Meeting the demands of 21st Century 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, or starting a competition team with VEX IQ or V5, there are grants available for you! In this article, you will find a table of potential US funding opportunities to help you get started.
US Funding Sources
| Title | Purpose | Eligibility | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Funding Sources | |||
| CARES Act: The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) I & II | To provide emergency funding to K-12 schools, including including educational technology and summer learning and supplemental programs | Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) can request funds from State Educational Agencies (SEAs). | ESSER FAQs ESSER I & II Fact Sheet State Contacts for Information |
| Title 1: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) | To provide funds to ensure students meet state educational standards, including STEM education. | LEAs can apply for funds, which are especially helpful for districts with low-income families. | Guidance from Department of Education |
| Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) | Funds can be used for:
|
Institutions of Higher Education Non Profits | Application Information |
| 21st Century Community Learning Centers | This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. | Awards are made to SEAs. Local education agencies (LEAs) and nonprofit organizations may apply to states for subgrants. | Program Information State Contacts for Information |
| The National Science Foundation (NSF) | This program supports both students and faculty to make studying and teaching STEM accessible. | NSF offers grants to schools across 24 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Search ‘STEM’ on the NSF Funding page to find funding sources for your program. | Proposals and Award Policies and Procedures Guide |
| Grants.gov | Grants.gov is a resource for finding grants offered through government agencies including the National Science Foundation, NASA, Department of Commerce, and more. | Search ‘STEM’ in the Search Grants page to access a wealth of grant applicant resources. | Grant Eligibility How to Apply For Grants |
| Foundation Funding Sources | |||
| Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation | The REC Foundation seeks to increase student interest and involvement in STEM fields by providing significant initial equipment and operational support for regional partnerships and/or school districts committed to full implementation of sustainable VEX Robotics Competition teams in a given geographic area. | These grants are intended for schools and organizations that are not currently participating in one of our programs: VEX IQ Challenge, VEX Robotics Competition (VRC), and VEX U. VEX IQ Challenge grants are for elementary and middle schools (grades 3-8). VRC grants are for middle and high schools (grades 6-12). | Grants Page Applying for a Team Grant |
| NEA Foundation STEM Grants |
|
NEA Foundation STEM Grants provide resources for districts to build and expand their STEM programs and professional learning for educators to lead them well. | About NEA Grants Grant Resources |
| STEMgrants.com | STEMgrants.com provides a free guide to STEM grants that is organized by deadline dates. This list is kept up-to-date and includes grants with an ‘open’ or ‘rolling’ deadline. | Varies by grant | STEM Grants for K-12 and Nonprofits |
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.
All grant information is correct at time of publication, but the nature of grants is always changing and while we endeavour to keep this updated we cannot guarantee information will be current on external links.