Fresh Start / Microsoft Grant
Providing Computer Upgrades

Due Date: 

Ongoing (online application)

Purpose:

To provide licensing and Windows installation CD's for schools that have received donations of personal computers with Pentium II or older processors. This program was set up mainly for primary and secondary (K-12) institutions to help eliminate confusion about whether donated personal computers have a legitimate operating system license.

Eligibility: 

Accredited K-12 schools that have received donated personal computers.

Grant Award:

License documentation and Windows installation CDs—at no cost—for an original Windows operating system on qualifying donated personal computers. The program offers both Windows 98 and Windows 2000.

Contact:

Fresh Start for Donated Computers 

Website:

http://www.microsoft.com/education/freshstart/freshstart.asp

Application link:

http://www.microsoft.com/Education/FreshStart/FreshStart.asp
countrycode=USA&langcode=enus&NoWrap=false&pagecode
=FSSearch&wu=

E- Mail:

frshstrt@microsoft.com

Mr. Holland's Opus Programs

Due Date: 

Ongoing, throughout the year

Purpose:

To  supply schools with new musical instruments or repair older instruments to schools with existing music programs that have no other source of financing to purchase additional musical instruments and materials.

Eligibility: 

 U.S. schools with an existing instrumental music program, for at least 3 years.

Grant Award:

All programs listed below fund instrument repair and the acquisition of new instruments. The program DOES NOT give cash grants.

Melody Program- provides instruments for K-12 school music programs that take place during the school day. Grants range from $500 - $8,000 worth of instruments.

Special Projects Program- provides instruments for after-school music programs. Grants range from $500 - $8,000 worth of instruments.

Michael Kamen Solo Award- Instruments with a retail value of up to $20,000 are awarded to outstanding musicians in grades 8-12, with at least 5 years of study completed on their instrument, who cannot afford to obtain an appropriate instrument.

Contact:

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation

Address:

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation
15125 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 204
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Attn: Grant Committee

Phone #:

818-784-6787

Fax #:

818-784-6788

Website:

http://www.mhopus.org/melody.htm

Application link:

Online applications are available for:

Melody Program http://www.mhopus.org/app_melody_0.asp

Special Projects Program http://www.mhopus.org/app_special_0.asp

Michael Kamen Solo Award http://www.mhopus.org/app_solo_0.asp

E- Mail:

info@mhopus.org

 Outdoor Classroom Grant
Sponsored by Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and the International Paper Foundation NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER!

Due Date: 

Rolling Deadlines: You may apply between
September 1st-December 31st;
January 1st – April 30th; or
May 1st - August 31st (online application)

Purpose:

To provide outdoor, hands-on science education to students and assist schools in enhancing their core curriculum in all subjects.

Eligibility: 

All K-12 public schools in the U.S.

Grant Award:

The program will award grants up to $2,000 to at least 100 schools. In some cases, grants for up to $20,000 may be awarded to schools with major outdoor classroom projects. Grants may be used to build a new outdoor classroom or enhance a current outdoor classroom.

Address:

Outdoor Classroom Grant Program
P.O. Box 3292
Memphis, TN 38173-0292

Website:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/outdoor/apply1.html 

Application link:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=frameSet&url=apps.bridgetree.com/outdoor/apply2.asp

Pay It Forward Mini-grants

Due Date: 

January 15; and April 15, October 15 each year (downloadable application online)

Purpose:

To  fund service-oriented projects identified by youth to benefit their school, neighborhood, or community. Projects must contain a “pay it forward” focus – that is, they must be based on the concept of one person doing a favor for others, who in turn do favors for others, with the results growing exponentially – to be considered in the grant making process . 

Eligibility: 

Schools, churches and community youth groups (with an adult sponsor)

Grant Award:

$500

Address:

Pay It Forward Foundation
P.O. Box 552
Cambria, CA 93428

Website:

http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/educators/mini-grant.html

Application link:

Pdf. format - http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/pdf_files/Mini-GrantApplicationend1.pdf
Word document format - http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/educators/Mini-GrantApplicationend1.doc  

E-mail:

info@payitforwardfoundation.org  (for questions)

Student Achievement Grants
Sponsored by NEA Foundation

Due Date: 

February 1st, June 1st, October 15th

Purpose:

To improve the academic achievement of students through projects that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter through student engagement  in critical thinking and problem solving. Projects should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. Projects resulting in low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged.

NOTE: The NEA Foundation, in collaboration with The National Association of Music Education, is now offering Teaching Improvisation Grants as a “sub set” within the Student Achievement grant program, to support public educators’ work to teach improvisation to middle- and high-school music students. (A portion of the Student Achievement grant awards will be dedicated to funding these projects.) Educators can apply for the Teaching Improvisation Grants through the Foundation’s existing Student Achievement grant program.

Eligibility: 

Practicing public school teachers and education support professionals in grades PreK-12.

NOTE: Preference will be given to applicants:

?          who serve economically disadvantaged students

?          are members of the National Education Association

?          are teachers with less than 7 yrs. experience in the profession education support professionals.

Grant Award:

$ 5,000

Address:

The NEA Foundation
Attn: Student Achievement Grants
1201 Sixteenth Street NW, Suite 416
Washington, DC 20036-3207

Website:

http://www.neafoundation.org/grants.htm 

Application link:

http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant-programs/grant-application/

Application Guidelines:

http://www.neafoundation.org/programs/StudentAchievement_
Guidelines.htm