Adopt-A-Classroom grants

Teachers can register at the Adopt-A-Classroom website to 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. Teachers help solicit their own sponsors by downloading and distributing fliers within their community or by sending out a personalized, prewritten e-mail from the Adopt-A-Classroom website. 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 donation.
Website: www.adoptaclassroom.com

AT&T Foundation grants

The AT&T Foundation awards grants to education projects that focus on the following goals: improving the quality of teaching and learning through the effective use of technology, developing workforce skills for the information technology industry, and advancing diversity in education and the workplace, especially in the fields of science, math, engineering and technology. Accredited public and private elementary and secondary schools, two- and four-year higher education institutions and educational nonprofit organizations are eligible for consideration. AT&T Foundation funds are typically distributed through invitational programs or through projects that the Foundation proactively develops with nonprofit organizations. Unsolicited applications are reviewed but rarely supported. Those who wish to submit an unsolicited proposal should include a brief letter of introduction and a description of their organization and project.
Website: www.att.com/foundation

Citigroup Smarter Schools & Smarter Classrooms grants

The Citigroup Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Citibank Corp., dedicates approximately 75 percent of its charitable contributions to community development and education programs. The foundation’s giving focuses on strengthening K–12 education in low-income neighborhoods. Its grants emphasize the creation of smarter schools and smarter classrooms. The smarter schools initiative supports improvements in the governance of public schools and higher standards for student performance. It also funds alternative schools that offer more individual attention to students, along with mentoring and tutoring programs. The smarter classrooms initiative supports innovative classroom technologies and successful school-to-work programs. The Citigroup Foundation prefers to solicit proposals from grantees with demonstrated success. Unsolicited proposals will be accepted, but a favorable decision is less likely. For guidelines, see the foundation’s website.
Website: www.citigroup.com/citigroup/corporate/foundation

HP U.S. grant programs

HP’s programs support K–12 schools, nonprofit agencies and institutions of higher learning through annual grant initiatives that are launched at the beginning of each fiscal year (November). Through evolving yearly initiatives, HP supports the innovative use of technology in teaching and education, including specific areas such as entrepreneurship and environmental education. Grants are awarded to eligible K–university schools and non-profit organizations, most often in communities where HP employees live and work. HP does not accept unsolicited grant requests. Instead, grants are awarded through specific initiatives that are aligned with the company’s philanthropy focus areas. For guidelines, see the program website.
Website: www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants/us/programs/index.html

Improving Literacy through School Libraries program

This program helps libraries improve reading achievement by providing students with increased access to the following: up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media centers; and professionally certified school library media specialists. Districts may use funds for purchasing up-to-date school library media resources, acquiring advanced technology that is integrated into the curriculum to develop and enhance information literacy, and provide professional development and activities for school library media specialists that foster increased collaboration among specialists, teachers and administrators.
Website: www.ed.gov/programs/lsl/index.html

Intel Community grants

Intel has a strong interest in supporting K–12, higher education and community programs that deliver the kind of education opportunities that all students will need to prepare themselves to succeed in the 21st century. Intel supports education through grants for programs that advance science, math and technology education, particularly for women and underserved populations. Intel is also committed to the responsible use of natural resources, and funding for environmental programs will be considered. Applications are evaluated on a competitive basis each quarter. The quarterly submission deadlines are February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.
Website: www.intel.com/community/grant.htm

NFIE Innovation grants and Learning & Leadership grants

The National Education Association’s Foundation for the Improvement of Education (NFIE) offers grants up to $5,000 each on an ongoing, year-round basis. These grants fund classroom innovations and professional development for improved practice in public K–12 schools and higher education institutions. Each year, NFIE awards as many as 250 Innovation grants worth up to $5,000, along with 75 Leadership & Learning grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 in value. These grants fund activities for 12 months from the date they are awarded.
Website: www.neafoundation.org/grants.htm

RGK Foundation grants

The RGK Foundation awards grants in the broad areas of education, community and medicine or health. The foundation’s primary interests within education include programs that focus on formal K–12 education, particularly in math, science and reading or literacy, along with after-school tutoring and enrichment, integrating technology into the curriculum, teacher development and higher education. The foundation is particularly interested in programs that attract female and minority students into the fields of mathematics, science and technology. The foundation does not consider unsolicited grant proposals; instead, applicants are required to submit an electronic letter of inquiry on the foundation’s website. Letters of inquiry are reviewed on an ongoing basis, so there is no deadline for submission. The foundation will respond to letters by e-mail within three weeks to let applicants know if they should submit a formal proposal.
Website: www.rgkfoundation.org/guidelines.php

Toshiba America Foundation grants

The mission of the Toshiba America Foundation is to promote quality science and mathematics education in U.S. schools. Grants are made for programs and activities that improve teaching and learning in K–12 science and mathematics. The Foundation focuses its funding on inquiry-based projects designed by teachers for use in their own classrooms. Interested applicants can download application forms from the Toshiba America Foundation website.
Website: www.toshiba.com/tafpub/jsp/home/default.jsp

Verizon Foundation grants

The Verizon Foundation supports organizations that address areas of education, literacy, domestic violence prevention or technology for healthcare and healthcare accessibility. Eligible organizations seeking grants from the Verizon Foundation must be prepared to track and report program outcomes as well as specific results that demonstrate measurable human impact. Applicants must indicate what outcomes are targeted through programming and what results, as specified on the grant application, they will measure.
Website: http://foundation.verizon.com/grant