As we begin this new year, we need to look at the grant possibilities – those currently open but will quickly close in the coming months, and funding that will be made available throughout 2022. To do this, I’ve compiled a list of grant funding possibilities that includes the funding source and website, the purpose of the grant, areas covered by the grant, funding size, and other information.  

The list is not exhaustive and there may be grant possibilities not on the list that you would like to know more about. In that case, contact your school/district representative and a member of our team will make contact to sort out needs, estimate costs, and develop a plan for the resources requested – free of charge. We are also an integrator for these grants so through our partners, we can help you find what is needed to qualify for the grant application. The key to obtaining the funds your school or district needs is to focus on the type of grant possibility. Our team will match your needs with the purpose of a grant – we will work together as an action team! 

Grants and Funding Information 

• Description:  

• • ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief)  
  • GEER (Governors’ Emergency Education Relief)  
  • HEER (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund)  

• • EANS (Emergency Assistance to Non Public Schools)  
  • located on your State DOE sites and DOE sites and in your E-Grants site 

• Grant Name(s):  

• • ESSER I, II, III 
  • GEER I, II, III 

• • EANS I, II, III 
  • HEER I, II, III 

• For more information: 

• • National Conference of State Legislatures Site: https://www.ncsl.org/ncsl-in-dc/standing-committees/education/cares-act-elementary-and-secondary-school-emergency-relief-fund-tracker.aspx  
  • U.S. Department of Education – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/heerfinstitutional.html  

• • U.S. DoE – Education Stabilization Fund: https://covid-relief-data.ed.gov/  

• Eligible organizations: K-12, universities (non-profit, public, and profit), states  
• Grant/Funding start date and forecast: 2020 – 2023 

• • Funds must be obligated by December 30, 2023; some states have started their funding and others have closed application window 
  • Most states have ESSER and GEER III funding available now 

• Grant purpose: In addition to COVID-19 related areas, the funding covers educational needs and all safety issues.  

• • Activities to address unique needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, foster youth.  
  • Develop and implement procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of LEA (Local Education Agency). Includes sanitation, purchase of supplies and sanitizing facilities, planning for closures, educational services. 
  • Purchase educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) for students served by LEA including low-income and IDEA. 
  • Provide mental health services and supports. 

• • Plan and implement summer learning and supplemental afterschool activities. 
  • School facility repairs and improvements to enable operation of schools to reduce risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards, and to support student health needs inspection, testing, maintenance,  repair, replacement, and upgrade projects to improve the indoor air quality in school facilities, including mechanical and non-mechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, filtering, purification and other air cleaning, fans, control systems, and window and door repair and replacement. 
  • Provide principals and other school leaders with resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools. 
  • Other activities necessary to maintain the operations and continuity of services in the LEA and employ existing staff of the LEA. 

• Grant Funding size (Total & Per Award estimate): Dependent on per allocation for districts (i.e., Title 1). 

• Duration: 3 years beginning Dec. 2023 in most cases 
• Competitive/Non-Competitive: Non-Competitive 

• • If the district or state agrees, funding arrives within 30 to 90 days. 

• Other comments: This program can be found on your state grant platforms or directly from your District to designated administrator – Most of the time rolled up as priorities by the district but can be straight to the state or federal system under EANS or HEER – check with your State DOE platforms or Grant platforms. 

• Description: The FCC launched a $7.17 Billion ECF to help schools and libraries close the Homework Gap by providing funds to offset costs related to the purchase of laptop and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connectivity. 
• Grant name(s): Emergency Connectivity Fund (Windows 1, 2 and forecasted 3) 
• For more information: https://www.fcc.gov/     

• • To apply: https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do   

• Eligible organizations: K-12 schools (private, public); must have SAM number and DUNS number 

• • For information on obtaining these: 

• • • https://sam.gov/content/home  
    • https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fcc-registration-system-cores/commission-registration-system-video-tutorials    

• • • https://www.usac.org/e-rate/applicant-process/applying-for-discounts/fcc-form-471-filing/  

• Grant/Funding start date and forecast: Grant has had two windows that ended in October 2021; The program still has $1B available of the $7B in the ARPA-funded effort (under COVID-19 Relief Act) 
• Grant purpose: To fund connectivity for schools and purchase devices 
• Grant Funding size (Total & Per Award estimate): There is no limit but generally follows Title 1 guidelines per student; must fit criteria justification as no reserves can be purchased but will replace End of Life systems 

• Duration: Purchase must be complete by December 2023 under the last windows 
• Competitive/Non-Competitive: Non-Competitive but ends when funding is finished 
• Other comments: This program is run by the FCC so there are procedures required through the E-Rate system. Obtain the SAM and DUNs along with the FCC registration, then complete a 471 with the request and justification. If the organization is already E-RATE approved, the E-RATE designee can take care of it the process. 

• Description: The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance the design and development of STEM learning opportunities in informal environments for all ages. The AISL program supports six types of projects: 

• • Pilots and feasibility studies 
  • Research in service to practice 
  • Innovations in development 
  • Broad implementation 
  • Literature reviews, syntheses, or meta-analyses 
  • Conferences 

• Grant Name: Advancing Informal STEM Learning (NSF 21-599) 
• For more information: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf21599  
• Eligible organizations: Unrestricted (please find more information on link) 
• Grant/Funding start date and forecast: application deadline is January 18, 2022 
• Grant purpose: The AISL program - 

• • seeks to advance innovative approaches to and evidence-based understanding of the design and development of STEM learning opportunities for the public in informal environments; 
  • provide multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences; 
  • advance innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments; and 
  • engage the public of all ages in learning STEM in informal environments. 

• Grant Funding size: between $150,000 to $3 Million 
• Duration: unknown 

• Description: Jobs in the STEM fields are expected to grow significantly, reflecting the importance of STEM knowledge for the U.S. Economy. 
• Grant Name: Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education and Human Resources (NSF 21-579) 
• For more information: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf21579  
• Eligible organizations: All institutions of higher education and associated organizations 
• Grant/Funding start date and forecast: application deadline is January 19, 2022 
• Grant purpose: The NSF plays a leadership role in the development and implementation of enhanced and improved STEM education in the U.S. Through the NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) initiative, the agency continues to make a commitment to the highest quality undergraduate STEM education through a Foundation-wide framework of investments. NSF places a high value on educating students to be leaders and innovators in the rapidly emerging and changing STEM fields. 
• Grant Funding size: between $300,000 to $3M 
• Duration: between 2-5 years 

Note: For more funding opportunities, go to Grants.gov. Check back on this site often as  more funding opportunities are posted. 

• Description: The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to States, units of local government, or Indian tribes to improve school security via evidence-based school safety programs. 
• Grant Name: SVPP 
• For more information: https://cops.usdoj.gov/svpp  
• Eligible organizations: States, Schools – Public and Non-Profit, police departments, and LEAs 
• Grant/Funding start date and forecast: The FY21 SVPP was closed on July 1, 2021. Expectation is for a new window to begin February 2022. 

• Grant purpose: SVPP funding provides up to 75% funding for the following safety measures in and around K-12 schools/grounds: 

• • Coordination with law enforcement 
  • Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self 
  • Metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures 
  • Technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency 

• • Any other measure that the COPS Office determines may provide a significant improvement in security 

• Grant Funding size (Total & Per Award estimate): $54M with a $500K limit 
• Duration: 3 years 
• Competitive/Non-Competitive: Competitive; usually 4 out of 10 applications selected 
• Other comments: This program tends to fund areas heavy on equipment needs with some training, although Threat Awareness and mental health issues are factors 

• DHS (Department of Homeland Security): https://www.dhs.gov/  
• DOH (Department of Health, by state) 
• DOE (Department of Education): https://www.ed.gov/  
• NIJ (National Institute of Justice): https://nij.ojp.gov/  
• HHS (Department of Health and Human Services): https://www.hhs.gov/  

• FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): https://www.fema.gov/  
• DOD (United States Department of Defense): https://www.defense.gov/  
• ONR (Office of Naval Research): https://www.onr.navy.mil/  
• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): https://www.cdc.gov/  
• Description: check each site’s Grants page for information on available funding and requirements for each 

• Grant Name (click on each organization’s Grants page): Grants vary from covering STEM to education-related support, specific to a range of areas such as low-income and historically disadvantaged, although not limited to these.  

• • DHS (Department of Homeland Security): https://www.dhs.gov/find-and-apply-grants  
  • DOH (Department of Health, by state) 
  • DOE (Department of Education): https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grants-apply.html?src=pn  
  • NIJ (National Institute of Justice): https://nij.ojp.gov/funding  

• • HHS (Department of Health and Human Services): https://www.hhs.gov/grants/index.html  
  • FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): https://www.fema.gov/grants  
  • ONR (Office of Naval Research): https://www.onr.navy.mil/en/work-with-us/funding-opportunities  
  • CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): https://www.cdc.gov/grants/index.html  

• For more information: (see above) 

• Eligible organizations: All organizations are eligible from profit to non-profit. Most educational institutions are the lead for these grants and involve levels of research from reporting to analysis. Applications require the lead organization to have a SAM and DUNS number which is needed for acceptance of all federal funding. 
• Grant/Funding start date and forecast: The grants follow application cycles starting in January through November. It can take between three to six months to find out if an award was granted. Start dates are often October 1 in the year applied. 
• Grant purpose: Ranges from all types of education and learning support, STEM, safety, mental health concerns, etc. 
• Grant Funding size (Total & Per Award estimate): can range from $100K to $3M 
• Duration: Usually three years but can last up to five years 

• Competitive/Non-Competitive: Competitive 
• Other comments: These types of grants have a process that often allows for white papers to establish the area of concern, and the Grantor will give feedback on areas to stress on the application. The Grantor can also invite you to apply. Contact the Grants personnel for more information. 

Private Grants for STEM and Education – non-profit and public schools 

• Grants information: https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/grants 
• The Foundation’s approach to grantmaking focuses on making an impact to improve lives in three major areas: improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in their home region of Arkansas. 

• Grants information: ALDI Smart Kids Program - https://corporate.aldi.us/en/corporate-responsibility/aldi-smart-kids/  
• ALDI partners with organizations that make a positive impact on kids’ health and well-being, food insecurity and diversity, and equity and inclusion programs. The ALDI Smart Kids site includes information on guidelines and eligibility. 

• Grants information: https://www.barneyfamilyfoundation.org/grants.html  
• The Foundation’s focus is primarily early education and health research. To apply for a grant, the organization must provide evidence of federal tax exemption issues by the IRS under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

• Grants information: https://www.costco.com/charitable-giving.html  
• Organizations must follow three general requirements in applying for funds: 

• Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization 
• Focus on supporting children, education, and/or health and human services 
• Monetary requests only 

• Grants information: https://www.cummins.com/company/global-impact/corporate-responsibility/community-support  
• The Foundation provides grants worldwide to nonprofit partners to support communities in which Cummins employees live and work. In the U.S., the Foundation will consider and award grants only to tax-exempt organizations as defined by Section 501(c)(3).  

• Grants information: http://www.corningfoundation.org/how-we-give/how-we-give-grants/  
• Corning Incorporated Foundation makes direct cash grants available each year in three categories – education, human services, and culture. Most grants are awarded to community-based programs where Corning has a strong presence. 

While this is a lot to take in, the information provides a good idea of what funding is available. Also remember that individual states offer several opportunities to apply for education funds and resources. Our Boxlight grants team will work with you by focusing on your location and overall needs to research opportunities suited to your organization. For more information on how we can help, go to boxlight.com.