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National Funding Opportunities

Select a subject area for a selection of available funding opportunities:

General

Adopt-a-Classroom Grants—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 contributions. www.adoptaclassroom.com

ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award—The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development is seeking to recognize a teacher under the age of 40 who demonstrates excellence in his or her profession. A young educator who has a positive impact on students, utilizes creativity in the classroom, and occupies a leadership position in his or her school or district will receive a maximum award of $10,000. Deadline: April 15 and Oct. 15, annually.www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.
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ASM International Foundation's "Living in a Material World" Grant Program—This program awards grants to K-12 teachers who bring the "real world" of materials science into their classrooms. Ten grants of $500 each will be awarded. Deadline: May 25, 2008. http://www.asminternational.org/content/
Foundation/LivingintheMaterialWorld/
Living_Material_World.htm

Braitmayer Foundation Grants—These grants range up to $35,000 and are awarded to "programs that enhance the education of K-12 students." It may fund school reform initiatives, professional development for teachers, and/or local community efforts. www.braitmayerfoundation.org

C-SPAN Archives Grant—Winners of this grant are given a copy of any C-SPAN program of their choice. Middle school and high school teachers, as well as college/university professors, qualify. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. www.c-spanclassroom.org/Grants.aspx

Carson-Dellosa Publishing, Inc.'s "Creating a Winning Classroom" Contest—This contest is designed to encourage teachers to create a fun and motivating curriculum-focused classroom with teacher-tested Carson-Dellosa decorative products. The winning teacher will receive a $1,000 shopping spree at a teacher supply store. $500 of the spree will be for their classroom and $500 will go to the school. All teachers are eligible. The contest begins July 1, 2008 and ends Sept. 15, 2008. http://www.carsondellosa.com

Elva Knight Research Grant—The International Reading Association is awarding a $10,000 grant to fund research in literacy and reading. There is no criteria for the research approach. Applicants must be members of the IRA. www.reading.org/association/awards/research_knight.html

Fund for Teachers Awards—These awards are made available to educators from PreK-12 classrooms who have a minimum of three years full-time teaching experience. The maximum award is $5,000. Deadlines vary by state. www.fundforteachers.org

ING Unsung Heroes Awards Program—This award recognizes "innovative and progressive thinking in education" by rewarding exceptional educators. The grand prize is $25,000, and various other amounts are offered to finalists. Administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals or classified staff members of accredited K-12 schools all qualify. Deadline: April 30, 2008. www.ing-usa.com/
us/aboutING/communityconnections/ineducation/
unsungheroes/index.htm

Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams—High school science, math and technology teachers can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to create a problem-solving invention. Deadline: April 25, 2008. www.inventeams.org

Lowe's Toolbox for Education—Funds are available for schools and parent groups to conduct school and community construction projects. Up to $5,000 per school is available. Any individual non-profit public K-12 school or parent group is eligible. Information for the 2008-09 cycle will be available in July 2008. http://toolboxforeducation.com/hta.html

National Board Scholarship Fund—This fund provides scholarships for first-time candidates seeking certification. www.nbpts.org/become_a_candidate/
fees_financial_support/scholarships

National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipends—NEH seeks applications for it's Summer Stipends grant awards. The stipends are intended to support research that contributes to scholarly knowledge or to the public's understanding of humanities. Individuals, including faculty or staff members of primary or secondary schools are eligible. 80 awards up to $6,000 each will be awarded. Information for 2008 will be available Spring 2008. www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/stipends.html

National Teacher of the Year Program—Sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastics Inc., the National Teacher of the Year Program began in 1952 and continues as the oldest national honors program that focuses public attention on excellence in teaching. A national selection committee representing the major national education organizations chooses the National Teacher of the Year from among the State Teachers of the Year. The site contains information about the application and nominating processes, duties of the National Teacher of the Year, and the selection criteria. www.ccsso.org/Projects/
national_teacher_of_the_year

The National Teachers Hall of Fame—This program annually honors five teachers who have demonstrated commitment and dedication to teaching. Inductees receive $1,000 in school materials for their district from Pearson Education, a $1,000 scholarship presented by Sodexho to a student in the inductee's school district and more. ww.nthf.org/teacher.htm

Teaching Tolerance Grants—Southern Poverty Law Center offers grants of $500 to $2,500 to K-12 classroom teachers promoting tolerance and understanding through school programs and projects. www.tolerance.org/teach/grants/
guide.jsp

Union Leaders of the Future Scholarship—The Union Plus Education Foundation has developed a scholarship program to help more women and people of color become union leaders. The program provides annual awards up to $3,000 to help future leaders with the cost of continuing their education or training in order to pursue their union career goals and leadership skills.www.unionplus.org/benefits/
education/scholarships/diversity.cfm

English/ Reading/ Language Arts

International Reading Association (IRA) Teacher Awards— The following awards are available to IRA members. www.reading.org/association/awards/
teachers.html

The Elenor M. Johnson Award, named in honor of the founder and editor-in-chief of Weekly Reader magazine, recognizes a current outstanding elementary classroom teacher of reading/language arts. Award: $1,000. Deadline: Nov. 15.
The Presidential Award for Reading and Technology honors an educator who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of reading education through the use of technology. Grand-prize winners will receive reading software and an expenses-paid trip to IRA's annual convention, and 9 regional winners will also receive awards. Deadline: Nov. 15.
The Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Award honors an outstanding regular classroom elementary teacher of reading and language arts for reflective writing about their teaching and learning process. Award: $1,000. Deadline: Nov. 1.
The Nila Banton Smith Award honors a middle or secondary school teacher who has shown leadership in translating theory and current research into practice for developing content area literacy. Award: $1,000. Deadline: Nov. 15.

Fine Arts

Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation—Founded by the composer of the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus," this foundation supports music education programs by helping with instrument repair and the acquisition of new instruments. There is no application deadline, and applications are reviewed three times a year. www.mhopus.org

The P. Buckley Moss Foundation Arts Grant Program—This grant provides up to $1,000 to special education teachers wishing to incorporate arts education into their curriculum. Deadline: Feb. 29, 2008. www.mossfoundation.org/page.php?id=89

Math

Improving Students' Understanding of Geometry Grants—The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics seeks grant proposals for activities that will enable students to better appreciate and understand an aspect of geometry that is consistent with NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. Grants of up to $3,000 each will be awarded. www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=1324

Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams—High school science, math, and technology teachers can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to create a problem-solving invention. Deadline: April 25, 2008. www.inventeams.org

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching—The National Science Foundation annually recognizes highly-qualified elementary and secondary math and science teachers either in the public or private sector with $10,000 awards for their exemplary knowledge and pedagogical methods. The deadline for secondary teachers has passed. The deadline for elementary (k-6) teachers is May 1, 2008. www.paemst.org/

Toshiba America Foundation Grants—The Toshiba America Foundation seeks to support projects designed by classroom teachers to improve K-12 science and mathematics education. As many as 75 grants of up to $1,000 each will be awarded to K-6 classrooms, and many more, some as high as $25,000, will be awarded to grades 7-12. Application deadlines: Oct. 1 for K-6 programs; year-round for 7-12 projects under $5,000; and Feb. 1 and Aug. 1 for 7-12 projects over $5,000. www.toshiba.com/
about/taf/grant.html

Using Music to Teach Mathematics—Supported by the Ester Mendlesohn Fund and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Using Music to Teach Mathematics grant incorporates music in to the elementary school classroom to help young students learn mathematics. Grants of up to $3,000 will be awarded. www.nctm.org/
resources/content.aspx?id=1318

School Counselors

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Counselor Awards—Each year, through its Professional Recognition Awards, ASCA recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the school counseling profession. ASCA also recognizes individuals for professional contributions as a practicing school counselor in several areas including: Elementary School Counselor of the Year, Middle/Jr. High School Counselor of the Year, and Secondary School Counselor of the Year. www.schoolcounselor.org/
content.asp?pl=325&sl=188&contentid=188

School Libraries and Media Centers

American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Award—The AASL awards a variety of grants through many different programs. www.ala.org (click on Awards and Scholarships)

Computers for Learning—The General Services Administration donates surplus federal computer equipment to schools and educational nonprofits, giving special consideration to those with the greatest need. There is no deadline. www.computers.fed.gov

Science

National Science Teachers Association—NSTA has numerous grants and award programs available for teachers. All of the current programs are available on the NSTA Web site. Following are examples of available funds and award programs. www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx

DCAT "Making a Difference" Award recognizes excellence in a science program developed by middle-level science teachers (grades 6-8). Honorees will receive $2,500 to be used to enhance or expand the winning science program.
Estes Rocketry/U.S. Space Foundation (USSF) Space Educator Award is available for full-time middle school teachers who teach science in a classroom. Winners will receive $1,000 and a full-tuition fellowship to attend the Space Discovery Graduate Course in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Science Teaching Award recognizes one outstanding classroom science teacher who has had a positive impact on his or her students, school, and community through exemplary science teaching. One K-12 teacher will receive $10,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to NSTA's national convention. Two finalists will also receive all-expenses-paid trips to the convention.

National Weather Association Sol Hirsch Teacher Grants—K-12 teachers are eligible for one of 5 awards available to improve students' education in meteorology. Teachers selected will be able to use the funds to take an accredited course in atmospheric sciences, attend a relevant workshop or conference or purchase scientific materials or equipment for the classroom. Deadline: Aug. 1 annually. www.nwas.org/grants/solhirsch.php

Toyota TAPESTRY Grants—Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. and the National Science Teachers Association is awarding science teachers who are making a difference in science through excellence and creativity in their lessons. Toyota will offer $550,000 in grants to between 70 and 82 teams of teachers. Middle and high school science teachers who teach at least two science classes a day and elementary classroom teachers who teach at least some science in the classroom are eligible. Information will be available in August 2008. http://ecommerce2.nsta.org/toyota/

Vernier Software & Technology and the National Science Teachers Association Technology Award—Vernier and NSTA believe when it comes to innovation in science classrooms, teachers who provide hands-on learning experiences resonate better with students. Current science teachers of grades K-college are eligible. Vernier will award $3,000 to up to 7 teachers. www.vernier.com/grants/nsta.html

Vision Service Plan and the National Science Teachers Association "Vision of Science Award"—This award recognizes a classroom science teacher for designing creative, innovative science lessons that develop an understanding of eye and health vision. The winning school will receive $3,000 and the winning teacher will receive $2,500. K-12 science teachers are eligible.
www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx#vsp

Social Studies

The American Immigration Law Foundation's Curriculum Center Teacher Grant Program—This program awards grants nationwide for K-12 grade level projects that provide education about immigrants and immigration. Grants between $100-$500 will be awarded. Deadline: June 1, 2008. http://www.ailf.org/teach/grants.shtml

James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation—This foundation awards fellowships for graduate study of the U.S. Constitution. High school teachers of American History, American government and social studies along with college seniors and graduate students planning teaching careers in those subjects are eligible. One fellow from each state receives up to $24,000 to help pay for graduate study leading to a master's degree in history, political science or education. www.jamesmadison.com.

Lindbergh Foundation Grants—Honoring Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, the Foundation awards grants up to $10,580 in education including humanities education, the arts, and intercultural communication. www.lindberghfoundation.org/grants.html.

National Council for the Social Studies Grants/Awards—NCSS honors outstanding social studies teachers and others through several grant and award programs. A list of current opportunities is available on their Web site. www.socialstudies.org/awards

Special Education

Outstanding Special Education Teacher Award—The National Association of Special Education Teachers seeks to honor special education teachers demonstrating outstanding achievement in their field. U.S. special educators, who are full-time, certified or licensed; highly dedicated and skilled; and at least in their third year of teaching are eligible. www.naset.org/specialeducationteac.0.html

Technology

ACTE National Awards Program—The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) awards program seeks to promote excellence in career and technical education by recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field, programs that exemplify the highest standards and organizations that have conducted activities to promote and expand career and technical education programs. ACTE offers 12 awards for full-time vocational and technical teachers. Awards range from outstanding community service to teacher of the year. Applicants must be members of ACTE. www.acteonline.org/
about/awards

International Technology Education Association (ITEA) Program Excellence Award—Sponsored by ITEA and the NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals), the Program Excellence Award is one of the highest honors given to technology education classroom teachers on the elementary, middle, or high school levels. It is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions both to the profession and to their students. The honoree is formally presented an engraved plaque and other awards at ITEA's annual conference. www.iteaconnect.org/Awards/
awardprogramexcellence.htm

International Technology Education Association (ITEA) Teacher Excellence Award—Sponsored by ITEA and Goodheart-Willcox Publisher, this award is one of the highest honors given to Technology Education classroom teachers and is presented in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the profession and their students. The Teacher Excellence Award provides public recognition at the local through international levels. On the province or state level, a certificate of achievement is granted at the affiliated association's annual meeting. www.iteaconnect.org/Awards/awardteacherexcellence.htm

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