Step 1: Gather Information/Conduct a Needs Assessment
What do you want funded and why? Some foundations give money for general operating expenses, but most want to give towards a specific, special project. Establish a planning committee with a variety of stakeholders such as teachers, principals, parents, students, and community members to conduct a needs assessment and create a project plan. You should be able to closely link your intended project with identified needs of students and staff. Gather information on project costs, possible matching funds, other donor funds, etc.
Step 2: Find a Funding Source
Foundations are most likely to invest in organizations with similar philosophies and missions. The more your project has in common with the foundation, the better. For example, a Christian education foundation located in Minneapolis is most likely to fund Christian schools in Minnesota. Think of each similarity as a point. The more “points,” the more likely the foundation will be interested in your proposed project. Look for foundations with ties to your school’s geographical area or that have an interest in the content area you wish to fund.
Many foundations have a website, so use your favorite Internet search engine to search for “foundation grants.” You can narrow down the search by including your state or city name. There are also numerous subscription-based grant search sites.
Step 3: Approach Funding Sources
Most applicants’ first contact with a foundation is through a short letter of intent or inquiry (LOI), usually about 3 pages long. Since foundations must read many proposals, your LOI should be brief, but interesting and compelling. Be sure to take the time to customize your LOI for every foundation you approach. The letter should demonstrate how your project aligns to that particular foundation’s mission and values. Always follow any stated LOI requirements from a foundation, but in general, here is an easy way to structure your LOI: Compelling summary of project, 1–2 sentences long Explanation of needs that will be addressed Summary of how needs will be addressed Overview of organization Budget (inclusion will vary by foundation)
Here are a few foundations to investigate for a potential match to your project plans. Be sure to note any regional preferences and read the website carefully to determine whether to contact a foundation.
General K-12 Education
| Foundation |
Regional Preference |
Average Awards |
Website |
| Build a Bear Workshop Foundation |
National |
$1,500 |
More Info |
| Hearst Foundation |
National |
$127,000 |
More Info |
| American Savings Foundation |
Connecticut, especially New Britain or Waterbury, CT |
$250 to $202,000 |
More Info |
| Abell-Hanger Founmdation |
West Texas |
$5000 to $175,000 |
More Info |
| BJ’s Charitable Foundation |
CT, DE, FL, GA, MA, ME, MD, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, VA |
$10,000 to $290,0000 |
More Info |
Early Childhood
| Foundation |
Regional Preference |
Average Awards |
Website |
| W.K. Kellogg Foundation |
Nationally, with emphases on Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans |
Highest award has been $16 million |
More Info |
| Harry W. Bass Foundation |
Dallas, Texas |
$1,000 to $15,000 |
More Info |
| Bella Vista Foundation |
San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. |
$30,000 to $150,000 |
More Info |
| Mary Black Foundation |
Spartanburg County, SC |
$25,000 to $150,000 |
More Info |
| Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation |
Colorado |
$20,000 to $428,000 |
More Info |
Personalized learning environments
| Foundation |
Regional Preference |
Average Awards |
Website |
| Cabot Corporation Foundation |
giving primarily in Alpharetta, GA, Tuscola, Il, Franklin, and Ville Platte, LA, Billerica, Boston, and Haverhill, MA, Midland, MI, Boyertown, PA, Pampa, and The Woodlands, TX |
Up to $350,000 |
More Info |
| Dell Foundation |
Nationally |
$500 to several million dollars |
More Info |
| Ford Foundation |
Nationally |
$300,000 to $2 million |
More Info |
| JP Morgan Foundation |
AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MN, MO, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX, UT, WA, WI, and WV, with emphasis on NY |
Up to $5 million |
More Info |
| Verizon Foundation |
National, with some emphasis on CA, NY, and DC |
$4,000 to $3 million |
More Info |
| Next Generation Learning Challenge |
National, focused on blended learning in secondary schools |
Varies by grant program |
More Info |
STEM
| Foundation |
Regional Preference |
Average Awards |
Website |
| American Honda Foundation |
Nationally, with some emphasis on CA |
$20,000 to $75,000 |
More Info |
| Bayer USA |
Berkeley and Northern CA, Shawnee KS, Sheffield MA, Kansas City MO, Raleigh-Durham NC, northern NJ, Tarrytown NY, Newark OH, Greater Pittsburgh PA, Baytown TX, Houston TX, Institute WV, New Martinsville WV, and South Charleston WV |
$50 to $1.5 million |
More Info |
| Carnegie Corporation |
Nationally |
Up to $3 million |
More Info |
| Kinder Morgan |
AL, CO, TX |
Up to $44,000 |
More Info |
| Motorola |
Emphasis on CA, Washington, DC, FL, GA, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, TX |
$15,000 to $250,000 |
More Info |
| Northrop Grumman Foundation |
Nationally |
Up to $200,000 |
More Info |
| Piedmont Natural Gas |
NC, SC, and TN |
Requests over $10,000 must be board approved |
More Info |
| 3M Foundation |
Emphasis on St Paul, MN and Austin, TX |
Varies by grant program |
More Info |
| Anderson Corporate Foundation |
Washington County, MN and portions of Western WI. Secondarily, the East Metro area of St. Paul. Also, Menomonie, WI; Des Moines, IA; Dubuque, IA; Page County, VA; Marion, OH and North Brunswick, NJ |
$1,500 to $100,000 |
More Info |
Catholic Schools
| Foundation |
Regional Preference |
Average Awards |
Website |
| Big Shoulders Fund |
Catholic schools in inner city Chicago |
Not available |
More Info |
| Connelly Foundation |
Catholic schools in/near Philadelphia and Camden, NJ |
$100 to $750,000 |
More Info |
| Lynch Foundation |
Massachusetts |
$90,000 to $100,000 |
More Info |
| Hannon Foundation |
Los Angeles |
$100 to $625,000 |
More Info |
| Westerman Foundation |
National |
$50,000 maximum |
More Info |
| E.L. Wiegand Foundation |
AZ, ID, NV, OR, UT and WA |
$50,000 to $500,000 |
More Info |
Protestant Schools
| Foundation |
Regional Preference |
Average Awards |
Website |
| CDV Foundation |
Western Michigan, especially Grand Rapids |
$500 to $2 million |
More Info |
| Clark and Nancy Bonner Foundation |
CA and OR |
$100 to $750,000 |
– |
| The Ryrie Foundation |
National |
$3,000 to $20,000 |
More Info |
| A.T. & Mary H. Blades Foundation |
Eastern Maryland |
$10,000 to $90,000 |
More Info |
Jewish Schools
| Foundation |
Regional Preference |
Average Awards |
Website |
| Covenant Foundation |
Jewish schools in North America |
$20,000 to $50,000 |
More Info |
| Charles H. Revson Foundation |
CA and OR |
$100 to $750,000 |
More Info |
| Ahavas Yisroel Charitable Foundation |
Miami Beach, FL and Brooklyn and New Square, NY |
$2,500 to $250,000 |
– |
| Aufzien Foundation, Inc |
New York City, Washington DC, NJ, and PA |
$500 to $200,000 |
More Info |
| The Rockwern Charitable Foundation |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
$10,000 to $230,000 |
More Info |
| Jewish Education Innovation Challenge via Mayberg Foundation |
Middle/high schools |
Up to $50,000 |
– |
