Grants for Teachers

Teachers spend an average of $395 dollars of their own money on classroom supplies each year, according to a study published by The National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA). Grants written by teachers can enrich a classroom at no cost, which is why more and more teachers are turning to grant writing.

Types of Grants

There are many different types of grants for teachers. Some are targeted towards small projects or professional development, while others may be ongoing and provide the funds to implement a major initiative, such as a library.

Finding Grants

Teachers can find grants by keeping track of what professional teaching organizations, such as the National Education Association (NEA), are offering. The websites of these organizations are frequently updated with this information. Teachers can also look for private foundation grants and government grants, using available online databases.

Community Grants

One of the best ways for teachers to find grants is through word of mouth. Many community agencies offer grants for teachers. These grant opportunities are not always widely publicized, so it is helpful to be a member of a local professional organization.

Writing the Grant Proposal

Writing a grant proposal can be very complex or very simple. The complexity often corresponds to the size of the grant. Since grants for teachers are usually fairly small, the process is usually simple. Be sure to follow the grant-writing criteria carefully.

Keeping the Grant

Some grants renew from year to year. To keep a grant that you received previously, it is necessary to keep data showing how the grant benefited your school or classroom.This data can be used when writing the grant renewal.

References

• NSSEA

Resources

• Find Grant Opportunities