Navigating the Grant Process

The financial reality of teaching is the cost incurred by the teacher who wants to do the right thing by the students. This often means incurring costs, as much as $1, 000 per year according to AdoptAClassroom.org. Sadly then government only allows up to $250 in reimbursement for out-of-pocket teacher expenses. That leaves most teachers with a $750 deficit each school year. Many organizations and even school districts have taken up the banner and are offering grants to help teachers purchase much needed items, curriculum, and technology for today’s classrooms.

The three major school districts in the area where I live offer educational foundations where teachers and students can apply for grants. The district where my girls attend uses DonateNow, an online grant program, allowing potential grant donors the opportunity to scroll through requests and put their money where their heart is.

Within my school there are two ways to fund needs for the classroom. One way is through PTA grants. One grant is for creative ideas and the other can cover anything from classroom supplies to fieldtrips. In addition, once a year the PTA holds an auction. The newest most popular addition to the auction is the teacher wish list live auction. Teachers request an item and parents offer bids to purchase this item. Last year I received an iPad Mini from the auction. One local business paid for half and then several donors covered the rest of the cost. It has been invaluable in my teaching this year.

Two sites which offer grants are geared more towards matching you with donors on the web. AdoptAClassroom.org and DonorsChoose.org both allow the teacher to design their grant need and post those needs. Then the websites keep the grant request open so multiple donors can contribute to meet the classroom need. This inventive way of covering costs makes it more likely a teacher will receive needed items.

Tech and Learning grants, as well as Vernier Software and Technology grants are wonderful resources for finding matching grants for a teacher’s needs. However, the lists can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. The key is to keep looking and taking the time to match appropriate grants with your needs. This applies to the US Governement Office of Technology which provides competitive grants, as well. Although a great source, trying to muddle through to meet your specific needs can be somewhat time consuming and daunting.

However, the Edutopia Resources To Get You Started information on edutopia.org is helpful and relevant information. Following these steps the teacher can more easily navigate the other sites and be more efficient with time and effective with requests.

As with most things in education these days, grant writing and proposal take time: time to research, time to write the grant, and time to allow for donors to meet the need. The reward is great, but the time required can be exhausting.