Grant Alerts - January 24, 2019

The Board of Education has approved a couple of new grant opportunities that may be of interest:

The Snapdragon Book Foundation Links to an external site. provides grants to PreK-12 public schools that serve disadvantaged children. Grants of $2,500 - $10,000 may be used for books and other educational materials for school libraries.  The deadline is February 15.

Youth Service America (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. offers a variety of small grants that support youth-led service projects that address childhood hunger. Amounts and deadlines vary according to the grant programs, so check their website for additional information.

Two other opportunities with upcoming deadlines are:

The National Education Association Links to an external site. offers grants of $5,000 that support projects involving student achievement and high quality professional learning for educators. The next deadline is February 1, you must be a member to apply. 

The Lowe's Home Improvement Toolbox for Education Links to an external site. grant is now open, offering up to $5,000 for tools to help educators address educational challenges. Projects should fall into one of the following categories: technology upgrades, tools for STEM programs, and safety improvements. The deadline is February 8 or whenever they receive 1,500 applications, so if you plan to apply, do so early! 

Grant Alerts - October 5, 2018

We have some newly Board approved grants to share with you. 

Crayola, Champion Creatively Alive Children (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. provides $2,500 plus $1,000 in products, deadline June 21

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. provides an author visit, $250 for a stipend and $250 in books, deadline April 15

MusicPlay Themes & Variations (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. offers up to $1,625 for music education, rolling deadline

Walking Classroom (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. helps improve health and build knowledge by providing equipment for students to listen to books while walking

GRAMMY Foundation (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. offers grants for music education, deadline March 15

NC Association of Educators (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. offers up to $200 for services to students and their families, deadline January 30

Get Schooled Attendance Challenge (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. promotes school attendance

First Book (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. supports literacy by offering discounted books, check their website for details

Fiskars Orange Thumb (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. grants support programs that celebrate innovation, education and biodiversity through school and community gardening initiatives. 

NC Farm Bureau (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. offers up to $500 through their Agriculture in the Classroom grant, deadline November 15

Ezra Jack Keats Foundation (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. supports literacy with grants of $500, deadline March 31

In addition to the newly approved opportunities, the following grants have upcoming deadlines:

Whole Kids Foundation Links to an external site.offers grants of $2,000 in support of school gardens, deadline October 15.

NC Foundation for Public School Children Links to an external site.supports literacy, professional development, and parental involvement at economically disadvantaged schools, up to $1,000, deadline October 31.

Annie's Homegrown Grants for GardensLinks to an external site. provides $3,000 - $5,000 for school gardens, deadline November 1. 

Toshiba American Foundation Links to an external site.grants for science education in grades 6-12 has a deadline coming up on November 1. 

Details about these and other grant opportunities can be found in our listing of Board Approved grants, found in three places: Learning Central Office of Grants resource (see grant alerts in the lefthand navigation bar), on WakeConnect (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., or in our Office of Grants Google site (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. As always, please work with your principal or school grant contact to complete an Intent to Apply form prior to submitting any grants.

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Other Announcements

Technology Services recently announced the debut of a new Digital Resources Product Library (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. This library is the authoritative place to see a listing of the digital resources that are approved for use in WCPSS. You can use the Digital Resource Product Library to discover resources, read descriptions and ratings, and learn more about digital resources that are available. The Digital Resource Product Library takes the place of the Approved Software list. Remember, just like technology hardware, software must be district approved to be included in a grant. If you plan to include software in a grant request, please review the library to see if the item is district approved.  If it is not on the list, you can submit a request to Technology Services for the item to be reviewed.

Technology Services has posted information about how to request technology through DonorsChooseLinks to an external site., and we encourage you to visit their site to learn more about how this process works. In addition to providing step-by-step directions, the Technology Services page also has information about the technology items included, links to WCPSS Purchase Orders, more detail about WCPSS technology guidelines, and responses to frequently asked questions. 

Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can be of assistance.

Happy grantwriting!

Grant Alerts - September 24, 2018

Newly Board Approved Grant Opportunities

• Farmers Insurance Group's Thank a Million Teachers (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.program is underway, $2,500, deadline September 27.
• Science Festival's Duke Energy Science Night (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers STEM Science Kits for elementary schools, deadline September 30.
• Annie's Homegrown Grants for Gardens (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers $3,000 for new grantees and $5,000 for returning grantees, deadline is November 1.
• Saucony's Run for Good Foundation (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers grants of up to $10,000 to increase physical activity and running. Deadlines are December 15 and June 15. 
• NC Arts Council, Arts in Education (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.program offers grants of $5,000 - $15,000, check their website for the deadline (which was previously in March).

Other newly approved funders include:

• NC Arboretum
• Project Learning Tree
• NC School Library and Media Association
• Mr. Holland's Opus
• Office Depot
• NC Restaurant and Lodging Association
• Education Development Corporation
• Siemens Foundation
• REAL School Gardens
• Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

Upcoming Deadlines

• Lowe's Toolbox for Education (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.grant provides $2,000-$5,000 for tools for STEM education, facility and safety improvements, deadline September 28 or whenever they receive 1,500 applications.
• Target's Field Trip grant (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.provides $700 for learning outside the classroom, deadline October 1.
• Toshiba American Foundation's K-5 Science Education grant (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers $1,000, deadline October 1.

Details about these and other opportunities can be found in our listing of Board Approved grants, found in  three places: Learning Central, Office of Grants course (see Grant Alerts in the lefthand navigation bar), on WakeConnect, or in our Office of Grants Google site. As always, please work with your principal or school grant contact to complete an Intent to Apply form prior to submitting any grants.

Happy grantwriting!

Grants Alerts - August 22, 2018

A number of grant opportunities were approved by the Board of Education at their meeting yesterday. Here's a summary:

Publix Super Market Charities (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers grants that support youth, education, reducing hunger (May 1 - June 30), and alleviating homelessness (July 1 - August 31).  Their funding level varies, please check their website for more details.

North Carolina Aquariums (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers up to $1,000 for Title 1 schools to visit aquariums, or engage in their outreach and/or distance learning activities, deadline September 15. 

National Art Education Association (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.provides grants that support professional development for arts educators, classroom supplies, and curriculum development, deadline October 1.

Herb Society of America (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.supports indoor or outdoor herb gardens for grades 3 through 6 with grants of $200, deadline October 1.

Whole Kids Foundation (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers grants of up to $2,000 for edible school gardens, deadline October 15.

AgCarolina Farm Credit (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.supports agriculture education with grants of up to $5,000, deadline October 15.

The National Dairy Council, Fuel Up to Play 60 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., which supports healthy eating and physical activity with grants of up to $4,000, deadline November 7

Vernier Software and Technology (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers support for science classrooms, deadline December 17.

NC Foundation for Public School Children (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers grants of up to $1,000 for literacy, PD, or parental involvement at economically disadvantaged schools, deadline October 31.

American Association of School Librarians (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers a variety of awards and grants to increase access to books and infuse innovative technologies into library settings. Funding levels and deadlines varies by program, but several are due February 1

National Science Teachers Association (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.offers a variety of grants and awards.

US Lacrosse Foundation (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.supports Lacrosse programs with grants of equipment, requests are due the 1st of each month.

In addition to these newly approved opportunities, there are several other grant opportunities with upcoming deadlines.  These include the Target Field Trip grant Links to an external site.($700), Bright Ideas Links to an external site.(up to $3,000), Wake Electric's Classroom Technology grant Links to an external site.(up to $3,000), and the Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant Links to an external site.(up to $5,000).  

Details about these and other opportunities can be found in our listing of Board Approved grants, found in  three places: Learning Central Office of Grants Resource (see Grant Alerts in the lefthand navigation bar), on Wake Connect Links to an external site., or in our Office of Grants Google siteLinks to an external site..  As always, please work with your principal or school grant contact to complete an Intent to Apply form prior to submitting any grants.

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DONORSCHOOSE AND TECHNOLOGY: Over the past few months, Technology Services and the Office of Grants have been working closely with DonorsChoose to establish a process whereby teachers can request technology, including Chromebooks, ipads, laptops, printers, and more, using WCPSS purchase orders. This means that technology received through DonorsChoose will be fully supported, with extended warranties, upgraded specifications, and configuration/setup services completed. While these services may add to the cost of a base model, it results in added longevity and support of the device while ensuring compatibility with WCPSS infrastructure and core application requirements.

Teachers who want to include technology items in a DonorsChoose proposal will be prompted to submit a Special Request Project to DonorsChoose, which will allow them to select WCPSS approved technology offerings. Please note that teachers who are new to DonorsChoose will not be able to include technology in their first project, as they will first need to earn 6 points to create a Special Request Project. Learn more about the DonorsChoose Point System hereLinks to an external site..

Technology Services has posted information about how to request technology through DonorsChooseLinks to an external site., and we encourage you to visit their site to learn more about how this process will work. In addition to providing step-by-step directions, the Technology Services page also has information about the technology items included, links to WCPSS Purchase Orders, more detail about WCPSS technology guidelines, and responses to frequently asked questions. 

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or suggestions.

Best wishes as you begin the new school year!

Grant Alerts - August 8, 2018

Several new grant opportunities were approved by the Board of Education when they met on August 7.  Here are some highlights:

NC Museum of History   (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.provides for travel expenses for field trips to the museum, deadline September 14.

Outer Banks Lighthouse Society (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. offers $250 - $1,000 for travel and project grants related to NC Lighthouses, due January 31, 2019.

Kids Gardening (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. has a variety of grants, ranging from $250 - $1,000, that support school gardens, deadlines vary according to the grant program.

National Education Association (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. offers Student Achievement and Learning and Leadership grants to members, up to $5,000, next deadline is October 15.

Charlie Lovett Foundation (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. supports elementary level drama programs, opens in August and provides up to $300 per grant until their funds are depleted for the year.

Toshiba American Foundation supports science education. K-5 grants (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. offer up to $1,000, with an October 1st deadline. Grants for grades 6-12 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. that are less than $5,000 have a September 1st deadline, and grants that are more than $5,000 have a November 1st deadline.

Harbor Freight (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. supports skilled trades education and their grants provide tools. They have a rolling deadline. 

In addition to these newly approved opportunities, there are several other grant opportunities with upcoming deadlines.  These include the Target Field Trip grant (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.($700), Bright Ideas (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (up to $3,000), Wake Electric's Classroom Technology grant (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (up to $3,000), and the Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (up to $5,000).  

Details about these and other opportunities can be found in our listing of Board Approved grants, found in  three places: this Learning Central Resource (see Grant Alerts in the lefthand navigation bar), on Wake Connect (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., or in our Office of Grants Google site (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..  As always, please work with your principal or school grant contact to complete an Intent to Apply form prior to submitting any grants.

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DONORSCHOOSE AND TECHNOLOGY: Over the past few months, Technology Services and the Office of Grants have been working closely with DonorsChoose to establish a process whereby teachers can request technology, including Chromebooks, ipads, laptops, printers, and more, using WCPSS purchase orders. This means that technology received through DonorsChoose will be fully supported, with extended warranties, upgraded specifications, and configuration/setup services completed. While these services may add to the cost of a base model, it results in added longevity and support of the device while ensuring compatibility with WCPSS infrastructure and core application requirements.

Teachers who want to include technology items in a DonorsChoose proposal will be prompted to submit a Special Request Project to DonorsChoose, which will allow them to select WCPSS approved technology offerings. Please note that teachers who are new to DonorsChoose will not be able to include technology in their first project, as they will first need to earn 6 points to create a Special Request Project. Learn more about the DonorsChoose Point System hereLinks to an external site..

Technology Services has posted information about how to request technology through DonorsChooseLinks to an external site., and we encourage you to visit their site to learn more about how this process will work. In addition to providing step-by-step directions, the Technology Services page also has information about the technology items included, links to WCPSS Purchase Orders, more detail about WCPSS technology guidelines, and responses to frequently asked questions. 

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FOR SCHOOL GRANT CONTACTS:  With the beginning of the school year, we've had some calls regarding difficulties accessing the Intent to Apply form. The form is only available within the WCPSS domain, so you need to be logged into Chrome using your @wcpss account in order to access it. If you encounter any trouble accessing the form, please contact us and we will be happy to help you troubleshoot.  

Best wishes as you begin a new school year!