Money Matters

Reaching Out to Public and Private Sources for Science Program Funds

If you're searching for ways to fund science programming, you may be surprised at the number of resources available. Let's start with the most obvious, the Web site of the National Science Foundation, or NSF: www.nsf.gov/home/programs/recent.cfm. Although many of the grants offered by NSF are highly technical and aimed at higher education researchers, scientists, and laboratories, there is also funding for K-12 education programming. For example, the Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program unites K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and other stakeholders in mathematics and science education. It is a major research and development effort, supporting innovative partnerships to improve K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science.

Another NSF program, with its own Web site, is the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching: www.paemst.org. This prestigious prize includes a monetary award of $10,000 in addition to other resources and opportunities. Each year, there are usually more than 100 such awards.

The National Science Teachers Association, NSTA, offers various awards, grants, and competitions. It's a diverse list—sponsored mostly by corporations—that can be viewed on NSTA's Web site at www.nsta.org/awardscomp.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, has a very popular grant program now in its 14th year. In April 2004, it awarded a total of $550,000 Toyota TAPESTRY grants to science teachers. The company offers other opportunities and resources, including recognition and development programs for teachers and competitions for students. For more information, check out www.toyota.com/about/community/education/index.html.

The American Honda Foundation also awards K-12 science-related grants. It has four deadlines per year and, unlike many private foundations, will consider grants for seed money and continuing program support. It also considers multiyear grants (up to two years), and grants for scholarships and fellowships. More information, guidelines, and applications can be found at www.hondacorporate.com/community/index.html?subsection=foundation.

Wells Fargo does grantmaking for K-12 schools in science in all five states in our region (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington). Each state handles its grant process separately. Go to the site and click on your state for the appropriate guidelines and information: www.wellsfargo.com/about/charitable/index.jhtml?_requestid=88301.

The Toshiba America Foundation offers science-related grants specifically in K-12 education, but divides its grantmaking into the categories of grades K-6 and 7-12. Individual grants for K-6 schools are up to $1,000; the grants for projects in grades 7-12 are in two categories, under and over $5,000. It is worth noting that the application process for the K-6 grants is very simple, with a form that's only about three pages long, including the cover sheet. See the Web site for the applications, guidelines and more information: www.toshiba.com/taf/index.html.

Do not overlook your state education department for funding for science programs. The state education department sites for our region are:

• Alaska Department of Education and Early Development:
  www.educ.state.ak.us
• Idaho State Department of Education:
  www.sde.state.id.us/Dept
• Oregon Department of Education:
  www.ode.state.or.us
• Montana Office of Public Instruction:
  www.opi.state.mt.us
• Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction:
  www.k12.wa.us

In addition to the state education departments and all of the private sources listed above, don't forget the federal government. To search the grants available in all the governmental departments, not only education, go to www.grants.gov/Find. If you use the advanced search feature you can specify science (or any other area) and search some or all of the governmental departments.

There are many more grants and resources out there in support of science programming. In addition, K-12 schools often find ways to partner with science-related departments at local colleges and universities to enhance existing curricula, provide interesting and stimulating field trips, and offer access to cutting-edge equipment and technology. These partnerships have great potential and also give the colleges and universities opportunities to work in public schools. It is wise to become familiar with and network with the colleges and universities in or near your school district.

— Jill R. Oppenheim
NWREL Resource Development Associate
oppenhej@nwrel.org

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