to read the eligibility requirements before applying.
Believe In Reading provides grants for established and successful literacy programs that have been around for a minimum of two years. Specifically, they fund educational institutions and public libraries - so if you've got a public library in need, this grant might be for you!
Their grants typically stay under $3,000, but they can provide grants up to $10,000, should that amount be required. If your school has an ESL or Braille program, consider applying for a Believe in Reading grant!
Good Sports Play Equipment Grants
Good Sports provides play equipment grants to schools with 1/2 or more of the student body eligible for free or reduced lunch. A successful grant will allow the school to access a catalog of eligible play equipment, like rubber balls, tennis rackets, hula hoops, etc., which is fantastic if your school is looking to provide new equipment for its physical education program.
If applying as a physical education program, be sure to include the demographic information of the student body and not just athletic teams.
Dr. Tim Davis of SUNY Cortland fame has provided us with a great webpage that lists four grants teachers can use to fund various activities! Specifically, teachers can use the grants listed on the Youth.gov webpage to fund after-school programs and school-based nutrition programs.
Grants like these can provide needed monetary assistance to low-income schools, especially where a majority or large majority of the student population qualifies for free or reduced lunch.
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