Grants for Teachers

Billions of dollars are available in federal, foundation, organization, and individual grant money each year. This doesn't mean that you will automatically have thousands of dollars for a state-of-the-art classroom, but there is money available that could possibly fund some supplies, projects, studies, or field trips for your students.

Teachers are very generous people. I think that is the nature of those who go into the profession. Often teachers spend a lot of their own money for supplies for their classrooms, and for programs to meet the needs of their students. New teachers, in the excitement of starting a job and having their very own class for the first time, want to set up their classroom just the way they have envisioned it. They buy supplies that are often outside of what the school will provide. Half of all teachers responding to an online survey said they spent $500. or more of their own money on supplies, and some admitted to spending even more.

In order to get the most for your students, and save your own hard-earned salary, searching and applying for grants should be an activity you become familiar with.

A grant is money that is given to an individual or organization that does not have to be repaid. The granting agency can be the government, foundations, businesses, or individuals. They are obtained through a process where you request the grant application and then complete it with all the necessary details. The questions most applications ask are: who and how many people will benefit; the timeline; what other money will be used; how will the program be sustained; and what the goals and objectives of the project are.

Each granting organization will have very specific guidelines for the application process, what they will fund, and who is eligible. There are both broad categories of grant money available and those that are very specific. Some grantors fund classroom supplies and projects such as DonorsChoose.org and adoptaclassroom.com. These grants are funded by "citizen philanthropists" who choose a project to fund. Teachers can apply for these grants online.

You will find grants that are specific to certain curriculum or research areas such as math, science, or technology.

Other grants or fellowships are available for teachers to be able to take courses and obtain their advanced degree. In addition, teacher travel grants are available for teachers to participate in travel that enriches their personal and professional growth.

There are also grants available to assist students in need of school supplies. I know many teachers who use their own money to help students out with supplies so they have the same advantages as other students. Many also provide snacks in their classrooms for students who don't bring food from home.

An online search for "Teacher Grants" will yield over two million results. Searching and applying for grants can be time consuming and there is a lot of competition for the money. You should be very clear about what you want to accomplish with the funds you are requesting. Programs that are innovative usually capture the attention of the granting agencies.

Before applying for grants for your school you should first see if there is budget money available for your project. Check with your administrators about your district's policy for applying for grants. If you are in a large school district you may have someone on staff who specifically works on obtaining grants. Check this resource first so you are not duplicating work, or doing work someone else could do for you.

Here are some resources where you can begin your search for grants (links will open in a new window):

www.edweek.cog

www.teacherscount.org

www.teachersnetwork.org

You can also check the U.S. Department of Education.

Follow the tips for applying for grants. Not only will you be maximizing your salary by keeping more of it, but more importantly you will be obtaining funding that will allow you to provide your students with a broader range of learning experiences.

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