Verizon Foundation Invites Louisiana Nonprofits to Apply for Grants to Support Literacy Programs

The Verizon Foundation is inviting nonprofits in Louisiana to apply for a total of $50,000 in grants to support literacy programs.

Organizations may submit proposals for projects that enhance GED and/or adult literacy programs; support pre-K and/or K-12 literacy programs; use resources from the Thinkfinity Literacy Network for programs for families and adult learners; improve literacy skills for a particular group or individuals; and target underresourced communities.

To be eligible, a grant applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Louisiana. All grant applications must be submitted through the Verizon Foundation's Web site using invitation code LALiteracy.

Range: Up to $50,000 is available to multiple organizations; the average awarded grant is typically $5,000 to $10,000

Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations.  Proposals will also be considered from elementary and secondary schools (public and private) that are registered with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Deadline: September 1, 2011

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Cash incentives for demonstrating the highest gains in the EPIC (Effective Practices Incentive Community)

In 2006, New Leaders for New Schools launched the Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC) to reward educators in schools making significant student achievement gains for sharing their effective practices so that other educators could learn from their success.

In addition, to receive an award, educators agree to share information about the practices that led to their significant student achievement gains. All members of the Consortium receive free access to the EPIC Knowledge System, a website where educators can find over 130 videos from EPIC award-winning schools, and over 1000 planning, assessment and evaluation documents. To set

up your account, go to www.epic.nlns.org.

EPIC is inviting charter school leaders to ensure your educators are eligible for financial incentives for the great work they are doing with children.

Eligible teachers in award winning schools receive $3,000 - $4,000 each. School leaders can compete for cash incentives as well.

EPIC is managed by New Leaders for New Schools. Contact Laina at 646-792-7868 or via email at CharterEPIC@nlns.org for more information.

Range: $5,000 to $12,000 for school leaders and $3,000 to $4,000 for teachers + cash stipends for early submission

Eligibility: Schools and CMO’s that have participated in a Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grant program in the past year or use End of Course exams are ineligible to participate in this program.
Deadline: Early submission deadline is September 30, 2011. Final deadline is October 31, 2011.

NOTE: Schools and CMO’s that have already received an award from the Teacher Incentive Fund or use End of Course exams are ineligible to participate in this program.

WHO Foundation: Women Helping Others

The WHO Foundation: Women Helping Others supports grassroots organizations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico that serve the overlooked needs of women and children. The Foundation provides grants of $1,000 to $40,000 for critical health programs and social services projects that give women and children the knowledge and tools they need to improve their lives. Examples of funded programs include food and shelter for the homeless, healthcare for the poor, after-school programs, career training for under-employed women, positive programs for young girls, and domestic violence prevention programs. Eligible organizations must have been incorporated for a minimum of three years. (The Foundation will consider funding projects of an original or pioneering nature within an existing organization.) Applications are due on September 6, 2011. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the application criteria and download the application form.

Range: $1,000 to $40,000
Eligibility: Organizations must have been incorporated for a minimum of three years.

Deadline: September 6, 2011

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Kids In Need Foundation Offers Teacher Grants for Creative Classroom Projects


An annual initiative of the Kids In Need Foundation, the Kids In Need Teacher Grants program provides grants to K-12 educators working to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. The grants are funded by retail and education credit union sponsors. Teacher grant applications will be judged according to a rubric that emphasizes innovativeness and merit, clarity of objectives, replication feasibility, suitability of evaluation methods, and cost effectiveness. Projects may qualify for funding if they make creative use of common teaching aids, approach the curriculum from an imaginative angle, or tie non-traditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities.

Range: $100 to $500
Eligibility: K-12 Educators

Deadline: September 30, 2011

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Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant Program

The Toolbox for Education Grant Program, offered by Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, provides grants of $2,000 to $5,000 to public K-12 schools and school parent-teacher groups associated with public schools throughout the U.S. that develop projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit. Preference is given to funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) and landscaping/clean up projects. This year the program is seeking ways to provide the tools that help educators and parent groups through these challenging times efficiently and with the greatest impact. Therefore, basic needs will take priority. The fall 2011 application deadline is October 14; however, if 1,500 applications are received before the application deadline, then the application process will close. Visit the program’s website to submit an online application.

Range: $2,000-$5,000
Eligibility: Public K-12 schools and school parent-teacher groups associated with public schools throughout the U.S.

Deadline: October 14, 2011 or when 1,500 applications are submitted.

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Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy: National Grant Program


The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy’s National Grant Program seeks to initiate or expand projects designed to support the development of literacy skills for adult primary caregivers and their children. The program provides grants for instructional literacy programs throughout the United States that have been in existence at least two years. Funded programs must include one or more of the following components: literacy education for adults, parent education, literacy or pre- literacy instruction for children pre-K to grade 3, and intergenerational activities in which the parents/primary caregivers and children read and learn together. A total of $650,000 will be awarded for grants of up to $65,000. The application deadline is September 9, 2011. Application guidelines and forms are available on the Foundation's website.

Range: Up to $65,000
Eligibility: Program must have already been in operation for 2 years.

Deadline: September 9, 2011

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Lexus and Scholastic Launch Fourth Annual Environmental Contest for Middle and High School Students

Grants of up to $40,000 will be awarded to middle and high schoolers, their teachers, and their schools in recognition of student-led efforts to address environmental issues in their communities.

The registration window for Challenge One (Land/Water) is September 26, 2011 through October 31, 2011. The registration window for Challenge Two (Air/Climate) is November 7, 2011 through December 19, 2011.

Each of the two challenges will have sixteen winning teams — eight middle school and eight high school teams. The winning teams will each receive a total of $10,000 in scholarships and grants to be shared among the students, teacher, and school. All winning teams will then face off in the “Final Challenge” where they will be competing for up to $30,000 in additional funding.


Range: Up to $40,000
Eligibility: Middle and high schools students

Deadline: Various

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American Association of School Librarians Announces Continued Funding for School

Library Disaster Relief Program

Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to public schools that are located in Dollar General service or corporate areas and that have been affected by natural disasters, fire, or acts of terrorism. Priority will be given to students impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The fund will provide grants to public schools whose school library program has been affected by a disaster. Grants are to replace or supplement books, media and/or library equipment in the school library setting.

Range: $5,000 to $15,000
Eligibility: Public schools with preference given to students impacted by Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

Deadline: Rolling

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Louis Calder Foundation Invites Letters of Inquiry for Core Curriculum Education Programs

Grants will be awarded to charter and parochial schools working to strengthen K-8 curriculums in literature, history, mathematics and the sciences; the foundation will now support organizations as far west as the Mississippi River.

The Louis Calder Foundation, a private foundation located in New Canaan, Connecticut, invites charter and parochial schools to submit preliminary information on their plans/initiatives to develop/enhance efforts to adopt/strengthen comprehensive, sequenced, content-rich core curricula that build general knowledge in grades K-8.