1.

Look for teacher grants

• Some popular grants include the Fund for Teachers program, Thank America’s Teachers from
Farmer’s Insurance and Lowe’s Toolbox for Education. Trying to get funding for furniture items?
Start with Stand Up Kids, an organization working to get every public school child a standing desk
within the next 10 years as a way to combat sedentary lifestyles and inactivity. For other ways to get
funding for furniture, look for words like “classroom supplies” or “innovative learning” where you
can interpret it to meet your needs. For instance, this grant from NewSchools says they “invest in
entrepreneurs and teams of educators whose bold ideas have the potential to help students reach
their highest aspirations.” There’s been a lot of research about how classroom design and setup
impacts learning, so don’t be afraid to go big!
2
• Are you a math teacher? Science
teacher? Oftentimes you can find
grants by focusing on your subject
area. For instance, the National
Science Teachers Association lists
grants specifically available for their
members. Another one is the Toshiba
grant, which targets science and
math teachers for grades K–
5. Grants for Teachers is a great site
where you can search by grade,
3
subject area, state and more!
If you have a special classroom or school request, be sure to talk with your PTA. They
often have funds that are completely separate from the school or district, so they
can use their own discretion on how to spend it. Tanya McGrury has been a PTA
president for four years at an elementary school in Las Vegas, Nevada, and her first
piece of advice to teachers looking toward the PTA for funding is to just come to a
meeting. “Bring examples of what you’re looking for, along with the costs and a few
different options,” McGrury says. “This way we can discuss it as a group and ask the
teacher any questions we might have. It’s also helpful to know why it would benefit a
classroom or how it’s helpful to the teacher.”
4
If you have an idea that will better your classroom
and students, consider approaching your school
board—with permission from your principal or
supervisor, of course. Most school board
members are easy to approach and welcome the
chance to hear from teachers.
Teachers should feel free to reach out directly to
board members. You can usually find the email
addresses on the district website, or try contacting
someone through social media.
I recommend coming to a board meeting just to
get a feel for how they’re run. Then prepare your
case. For instance, if you want alternative seating,
know what the research says and be prepared to
prove the benefits.

5

Because companies like to give back to
their own communities, it can help to
look at local funding opportunities. You
can look at the city level, like the rotary
club or local government grants, or at
companies based in your state. For
example, Target has grants only for
Minnesota schools because that’s
where the company is headquartered.
Insurance companies and banks also
often invest heavily in local schools.
Again, try the Grants for
Teachers website for state-specific
grants. You can also check with your
local United Way—they will likely be
able to point you in the right direction
Corporate Giving Programs: NV
Many corporations feel a sense of responsibility to give
back. The following corporations have either direct giving
programs, foundations, sponsorship programs, in-kind
donations, product donations, volunteer programs, or
matching gift programs. More detailed information about
corporate foundations, including areas of interest, types of
funding, and application procedures can be found
on GrantDomain.
Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Marnell Companies
MGM Resorts International
Nevada Power Company
Sierra Pacific Resources
Southwest Gas Corporation
6
If

u If you have an idea on how you want to give your classroom a makeover, think about
raising the funds yourself to prove out the concept. Bake sale, anyone? This might be
the jump-start you need to get additional funding. For example, if you’re trying to get
stand-up desks or new technology like iPads, you might have to start with just one.
Then document the impact it had on your class through videos, photos and overall
numbers. This will help you develop a strong case when you’re trying to get money for
grants and from companies.
7
 7. Try crowdfunding

In this day and age, there are plenty of ways to take

fundraising online. The best-known option is DonorsChoice
where you can post a project and solicit donations from
acquaintances and strangers alike. Another crowdfunding
source to check out is AdoptAClassroom.org. You register
your class online, add a few details and then wait for your
classroom to get adopted. Hint: The more information and
photos you can provide about your needs, the more likely
you’ll get your request fulfilled.