Can these organizations help with your fundraising?

*For information on federal grants visit the Funding page.  For Continuing Education grants, visit the Continuing Education tab*

DonorsChoose.org:

A crowdfunding site that is designed for educators.  Write a proposal and post it and donors can give money to fund your project.  On average it takes 51 days to get a project fully funded.

Funding Factory:

Raise money by recycling gadgets and toner cartridges.

ICfL Mini-Grants:

Elementary school libraries play a vital role in ensuring Idaho children develop strong literacy skills, starting in the earliest grades. Unfortunately, many Idaho elementary schools haven’t had the resources to allow children in developmental preschool programs, kindergarten, and even first grade to check out books to take home. The Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) is offering mini-grants for up to $5,000 to elementary schools to help increase access to books for their youngest students.

John Cotton Dana Award:

This award from the Library Leadership and Management Association division of ALA honors outstanding library public relations initiatives.  Each year they award $10,000 to eight lucky libraries with exceptional strategic communication efforts.  The event could be anything from summer reading to a centennial celebration.   This year’s application window is open from January 15th through February 28th. Get more details at the JCD Award page at the ALA site.

Ezra Jack Keats Foundation:

This foundation, established by book author and illustrator, Ezra Jack Keats funds $500.00 mini-grants to public schools and public libraries anywhere in the United States and its territories.  They look for new ideas that foster creative expression, collaboration, and interaction with a diverse community.  See previous grant projects and video instructions on applying at the EJK Foundation website.

Idaho Future Fund:

A grant administered by the Idaho Community Foundation, the Idaho Future Fund was set up by an anonymous couple from Blaine County to help support gaps in Pre-K – 12 educational programs.  Grants are available in three categories:  Preschool Scholarships, Charter Schools, and Public Schools and Public School Libraries.  Application deadlines vary by region, so check the website for your area’s deadline.  Grant awards are in the $10,000-$20,000 range.

Idaho Community Foundation:

The Idaho Community Foundation invites applications from nonprofit entities as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. Qualifying organizations include:

  • Government entities, including subsidiaries and public educational institutions.
  • Entities with current 501(c)3 not-for-profit status under IRS Code Section 170.
  • Opens individual grant cycles each year for the three regions in Idaho.
    • Northern Region (Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone, Clearwater, Latah, Idaho, Lewis, Nez Perce counties) opens November 1st and closes January 15th.
    • Southwestern Region (Ada, Adams, Blaine, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington counties) opens May 1st and closes July 1st.
    • Eastern Region (Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, Oneida, Power and Teton counties) opens February 1st and closes April 1st.

Laura Bush Foundation:

The Laura Bush Foundation awards grants annually to school libraries that meet the requirements enumerated on the application.  Some qualifications include:  85% of your school population must be eligible for free or reduced lunch; your school must have a dedicated space for the library;  and your school must have a dedicated paid librarian on the staff.  The application has detailed information on which schools are eligible for this book grant.  In 2013 the LBF awarded $1,060,000 in $5,000 grants to schools in the United States and its territories. (The 2015 application window is now closed, but start planning for next year! 2016 applications will open in October.)

Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation:

This foundation supports Idaho tax exempt organizations of all kinds in an open annual grant cycle.    Applications must be post marked by May 15th and the grants are awarded and dispursed by August 31st of each year.

NEA Foundation Grants:

The NEA Foundation provides grants to support the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institution in any subject area(s). (from their website).  Grants are in the amount of $2,000 and $5,000.  There are deadlines throughout the year.

TransCanada Grants:

Funds grants to aid lifelong learning, including school libraries, to support the wellness portion of their focus on community investment.

Greater Boise Rotary Foundation:

Funds projects in Ada County in the areas of educational opportunities, arts, programs that enrich the futures of youth and others.  Annual deadline for application is March 15th and grants are generally awarded in the $1,000 to $3,000 range.  Don’t live in Ada County?  There are Rotary Clubs all over our state.  Find the one in your area at:Idaho District 5400 Rotary Clubs – Southern Idaho              Idaho District 5080 Rotary Clubs – North Idaho

Whittenberger Foundation:

Funds mostly short term projects in Southwestern Idaho.  Will consider applications from outside that region, but those applicants have an addition burden of establishing the merits of the application.

Walmart Local Giving Program :

Grants are awarded in amounts from $250 to $2,500.  Grants focus on four areas:  hunger relief and healthy eating, sustainability, women’s economic empowerment, and career opportunities.  K-12 schools are eligible to apply. Check the website for grant window dates.

Texas Instruments Foundation Grants:

Applicants are encouraged to submit one- or two-page proposals that briefly outline the following:  purpose of the organization, population served, amount requested, how the requested funds will b eused, how the proposal matches funding interets of the foundation and a copy of 501(c)(3) designation.   Recipients are schools and districts.

National School Library Media Program of the Year: 

This award is sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians division of the American Library Association.  I honors a school library media programs practicing their commitment to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information, as well as exemplifying implementation of Information Power and fully integrated into the school’s curriculum.  K-12 school districts are eligible for this award.

NEA Learning and Leadership Grants:

This grant supports public school teachers, public education support professionals and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for one of the following two purposes:  (1) learning and leadership, or (2) innovation.   Learning and Leadership Grants fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences or collegial study or mentoring experiences.

NEA Big Read:

Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, this grant is designed to restore reading to the  center of American culture.  Public schools and districts are not eligible for this grant on their own, but may partner with eligible organizations.

Kinder Morgan Foundation Educational Grants:

Primarily for education programs for youth in grades K-12 that provide on-going support to students such as Junior Achievement.  Recipients are public schools.

K-12 Public Schools Foundation Grants:

This grant, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, awards grants to K-12 public schools in the U.S. and Canada to support several initiatives, including education.  These grants are for K-12 schools.

IBM Education Grants: 

Grants given to support K-12 and higher education including education reform, on a national basis.  Recipients include public, private, charter schools and higher education.

HP Global Social Investment: 

Focuses on programs and organizations that help educators build skills and use technology to enhance lessons and re-imagine their approach to teaching.  Grant recipients include primary and secondary public schools, colleges and universities.

Grants for the Betterment of All Children:

Sponsored by the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, this foundation accepts proposals that will contriubute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of children through the dissemination of knowledge about new and innovative organizations and/or their programs designed to benefit youth or the dissemination of knowledge already possessed by well-established organizations, to the end that such information can be more adequately used by society.

Freedom  Forum, Inc. Educational Grants

Grants given to support elementary, secondary and higher education on a national basis.  Primary focus is to conduct and support the First Amendment freedoms of press, speech, assembly, petition and religion.  Public schools, private and charter schools and higher education are the recipients of these grants.

Ford Motor Co. Grants: 

The Ford Motor Co. Fund makes awards in six categories, one of them education, to non-profit organizations.

Coca-Cola Foundation Grants: 

The Foundation makes grants to public and private colleges, elementary and secondary schools, teacher training programs, educational programs for minority students and global education programs that have been proven to work.

Bridge to Understanding Award:

Could be awarded to a one-time event or an ongoing series that serves children ranging in age from kindergarten through tenth grade.  The selection committee will consider such criteria as the number of children reached by the program and the impact on the community.  School or public libraries in the U.S. that encourage kids to understand other cultures are eligible.

Boeing Education Grants

Supports systemic and continuous improvement in school systems and promotes developmentally apropriate early childhood education programs for classroom teachers, caregivers and parents with emphasis on math, science, literacy instruction and school leadership.

AASL Innovative Reading Grant:

Supports the planning and implementation of a unique and innovative program for children which motivates and encourages reading, especially with struggling readers.  Applicant must be a personal member of AASL.

We Give Books:

A  digital initiative from Penguin Group and the Pearson Foundation that enables anyone with access to the internet to put books in the hands of children who don’t have them, simply by reading on line.  This would be a great application for your interactive white board or your LCD projector.  Get more details at http://www.wegivebooks.org/about.

Geography Knowledge Fund:

A fund established to further the study of geography by Idaho students in kindergarten, elementary and junior high grades in public and private schools.  It is intended to be used for teaching tools, speakers or publications for all things geography.

Lois Lenski Covey Foundation Library Grant Program:

Awards grants annually to libraries for purchasing books published for young people preschool through grade 8, inlcuding school libraries, that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets and demonstrate real need.  2013 deadline is June 15th.

Zions Bank: 

Zions Bank gives to various organizations, including schools, in Utah and Idaho.  Their requirements for requests for donations are clearly spelled out and straight forward.  There is no application deadline, but they do require a budget and list of other donors.