New Cosmic Frontiers International Science Essay Competition - New Cosmic Frontiers

Grant Name: New Cosmic Frontiers International Science Essay Competition

 

Funding Organization: New Cosmic Frontiers 

Grant Cycle: June 15

Website

Eligibility: All high school students

How to Apply: Answer this question:

Big Question IV
Are we alone in the Universe?
Or, are there other life and intelligence beyond the solar system?

The recent, rapid advances in technologies that allow the detection of exo-planets in the “life zone” and potential signatures of life and intelligence in the universe raise hope that we are getting very close to the stage to be able to answer the age old question: “Are we alone in the universe?” Discovering life and intelligent beings outside our solar system will be among the greatest scientific discoveries of all time.
Students are encouraged to choose some aspects of this question, from which they may generate more focused essays. The following sub-questions are provided as exemplary questions. Applicants may choose their own research questions provided that such questions are directly or significantly relevant to the above Big Question.
Exemplary sub-questions:
What are the signatures of the existence of life and intelligence in the universe? How may we detect them?
Would the fine-tunings required for life in the universe also necessarily require that life be rare?
To what degree are such other beings likely to be similar to humans? Are there features in nature which could limit the level of intelligence or the differences we may expect?
How important is it for mankind to answer this Big Question and why?
What will the implications be of the answer “yes” or “no” to this Big Question?
Does our universe have features that limit the level of intelligence and/or the differences we may expect from them? What kinds of behaviour might we expect from them, if we ever meet them? Should we expect that they have learned how best to live with other beings as they must have survived their own conflicts long enough? What are the possibilities?
Are there advanced intelligent beings out there in the universe that are not biological or are beyond biological (post-biological)? If so, what would be the signatures of the existence of such intelligence?
Entrants may consider the following suggested readings for inspiration:
Life in Space: Astrobiology for Everyone by Lucas John Mix
Strange New Worlds: The Search for Alien Planets and Life Beyond Our Solar System by Ray Jayawardhana
Are We Alone?: Philosophical Implications of the Discovery of Extraterrestrial Life by Paul Davies
Intelligent Life in the Universe: Principles and Requirements behind Its Emergence by Peter Ulmschneider

FEDCO Teacher Grants - California Community Foundation

Grant Name: FEDCO Teacher Grants

Funding Organization: California Community Foundation and FEDCO Charitable Foundation

Grant Cycle: June 29, 2012

Contact: Peter Rivera

Phone: (213) 413-4130, ext. 262

Website

Email: privera@calfund.org

Eligibility: 

• You must teach K-12 full time at a public or a charter school in one of these school districts: LAUSD, ABC/Cerritos, Culver City, Norwalk-La Mirada or Pasadena Unified.
• Your project should be connected to core curriculum standards and include all students in your class.
• Your project should include engaging and creative experiential learning activities, such as a museum visit and/or hands-on math or science projects.
• Your project should increase student academic achievement in one of four areas: language arts, math, science or social studies.
• Your project must include a final group project produced by your students.
• We will give high priority to projects that incorporate experiential learning that are linked to class curriculum or integrate community-related topics.

How to Apply: Fill out an application.

Application Materials: “How to Apply for a FEDCO Grant” Webinar 

June 15, 2012 at 12:00p.m.

Background: 

• CCF will accept applications from May 14, 2012 through June 29, 2012.
• An estimated total of $330,000 in teacher grants is available for 2012-2013.
• If you are applying alone, your grant request must range between $500 to $1,000.
• Multiple teachers at one school may collaborate and submit a joint application to request up to $2,000. Joint applications should be from a team of teachers instructing a similar grade level or subject area at the same school. If you are submitting a joint application, only one teacher may submit an application.
• You may use grant funds for expenses specific to the project, such as transportation, pre- or post-field trip materials, or the creation of final student projects.
• You may not use grant funds for computer hardware, salaries, substitute teachers, video cameras, third-party payments, sectarian purposes or for substituting existing funds that are available to support similar services.

State Farm Youth Advisory Board Service-Learning Grants - State Farm

Grant Name: State Farm Youth Advisory Board Service-Learning Grants

Funding Organization: State Farm

Grant Cycle: May 4

Website

Eligibility: Education institutions and nonprofits are both eligible to apply.

How to Apply: Access application here.

Background: Every year, the State Farm Youth Advisory Board funds up to $5 million to youth-led service learning projects to solve issues important to State Farm and communities across the United States and Canada. Grant requests can range anywhere from $25,000 - $100,000, and are completed online ONLY through the Youth Advisory Board website, found here: www.statefarmyab.com/apply. Deadline for submissions is May 4 at 5:00 pm Central Time.

Funding areas include:

• Financial Literacy
• Access to Higher Education/Closing the Achievement Gap
• Community Safety and Natural Disaster Preparedness
• Environmental Responsibility
• Societal Health and Wellness Issues

State Farm K-12 Grants - State Farm Foundation

Grant Name: State Farm K-12 Grants

Funding Organization: State Farm Foundation

Grant Cycle: May 31

Website

Eligibility: Educational Institutions

Government entities
Canadian registered charitable organizations
501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organizations
501(c)(4) volunteer fire companies
501(c)(6) chambers of commerce

How to Apply: Access application here.

Application Materials: The State Farm grant applications for 2012 funded requests were available from September 6 through October 7, 2011. If approved, funding was disbursed in the 1st quarter of 2012.

The State Farm grant applications for 2013 funded requests are available from March 1 through midnight (Eastern time) on May 31, 2012. One proposal per organization per year may be considered. (This should include all of an organization's needs for a 12-month period.) All grant requests must be submitted online. If approved, funding will begin in the 1st quarter of 2013.

Background: We Support Efforts To Provide All Children With An Education That Will Allow Them To Reach Their Greatest Potential And Prepare Them To Participate In A Nation And Economy That Continues As A Global Leader. We Fund Three Types Of Grants For K-12 Public Schools: Teacher Development, Service-Learning And Systemic Improvement.

Cooking Matters - Share Our Strength

Grant Name: Cooking Matters

Funding Organization: Share Our Strength

Grant Cycle: Application period opens: April 23th 
Application period closes: June 15th 
Review period: June 11th through June 22nd 
Notification of award: June 25th through June 29th 
Checks and award mailed: July 2nd through July 6th 
Grant cycle begins: July 2nd 
Grant cycle closes: November 30th

Website

Email: cookingmattersgrants@strength.org

Eligibility: Organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in good standing, or another organization eligible to receive grants and tax-deductible donations (for example, schools and churches or other religious institutions). 

Cooking Matters’ Lead Partners are not eligible for this grant, but we encourage them to share this opportunity with their satellite and community partners. 

Background: Shopping Matters Is A Key Component Of The No Kid Hungry Campaign’s Strategy By Teaching Families How To Shop For Healthy Foods On A Limited Budget.Share Our Strength Is Pleased To Announce A Shopping Matters Grant Opportunity To Organizations Who Would Like To Offer Tours In Their Community. 

To Help Organizations Begin Or Grow The Number Of Shopping Matters Tours Offered In Their Community. 


Grant Requirements: Each grantee commits to reaching a minimum of 25 distinct participants through a minimum of three Shopping Matters tours between July 2nd and November 30th.

Each grantee will also:

• Distribute a post-tour survey to each participant to complete after each tour.
• Distribute a post-tour evaluation to the facilitator to complete after each tour.
• Return the completed surveys and evaluation forms to Share Our Strength within one week of completing the tour.
• Share tour, dates and locations with Share Our Strength staff in advance and anticipate a tour observation.
• Submit a minimum of five high-resolution photographs of the tours. The photos should encompass:
• Participants comparing food labels
• Participants comparing unit prices
• Participants with Shopping Matters-branded materials
• Participants checking-out with $10 gift card items
• Facilitators teaching
• Complete a short informational survey at the end of the grant period.

Touching Lives Through Theatre Grant - Pioneer Drama Services, Inc.

Grant Name: Touching Lives Through Theatre Grant

Funding Organization: Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.

Grant Cycle: Mail a cover letter with three copies of the application, postmarked by June 30, 2012.

Address: Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., PO Box 4267, Englewood, Colorado 80155-4267 Ph: 800-333-7262 Fx: 303-779-4315

Website

Email: grants@PioneerDrama.com

Eligibility: Accredited public or private schools in the US and Canada with drama programs receiving $500 or less funding annually from the school or district. Schools with no prior drama program also eligible to apply.

How to Apply: Application can be accessed here.

Background: Because Pioneer Drama Service Believes So Strongly In The Power Of Theatre To Make A Difference In A Student’s Life, We Are Awarding A Total Of $5,000 Of Grants In The Form Of Pioneer Drama Service Credit. Qualifying Middle And High Schools May Apply For A Grant Consisting Of A Credit In The Amount Of $100 To $500. This Grant Is Intended To Strengthen Or Create A Sustainable Drama Experience For Students In A School And Must Be Used To Stage At Least One Theatrical Production During The 2012-13 School Year.

EdTech Conference Grant - EInstruction

Grant Name: EdTech Conference Grant

Funding Organization: EInstruction

Grant Cycle: No deadline, however, should submit proposal 5 months in advance of conference.

Website

Email: EdTechConference@einstruction.com

Eligibility: K-12 Administrators, Teachers,

Background: Apply For A Professional Development Grant Of $3,500 From EInstruction.

By Participating In This Grant Program Your Teachers Will Learn Best Practices To Effectively Integrate Different Types Of Technology And How To Leverage Your Existing Technology To Optimize What You Already Have. It’s Your Conference, We Just Work With You To Make Sure It Meets All Your Needs.

In Addition, EInstruction Will Assist You With A Grant Of $3,500 And Free Loaner Technology For Every Presentation. You Will Also Be Provided With An EInstruction Coordinator And A Host Guide Toolkit. Plus, Our Conference Model Ensures That You Can Afford To Bring This Opportunity To Your Educators, And Establish Your District As A Leader In Interactive Technology.

Additional Information: Access online application here

21st Century Community Learning Centers Regional STEM Service-Learning - California Department of Education

Grant Name: 21st Century Community Learning Centers Regional STEM Service-Learning

Funding Organization: California Department of Education

Grant Cycle: November 21

Contact: Mike Brugh

 

Phone: 916-319-0543

 

Website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=2115

 

Email: mbrugh@cde.ca.gov

Eligibility: The goal of the Regional STEM Service-Learning Consortium (Consortium) is to increase the region’s capacity for the design and implementation of STEM-related service-learning programming in secondary schools, districts, and communities. Additional funding is being made available to the Consortium in regions 3, 4, 5, 10, and 11 (Los Angeles Unified School District only).

How to Apply: See RFA

Background: The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Regional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Service-Learning pilot project will promote STEM-based service-learning opportunities for students especially female and underrepresented minorities to increase student interest in pursuing STEM related careers and postsecondary study. STEM content and concepts are introduced in a nontraditional setting, thereby increasing the relevance to the experience of the student. This instructional methodology has been shown to increase academic engagement significantly. A key focus of the Initiative is to better engage participants in the civic lives of their community.

Other Important Information:

The Purpose Prize - Civic Ventures

Grant Name: The Purpose Prize

Funding Organization: Civic Ventures

Grant Cycle: March 31

Phone: 415-430-0141

 

Address: Civic Ventures
114 Sansome St., Suite 850
San Francisco, CA 94104

Website: http://www.encore.org/prize/about

Eligibility: Nominations are welcome from any organization or individual with knowledge of a potential candidate. You can nominate someone from your own organization or you can nominate yourself.

How to Apply: Nominate candidates here

Application Materials: Whether you are applying for The Purpose Prize yourself or nominating someone, you will need to know the following:

The candidate's birthdate
The candidate's area of interest
The candidate's complete email, phone, and contact information
Re-Nominate
someone you nominated in a prior year by using the 'Getting Started' form below. Information from your previous nomination will be pre-filled for you.
You will be asked to write, in 250-500 words, the inspiring story of the nominee's work. You will also be asked to cover in shorter responses:

The circumstance and exactly when the candidate's important work began
The impact the candidate's work is currently having
The candidate's plans for the future

Background: The Purpose Prize®, Now In Its Fifth Year, Is The Nation's Only Large-scale Investment In People Over 60 Who Are Combining Their Passion And Experience For Social Good. The Prize Awards Up To $100,000 Each To 10 People In Encore Careers Creating New Ways To Solve Tough Social Problems.

The Purpose Prize Is Striving To Highlight A Diverse Group Of Social Innovators, Whose Stories Represent Multiple Ways That People Over 60 Arrive At And Carry Out Important Work Addressing Tough Social Problems. We Are Drawing On The Expertise Of Independent Reviewers And Prominent Judges In Selecting A Group Of Winners Who Collectively Will Inspire Others By The Diversity Of Their Stories And Will Demonstrate The Value Of Investing In Social Innovators After Midlife.

Grant - Kids In Need Foundation

Grant Name: Grant

Funding Organization: Kids In Need Foundation

Grant Cycle: September 30

Contact: Penny Hawk

Phone: 877-296-1231, ext. 303

Website: http://www.kinf.org/grants/

Email: pennyh@kinf.org

Eligibility: All certified K-12 teachers in the U.S. are eligible.

How to Apply: Go to this website : http://www.kinf.org/grants/grant_applications.php and complete ONE application per project.

Background: The Purpose Of The Grants Is To Provide Funds For Classroom Teachers Who Have Innovative, Meritorious Ideas. Your Project May Qualify For Funding If It Makes Creative Use Of Common Teaching Aids, Approaches The Curriculum From An Imaginative Angle, Or Ties Nontraditional Concepts Together For The Purpose Of Illustrating Commonalities. Innovation And Merit Account For 40% Of The Evaluation.

Fuel Up to Play 60 - National Dairy Council And The National Football League

Grant Name: Fuel Up to Play 60

Funding Organization: National Dairy Council And The National Football League

Grant Cycle: December 1, February 1, June 1

Phone: (800) 752-4337

Website: www.fueluptoplay60.com

Eligibility: Any public or private K-12 school in the USA.

Schools applying for Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 must:
Be enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60 for the 2011-12 school year (if your school is not enrolled, enroll here)
Participate in the National School Lunch Program
Complete and submit an online Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 application form (download a PDF of the application form here)
Complete the School Wellness Investigation (schools may work on the funding application before completing the School Wellness Investigation, but before the funding application may be submitted, the School Wellness Investigation must be completed and submitted online)
Have support and involvement from the school principal, school nutrition professional, lead physical education teacher and the school’s Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisor

How to Apply: Apply online

Application Materials: Before you complete the downloadable application worksheet, you’ll find it helpful to identity existing resources and pinpoint areas where Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 might help fill the gaps.
Identify existing resources.
What resources does your school already have that you can use for free? You might be surprised at the valuable resources that are available for the asking – meeting and event space, computer access and communication methods (e.g., school announcements, newsletters, newspapers and websites). Be sure to ask your principal or school administration if there are any additional resources you can use.
How can your school nutrition staff help? If these staff members are not already part of your team, introduce yourself and the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. Find out how you can work together to make the program a success. Remember that these folks are very knowledgeable about nutrition and that they can serve a variety of roles in the program, from helping to plan the Healthy Eating Plays to speaking to students, families and community members.
Pinpoint areas where Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60 might help fill the gaps.
What will you do to spread the word about your activities, and how much will that cost? Will you have to pay for printing and copying? Will you need to buy paper or posterboard? Find out whether any areas in your school or community have materials that can be recycled and used for your purposes.
Can you find adults to volunteer to work with you and your students – or will you need to pay for some of that time? People in your school and community really do care about being healthy. Find out if there are people who can volunteer their time. Visit Who Can Help and How for resources that can help you identify and recruit volunteers. The experience of helping you with this program may be just what some people are looking for – but sometimes you’ll need to pay for someone’s time.
What equipment will you need? Will you borrow it or purchase it?As you work out the details of your plan, think about any equipment you’ll need. Is it equipment you’ll use over and over again (like a milk cooler or a football)? Or is it equipment that will get used up and need to be repurchased (like paper cups and napkins)? Can you get someone in your community to donate the materials you need – or will you need to purchase the equipment?
Do you need to reward students for participation? A pat on the back is nice, but some situations require a little something more. As you consider whether you’ll need to provide awards or giveaways as part of your program, make sure they are tied to very specific outcomes. Awards or giveaways should drive actions, not simply be something nice to have.
How will you know it’s working? No matter what your team is working on, it’s important to measure change so that you know if your program is working. We want you to have something to celebrate at the end of the school year! Think about ways to track your team’s progress – surveys, polls or other data collection can be useful ways to assess the changes you’ve made. Will you need to pay someone to help you gather or analyze this information?

Background: The Competitive Funding Initiative Provides Money To Help Schools Jumpstart And Sustain Healthy Nutrition And Physical Activity Improvements. Any U.S. School Can Enroll In The Free Program And Thus Be Eligible To Apply For Up To $4,000 To Help Increase Access To And Consumption Of Nutrient-rich Foods And Participation In Physical Activity Opportunities For Students.

The Funds Can Be Used For A Variety Of Activities And Tools, From Resources That Help Enhance Students’ Healthy Eating (such As Foodservice Equipment And Nutrition Education Materials) To Items That Help Schools Address Students’ Physical Activity Needs (such As Exercise Equipment And Student And Staff Incentives).

School Garden Grants - Whole Kids Foundation

Grant Name: School Garden Grants

Funding Organization: Whole Kids Foundation

Grant Cycle: 5 pm, December 31

Contact: Nona Evans

Address: 550 Bowie Street; Austin, TX 78703

 

Website: http://wholekidsfoundation.org/gardengrants.php

Email: whole.kids@wholefoods.com

Eligibility: To be eligible for a garden grant, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or nonprofit K-12 school that is developing or currently maintaining a school garden project that will help children engage with fresh fruits and vegetables. Garden projects may be at any stage of development; planning, construction or operation. For cases in which an applicant facilitates garden projects in more than one school, multiple garden grants may be requested under a single application. In occasional cases, additional funds may be awarded for special projects. In selecting grant recipients, priority will be given to both limited-resource communities and to projects that demonstrate strong buy-in from stakeholders. There is a limit of one garden grant per school. Must have the capacity to manage grant funds responsibly and the skills and experience necessary to undertake a project involving school gardens. Must demonstrate that the garden project has strong participation from stakeholders, including the school principal, volunteers and a community partner. Must demonstrate that thoughtful consideration is being given to the technical challenges of school garden construction and maintenance: soil testing, water availability, tool storage and municipal regulations. Must articulate a compelling plan for integrating the garden into the life of the school and community, including plans to put the garden's produce to good use.

How to Apply: Complete the online application

Application Materials: 

• Tax ID number for the applicant
• PDF of the applicant's IRS Tax Exempt Letter (for uploading)
• Goals for the garden project
• Letter of authorization and support from the school principal on school letterhead
• Participating garden coordinator and volunteers
• School enrollment total, with free and reduced lunch percentages
• Community partner supporting the garden project
• Photo of the garden site
• Information on local, city, state policies related to school gardens
• Plan for the garden harvest
• Understanding of curriculum integration – specify subjects
• Communication plan
• Budget and timeline
• Plan to engage students in the garden
• Plan for sustaining the garden over multiple years

Background: Learning about the process of growing food helps children develop a deep understanding of the connection between healthy eating and a healthy body. School gardens offer an opportunity to integrate math, science and health curriculum into a dynamic, interactive setting. They also provide a base of knowledge that allows children to take an active role in healthy food choices.

Other Important Information: School gardens are a vital educational tool. Every seed planted sprouts a new opportunity for kids to cultivate healthy eating habits. Teaching kids to garden helps them learn about complex topics like sustainability and conservation, food systems and community awareness. Not to mention an appreciation for food from seed to plate.

Grant - Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, Inc.

Grant Name: Grant

Funding Organization: Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, Inc.

Grant Cycle: Letter of inquiry: no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on February 1 and August 1
Invited applications: no later than February 28 [for Spring grant cycle] or August 31 [for Fall grant cycle]

Website: http://summerfieldfoundation.org/grantmaking.html

 

Email: info@summerfieldfoundation.org

Eligibility: The Foundation awards grants only to nonprofit, charitable organizations designated as exempt from income taxes under Section 501[c][3] of the Internal Revenue Code and identified by the IRS as a public charity, and whose activities and programs are compatible with the mission and objectives of the Solon E. Summerfield Foundation.

How to Apply: Apply Online

Application Materials: Follow the link to begin the Application Process and submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Form to the Foundation. LOI forms are due no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on February 1 and August 1 for consideration in the June and November funding cycles, respectively.
To begin the Application Process, you will need to Create a New Account, and follow the prompts. After you have created your account (the next time you log on) you will use your email address and password to access your application information.
The online LOI Form will require the following information:

• Project Name
• Summary of Grant Request
• Amount Requested
• Program Area (Arts, Education, Medical Research, Social Services)
• Geographic Area (DC, MD, MO, NC, NY, VA)
• Funding Type (General Operating, Program Support, Capacity Building, Capital Campaign, Other)
• Project Budget
• Project Overview
• Tax Status (501(c)3 Upload)
• Year Funded
• Total of Annual Operating Budget
• New Project
• Target Population
• Total Number of Individuals Served
• Geographic Area Detail
• Electronic Signature

After review, and upon acceptance, the Foundation will invite you to complete the formal Grant Application. Unless you are otherwise notified, Grant Applications are due 5:00 pm Eastern Time on February 28 and August 31 for consideration in the June and November funding cycles, respectively.
The online Application Form will require the following information:

• Mission Statement
• Organization History
• Board Size and Participation
• Organization Challenges
• Primary Purpose of Project
• Population Impact
• Project Sustainability
• Project Support / Other Sources of Funding
• Define Success

Supporting Documents (to be uploaded):

• IRS 501(c)3 letter
• Project Budget
• Financial Audit
• Current Operating Budget
• IRS Form 990

The Solon E. Summerfield Foundation will acknowledge receipt of your submitted Grant Application via email.

Background: In addition to the mandated grants required to be disbursed each year by the Foundation, grants to other organizations may be awarded for general operating support and for specific programs, capital campaigns and endowment funds. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals, for special events, or for fundraising benefits. The grant making highlights four program areas and a dedicated program to endowment funds; general grant categories have been allocated as follows:

• Arts
• Education
• Medical Research
• Social Services

ING Unsung Heroes - ING

Grant Name: ING Unsung Heroes

Funding Organization: ING

Grant Cycle: April 30, 2012

Phone: (800) 537-4180

Website: http://ing.us/about-ing/citizenship/childrens-education/ing-unsung-heroes/about-ing-unsung-heroes

Eligibility:

All K-12 education professionals are eligible to apply. Applicants must be employed by an accredited K-12 public or private school located in the U.S. and be a full-time educator, teacher, principal, paraprofessional, or classified staff member working on a project with demonstrated effectiveness in improving student learning.

Background:

ING Unsung Heroes Began In 1995 As A Way For ING To Demonstrate Its Commitment To The Education Community. Grants Are Given To K-12 Educators Utilizing New Teaching Methods And Techniques That Improve Learning.

Each Year, Educators Submit Applications For An ING Unsung Heroes Grant By Describing Projects They Have Initiated Or Would Like To Pursue. Each Project Is Judged On Its:
Innovative Method
Creativity
Ability To Positively Influence The Students