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