Grants + Funding
Grants play an important role in bringing arts into the classroom. This list can help support educators in bringing CAL’s resources to their students. Please contact us at 216-561-5005, x14 for help in pursuing grants for your classroom.
View By Grant Type
ARTS-INTEGRATION GRANTS
TeachArtsOhio – Ohio Arts Council
The Ohio Arts Council’s TeachArtsOhio program brings schools and community organizations together with teaching artists to share engaging, personal, high-quality arts learning experiences. Engagements can vary from short introductory exposures lasting just a few days to in-depth immersive experiences spanning a full school year.
Deadline: February 1
Each year, TeachArtsOhio applications are open beginning November 1 with a deadline of February 1 for artist residencies occurring the following school year.
Eligible organizations are Ohio’s public, private, charter, or parochial schools (pre-kindergarten through grade 12). Every application must include estimated in-kind administrator and teacher time in the budget. The total professional fee for teaching artists in the TeachArtsOhio program is $350 per residency day. A residency day must mirror a full school day, including arrival and departure times for teachers. Grants are awarded to schools to cover the artist fees. TeachArtsOhio grantees generally receive their full request.
Jodi Kushins
Arts Learning Coordinator
Email Jodi
614-728-4481
Maximum Award: Please contact Jodi Kushins at OAC
Arts Partnership – Ohio Arts Council
The Arts Partnership program supports arts education projects that address the needs of individual learners and their communities. Grant recipients engage in collaborative planning with partners, emphasize in-depth study of the arts, and use arts learning outcomes and standards-based arts education practices. By supporting these projects and programs, the OAC strengthens arts education locally, regionally, and statewide. Applicants may request up to $25,000. All awards require a 1:1 cash match. Arts Partnership grantees generally receive a portion of their request relative to their application score.
Arts Partnership grants are two-year awards for project-based arts learning activities. This program supports Ohio schools and organizations that plan and conduct projects with arts learning at their core. Many grantees use funding to support artistic or educational expenses. Other allowable expenses include program planning and evaluation. The budget section of the Arts Partnership application provides a full list of allowable expense areas.
Deadline: March 1 of odd numbered years (i.e. 2023, 2025)
Chiquita Mullins Lee
Arts Learning Coordinator
Email Chiquita
614-728-4455
Maximum Award: $4,000-$25,000
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation
The Grants-Educators program encourages individual educators to try innovative, smaller-scale activities within their classroom, school, or district. Only one application from your school will be considered in a given month.
Deadline: 15th February, April, June, August, October, December
Maximum Award: $3,000
Paul M. Angell Foundation – Performing Arts
The goal of the Performing Arts program is to support the presentation, perpetuation, and propagation of performing arts events, focusing on classical music and theater. Grantee organizations include professional performers, presenters, (including broadcasters) and educators. We are currently considering grants for the Chicago area, Cleveland, Detroit, and the Mid-Atlantic Region (from Washington, D.C. north to Philadelphia, PA. Please note that we currently do not fund dance or film. We also do not fund individual commissions.
Deadline: LOIs open mid-October and mid-March
Maximum Award: Varies
FRANK HADLEY GINN & CORNELIA ROOT GINN FOUNDATION
The mission of the Frank Hadley Ginn & Cornelia Root Ginn Foundation is to address education and community-based healthcare needs of low-income individuals through the support of effective programs and services that bring about long-term solutions for individuals and the community, particularly in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
The Ginn Foundation will support children, their education, their families, and organizations that provide education and healthcare services. Ginn’s grant focus is on the following:
Education:
Programs that support academic success
Programs that support social emotional growth in students to help them excel in school
In school and after school programs that supplement academic learning
Current, former, and new grantee organizations are welcome to apply. The Ginn Foundation generally does not want to be the sole or principal founder of pilot or new programs.
If an organization has received 5 consecutive grants from the Ginn Foundation, we ask that you not apply for 2 years.
Deadline: March 1
Maximum Award: Grants typically range from $5,000 to $15,000
STEAM GRANTS
Toshiba America Foundation
Toshiba America Foundation (TAF) grants fund the projects, ideas and materials teachers need to innovate in their math and science classrooms. TAF is interested in funding projects designed by teachers or small teams of teachers for use in their own schools.
Applications must be for project-based learning. We do not consider requests for computers, laptops, or tablets.
Deadlines:
K-5 grade – 10/1 annually
6-12 grade less than $5,000– 3/1, 6/1, 9/1, 12/1
6-12 grade greater than $5,000 – 5/1, 11/1
Maximum Award:
K-5 grade – up to $1,000
6-12 grade – up to $5,000 March, June, September, and December
6-12 grade – over $5,000 May and November
National Education Association Student success Grants
Grants fund activities for 12 months from the date of the award. Grants are available to current members of the National Education Association who are educators in public schools or public institutions of higher education. We especially encourage education support professionals* to apply. Applicants must be teachers, education support professionals, or specialized instructional support personnel, and must be current members of the National Education Association. Current NEA Foundation grantees are ineligible for a concurrent funding opportunity. A successful proposal will also make an individual ineligible for other NEA Foundation funding opportunities until the grant is successfully completed and closed out.
Deadline: September 15, 2024
Maximum Award: $1,500 and $5,000
COLOCATION AMERICA STEM GRANT
The Colocation America STEM Grant program supports the development and integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities for youth throughout the United States.
The purpose of the STEM Grant Program is to increase student interest and encourage more students to pursue a career in STEM-related fields.
Nonprofit youth organizations and public and private K-12 educators with STEM programming are eligible to apply for grants of up to $9,000 for new or reoccurring programs.
Eligible programs and projects include those that offer students:
an innovative approach to learning STEM;
developmentally appropriate STEM curriculum or resources; and,
activities that support real-life application of STEM knowledge.
Grant funds may be used to purchase non-consumable/consumable items, stipends for staff, field trips, travel expenses, tools/equipment needed to support a STEM environment, curricula development, and professional development.
Grant funds may not be used for meals/refreshments or conference fees.
Please pick a date by filling out the following form: https://forms.gle/ZWBZ2DLmvXq31QPeA
STEM Grant Finalist Application Deadline for Finalist: August 12, 2024
Awardees Announced by October 14, 2024, with funds received by December 2, 2024
Application Process:
Step 1: Attend “Lunch & Learn” Mandatory Call (either June 3rd or June 20th). After each call, we will send the Grant guidelines to the email provided.
Step 2: Submit STEM Grant Application by August 12, 2024
Step 3: Wait for Decision – Are You a 2024 Grantee? The decision will be made no later than October 14, 2024
Deadline: August 12, 2024
Maximum Award: $1,500 - $7,500
Please check back for dates regarding future opportunities.
OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME GRANTS
McCarthy Dressman Education Foundation – Academic Enrichment Grants
The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation offers Academic Enrichment Grants designed to develop in-class and extra-curricular programs that improve student learning. The Foundation considers proposals that foster understanding, deepen students’ knowledge, and provide opportunities to expand awareness of the world around them. The Academic Enrichment Grants provide funding for programs that nurture the intellectual, artistic, and creative abilities of children from low-income households.
Deadline: April 15 annually
Maximum Award: The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation awards grants to individuals in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met.
The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation
The types of support considered include general operating, annual funds, and capital campaigns, as well as specific projects that fall within the Foundation's guidelines. Consideration will be given to organizations in the Northeast Ohio area, with an emphasis on University Circle institutions.
Deadline: January 31, March 31, July 31, October 31
Maximum Award: Varies
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS
Neighborhood Connections
Neighborhood Connections offers small grants to groups of residents in Cleveland and East Cleveland to do projects that improve the quality of life in their communities.
Deadline: First Friday in March, Second Friday in August annually
Maximum Award: $5,000
FIELD TRIPS + EXPERIENCE GRANTS
OAC Big Yellow School Bus Program
The Ohio Arts Council’s Big Yellow School Bus program supports transportation costs for educational field trips to art galleries, museums, festivals, and exhibitions, as well as music, dance, or theatre performances. Applicants are responsible for making all transportation and destination arrangements.
Deadline: Accepted year-round, must be submitted 8 weeks prior to travel
Maximum Award: $500
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
The McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation Teacher Development Grant
The Teacher Development Grants support small teams of teachers in the formation and implementation of groundbreaking k-12 classroom instruction. The grants provide opportunities for teachers to integrate fresh strategies that encourage critical inquiry and to observe their effects on students. Teachers have the opportunity to reflect and write about their projects, as well as to share their results with other teachers. The Foundation awards grants to individuals in amounts up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years, provided the eligibility requirements continue to be met.
Deadline: Application available from January 15 - April 15 each year (or until 350 submissions)
Maximum Award: $20,000 over 2 years
National Education Association Learning and Leadership Grants
Educators frequently need outside resources to engage in meaningful professional development due to limited district funding. Through our Learning & Leadership grants, we support the professional development of NEA members by providing grants to:
Individuals to participate in high-quality professional development like summer institutes, conferences, seminars, travel abroad programs, or action research
Groups to fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson plan development, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff.
Grants are available to current members of the National Education Association who are educators in public schools or public institutions of higher education. We give preference to proposals that incorporate STEM and/or global competence in their projects.
Deadline: September 15, 2024
Maximum Award: $5,000
MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS + OTHER FUNDING SOURCES
MyCom Partner Support Grant for neighborhood agencies
The MyCom Partner Support Grant is an opportunity to provide funds for small projects to help advance the work of the MyCom Regional Workplan and engage youth and families. Applications may be submitted at any point. Please contact Christine Madden our COO prior to reaching out to MyCom 216-561-5005, x14 or email at christine@arts-inspiredlearning.org .
Proposals are to be submitted to your MyCom Regional Coordinator. https://www.mycomcle.org/regions/ Visit this page to find the Regional Coordinator for your agency’s neighborhood.
If you have questions, you may contact Kellee Smith, Director of Finance and Compliance at kellee@mycomcle.org
Deadline: April 1, 2024 – March 15, 2025. Your agency may apply for up to $1,000 per project, during the program year.
Maximum Award: $1,000
Edutopia Grants and Resources
Teach.com Grants for Teachers
OTHER FUNDING SOURCES
Local Community Development Corporations, city council, private businesses, banks, law firms, fundraisers, and more!
DonorsChoose.org
While not a traditional grant, DonorsChoose.org provides a viable means of securing funds for your classroom. Public school teachers submit proposals for classroom projects on the website. These proposals specify the exact items needed, ranging from basic school supplies to microscopes, laboratory equipment, and computer software. Visitors to the site can browse proposals across the country and donate to support the teacher’s cause.
Founded in 2000 by a high school teacher in the Bronx, DonorsChoose.org empowers public school teachers from across the country to request much-needed materials and experiences for their students.
In accordance with our mission, DonorsChoose is focused on providing resources to U.S. public schools (located within the 50 states and D.C.) serving PreK-12 students. These include:
Public schools run by a local education agency (LEA)
Charter schools
Head Start centers
Bureau of Indian Education schools.
Public programs administered by other public entities such as juvenile court/correctional schools, and intermediate service districts/educational service agencies.
Schools that we do not serve:
Private schools.
Parochial or religiously affiliated schools.
Non-profit, non-public, or independent schools.
Early Head Start classrooms.
Schools outside the 50 states and the District of Columbia. We do not serve schools in Puerto Rico or in other overseas territories, even if run by the DODEA.
Daycares, summer camps, or afterschool programs.
Educational programs at public facilities like libraries or museums.
Adult education, colleges, or universities.
Homeschools.
Teachers must be full-time employees of the district or other eligible school listed above in order to create an account. As an eligible teacher, you’ll have a chance to find your school during the registration process. If your school is a brand new school or a unique program, you may need to request to add your school during the registration process.
Amount: N/A
ADOPT A CLASSROOM
AdoptAClassroom.org powers today’s classrooms to prepare tomorrow’s graduates.
We offer the most flexible and accountable funding for teachers and schools through our proprietary, easy-to-use fundraising platform. Since 1998, we have provided funding for resources and materials to more than 200,000 classrooms across the nation. Our platform meets the best practices for crowdfunding established by the AASA and NSBA.
Our School Program helps principals and other school administrators fundraise for important school-wide projects and initiatives that cannot be met through other funding sources. We offer several ways for schools to get the funding they need, including, crowdfunding, school grants, and corporate sponsor donations.
Eligibility
K-12 principals or other school administrators* in all U.S. States & Territories.
Accredited Private, Public, or Charter Schools
Prekindergarten programs are permitted if they are based in an accredited K-12 school
https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/for-principals/
https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/for-teachers-2020/
Adopt a Classroom also has Spotlight Funds which are a grant program for K-12 educators. Each fund supports a specific subject area, or addresses a need facing K-12 educators and students. They currently have seven Spotlight Funds: Arts, Inclusive Classroom, Indigenous Language Fund, Natural Disaster Relief, Racial Equity in Schools, Social-Emotional Wellness, and STEM.
Deadline: 2024-2025 Spotlight Fund grant application due dates:
November 5th, 2024 – Arts Fund
November 5th, 2024 – Inclusive Classroom
February 3, 2025 – Racial Equity in Schools
May 8, 2025 – STEM
May 8, 2025 – Social Emotional Wellness
Maximum Award: $500-$1,000 per educator, and about $5,000 per school
WRITE AN AWESOME APPLICATION
How do I write a grant proposal? Candid Learning features tons of useful online grant-writing courses. Many of the courses are free and self-paced, and they’re designed to help anyone write more effective proposals. Great, free courses for beginners include Introduction to Proposal Writing and Proposal Budgeting Basics.
Three top tips for writing grant proposals.
10 Key Ingredients of Winning Proposals: Looking for ways to make your application stand out? Mathilda Harris, the director of the Grant Training Center, provides tips and ideas on what to include in your grant proposal.