Here are some particularly promising sources of potential funding I have identified and their deadlines. This organization is worth following: http://www.crscience.org/catalogs/TeacherGrantsCatalog.pdf
(I apologize if some of the links have changed or are no longer current! This is a long list; I need to update it soon.)
Plan to apply?
The California Coastal Commission’s WHALE TAIL grants fund coastal and marine education projects from small amounts up to $50K. They have over 300K to give out. November deadline.
www.coastforyou.org
The NOAA Ocean Guardian School Program gives grants of up to $4K for Ocean stewardship projects. You can re-apply for more $$ in subsequent years. Max. 30% stipends, 30% field trip costs. ~40% equipment & supplies. May 1 deadline. Tsunami trash & elephant seal projects. We were awarded this in 2013.
PG&E’s Solar Schools Program for northern and cental California gives “Bright Ideas Grants” of up to $10K (March and September deadlines), 1kW photovoltaic systems (September deadline) and offers free one-day training for teachers on solar energy. I received a “Bright Ideas” grant in 2010.
Toshiba America Foundation “The Foundation strongly encourages projects planned and led by individual teachers or teams of teachers for their own classrooms. Many successful grantees have designed projects that tap into the natural curiosity of their students, enable students to frame their own scientific questions, and incorporate the expertise of community partners.” Deadline August and February for large grants (over $5K) – grants under $5K any time. I received a grant from the TAF in 2009.
The Drake Fund (only for teachers at Sir Francis Drake High School, my institution) gives grants of a few thousand dollars. There is an early spring deadline. The Drake fund supported our White Mountain project, hypolith project, bristlecone pines project, elephant seals project and independent science research class before the outside agencies did. THANK YOU Drake Fund for getting us started!
Grants I applied for but did not receive/ probably won’t try again:
ExploreMars.org’s
Mars Education Challenge gives grants of $2,500 – $5,000 for lesson plans about Mars. December deadline. Struck out in 2012; try again if is is offered again (looks like it is defunct?)
The
Verizon Foundation gives grants of $5K – $10K October deadline. Applied 2012 SEAWARD charter. Didn’t get it.
The United Soybean Board’s
GetBiotechSmart.com offers a $5000 Excellence in Biotechnology grant.
Target awards 5000 grants per year of up to $700 for school field trips. “Easy online application.” September deadline.
Some other time?
BP’s A+ for Energy Program gives grants of $5K – $10K for projects that teach about energy and energy conservation. Only certain counties in certain states are eligible. March deadline. Not sure if this is still offered.
The Marin Municipal Water District gives Teacher Action Grants of up to $2000 to cover direct expenses for school garden projects in Marin County. There are similar programs for Contra Costa and Alemeda counties.
Chevron Fuel Your School Program
The National Weather Association gives $500 classroom grants to improve the teaching of meterology. June deadline.
The Captain Planet Foundation environmental grants for schools (up to $2500) December deadline.
Motorola Innovation Generation Grants especially fund after-school and science summer enrichment programs. Spring deadline. Average grant size is $30K!
The Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams grants give up to $10K for inventive high school projects.
The Sunchips/ National Geographic “Green Effect” contest awards five prizes of $20K each for Earth-saving ideas. This is not just for schools. Individuals and community groups are eligible as well, so the competition is fierce. You can’t pin your hopes on winning this one, but it never hurts to apply. June deadline.
The
Toyota TAPESTRY Program gives multiple grants of $10K each (and mini-grants of $ 2.5K) for hands-on science projects. January deadline. Apply to charter SEAWARD for S. F. Bay Unit? (This one seems to have been discontinued, but I will check back.)
Here is a link to another list:
http://www.teachersnetwork.org/Grants/grants_science.htm