How to Apply for Teacher Grants

Ask a teacher if they get paid enough or receive enough money from their school to accomplish their goals. Their answer will probably be "no." Grants are available for teachers for professional development opportunities, continuing education tuition or supplies to support classroom instruction. The secret to receiving these grants is knowing how to find them and knowing the special instructions and subtleties of completing the application.

Instructions

Find Grants

1. Network with others. Talk to individuals who teach the same subject or grade as you and find out what grants they have applied for and received. This is a good way to find what organizations are active in your area.

2. Go online. Do an internet search for teaching grants and education grants. Gather as much information as you can about who can apply and the purpose of the grants.

3. Look for state and federal education grants. The departments of education at both the state and federal levels have grant funds available for teachers. Contact your local representatives for both levels of government to find out how to apply.

Apply for Grants

1. Put a team together. Grant writing can be an enormous job and it helps to have more than one person working on the project. Talk to your principal and co-workers to see who might be interested in helping with your grant application.

2. Make a plan. Before you apply, you will need to have a specific project or purpose for the money and a plan to reach that goal. The more detailed your plan is, the easier it will be to write the application.

3. Write the grant. Watch the details carefully, making sure you follow all the grant rules and submit all the required information. Be sure to include statistics that support your project.

4. Edit your submission. Before you submit your application, have several people read it to make sure there are no typos or simple errors. Put it aside for several days and read it once more before putting your application in the mail.

5. Complete any needed follow-up. If additional information or interviews are required, make sure to schedule them and get them done. If nothing else, be sure to send a thank you note to the grant committee.