Identifying US-Based Funding Sources*

Meeting the demands of STEM Education can be thrilling, but it can be a challenge to find funding for your programs. Whether you are developing an early childhood robotics program with VEX 123 or VEX GO, starting a competition team with VEX IQ or V5, or looking to further your professional learning with VEX PD+, there may be grants available for you. In this article, you will find guidance on how to locate US grant sources. 

Grant funding is ever changing. Knowing where to look and what to look for can help you get started on the right foot with your grant journey.

Government Sources

Federal Government Sources

These provide large-scale funding, often with annual or recurring application cycles. There are four main sites or locations that can help you start your search for grant opportunities.

• Grants.gov – This is the central database for all federal grant opportunities.
  • Next Steps: Use filters and search terms to help narrow down the list. Try using keywords like:
    • "K-12 education"
    • "STEM education"
    • "professional development"
    • "out-of-school learning"
• U.S. Department of Education (DOE) – The DOE frequently provides discretionary grants, especially those for innovative programs in underserved schools, STEM, and educator training.
  • Next Steps: Some DOE grants can be found on their main website, but they are also listed on the grants.gov database.
• National Science Foundation (NSF) – While the NSF primarily awards research related grants, options are often available for K-12 Educators.
  • Next Steps: Filter by education level when searching their directory for current available grants to find information relevant to your students.
• Engagement Opportunities in NASA STEM (EONS) – NASA has an entire division of grants available for STEM engagement. They have subsections for museums or other informal education avenues that could be useful for those outside of the traditional classroom.
  • Next Steps: These grants are also listed on the grants.gov database, but more specialized information can be found through the NASA website.

On each of these sites, there are options to get email and/or text-based alerts for new funding opportunities. Signing up for these alerts can help you to find the most up-to-date information on available grants.

State Government Sources 

State Departments of Education often administer other grants and funding options. These include:

• Title Funds – These are part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title funds are meant to close learning gaps and support student success. These funds are often managed by districts. You might see them pay for a maker space or classroom upgrade, a literacy coach, or teacher training on technology tools.
  • Next Steps: In particular, look at the Title II program for professional development funds or the Title IV Part A for funds related to education technology. Reach out to your principal, curriculum director, or federal programs coordinator to learn more.
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) – This is a federally funded program that supports after-school and summer programs for students. It’s one of the few funding programs that are specifically related to out-of-school time. Both nonprofits and schools can apply for these funds.
  • Next Steps: Look for Requests for Proposals (RFPs) on your state's Department of Education website.
• Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) – Funding under Perkins V supports CTE programs, including courses and pathways that prepare students for careers in fields like engineering, health science, IT, and more.
  • Next Steps: Talk to your CTE Director at the district or regional level to learn how Perkins funds are used. Educators can submit ideas to enhance CTE programs through that office.

Local Government Sources

Cities and counties often allocate small grants for youth development, STEM education, or afterschool enrichment through offices like Parks & Recreation, Health Departments (especially around social emotional learning, wellness, or safety), and Workforce development boards.

Next Steps: Check your city or county government website under ‘grants’ or ‘youth development’—they may fund school clubs, camps, or maker projects.

Non-Government Sources

National Non-Government Sources

There are many large scale organizations that provide funding for education programs. These include two major components: 

• Crowd-Funding Platforms – While many grants are administered through government or private foundations, crowdfunding platforms, such as DonorsChoose or AdoptAClassroom.org, provide a direct way for educators to get support for robotics kits, classroom materials, or even professional learning. These platforms allow teachers to post specific project needs and receive donations from individuals or corporate sponsors.
  • Next Steps: Define the scope of your project or ask and create a classroom through your chosen site. Be sure to check eligibility requirements so that your classroom can receive any funds raised.
• Professional Organizations – In addition to being a great source for networking and professional development, many professional organizations for educators offer grants. Foundations and organizations like National Education Association (NEA) Foundation and Association of American Educators (AAE) have an almost year-round application window for grants.
  • Next Steps: Reach out to any professional organizations you are involved with to see if they have grants available to support you in your classroom or professional development journey.

Local Non-Government Sources

The vast majority of funding sources are going to come through local non-government organizations. These take a variety of forms including:

• Community Foundations – Community organizations know better than most what challenges are facing your local area. After identifying foundations, be sure to check their mission statement and current grant applications. Compare their goals to your own and use that information to begin your proposal process.
  • Next Steps: Use tools like the Community Foundation Locator from the Council on Foundations to find foundations local to you.
• Local Education Foundations (LEFs) – These are nonprofit organizations that support public school districts through teacher mini-grants, student program grants, classroom project funding, and more. These are often small awards from $250 to $2,500 that can help to augment other funding sources.
  • Next Steps: Visit your school district’s website or ask your principal if your school or district has a foundation partner.
• Local Corporations – Many businesses with regional or local footprints support local education that matches their focus area. Look at local utility companies for STEM education funding or local manufacturing or engineering firms for sponsorships related to STEM outreach and education.
  • Next Steps: Use phrases like “corporate community giving [your city]” or “STEM classroom grants [company name]” when searching for local support.

Things to Remember

• Relationships Matter – In general, your school or district grant coordinator will have more information about what is available in your specific area. Building a relationship with these professionals can help you to better locate, identify, and maintain funding sources year over year.
• Quality over Quantity – Remember that this is a non-exhaustive list. Use this to help you narrow down your options before you begin the hard work of the grant application process. The quality of your applications are going to matter much more than the quantity of applications you put out there. Be sure that your proposed project and the funding organization are well aligned in goals and values.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask –  Reach out to members of your school community for help as you identify funding sources and write applications. Parents, members of your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), or other invested community members may have connections or expertise to offer.

A lot goes into grant applications, and we’re here to help the process. To get tips on grant writing and editable letters to help you get started, view this article.

For personalized support as you start your grant writing journey, book a 1-on-1 Session with a VEX Education Expert through VEX Professional Development Plus (PD+).

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*The information provided herein is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. However, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information. Furthermore, we do not guarantee that any individual or entity will qualify for any specific funding source. For the most up-to-date and detailed information, please refer directly to the respective funding provider.