FUNDING & GRANTS

ION's goal is to provide resources and funding opportunities for organizations and individuals who are working to provide quality educational and enrichment experiences for children and youth during after-school and non-school hours. Whether you run a homework help program, a sports league, an arts and crafts workshop, or any other type of out-of-school program, we are here to help you find the support you need to make a positive impact in your community. Explore our site to learn more about the grants and other funding options available, and don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or to share your own experiences and insights.

Choose a Grant Type
ION AWARDS

THINK MAKE CREATE MINI GRANT

This grant is for  TMC Lab hosts to replenish supplies and materials for the trailer.  Funds are meant to improve access, quality, and equity in evidence based STEM across Idaho.  Requests up to $500 - $10,000 will be considered.

Application Status: Open year round

Idaho Out-of-School Network | School Year Enrichment Grant

Applications are closed

Deadline: June 16

The School Year Enrichment Grant is intended to address unfinished learning and improve the quality of out-of-school time (OST) opportunities across Idaho for youth in grades K-12. The grant is dedicated to supporting organizations that provide evidence-based programming that delivers academic, social, and emotional learning for students. This funding supports Local Education Agencies (LEA), and Community-Based Organizations (CBO) that operate out-of-school time (OST) programming during the 2023 and 2024 school year.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (Click here to download)

Awards Announced: July 10, 2023

 

Applications are closed

Option III Deadline: March 27

The Summer of Innovation Grant is intended to address unfinished learning and improve the quality of out-of-school time (OST) opportunities across Idaho for youth in grades K-12. The grant is dedicated to supporting organizations that provide evidence-based programming that delivers academic, social, and emotional learning for students. This funding supports Local Education Agencies (LEA), and Community-Based Organizations (CBO) that operate out-of-school time (OST) programming during the 2023 and 2024 summer.

The Idaho Out-of-School Network Summer of Innovation Grant is being offered with funds received from the Idaho State Board of Education and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 (March 11, 2021).

YEAR 1 FINAL REPORT  (Click here to open)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (Click here to open)

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

IDAHO AWARDS

Idaho Botanical Garden Lunaria Grant

Description: The Lunaria Grant from the Idaho State Botanical Garden allows nonprofits, government agencies, homeowner associations, and schools to benefit their community by offering botanical-based education.

Award Amount: $300 - $1500

Deadline: First Friday of February 2023

Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, government agencies, registered homeowner associations, and schools

 

 

 

 

 

Idaho Forest Products Commission Forest Education Grant

Description: The Idaho Forest Products Commission is pleased to offer Forest Education Grants to educate Idaho youth. We invite proposals for projects that help youth learn more about Idaho's trees, forests and forest products. Special consideration will be given to projects that get youth out in a forest; in contact with a logger, forester or other natural resource worker; or into a facility that grows trees, or processes or uses wood products (e.g. sawmill, paper mill, furniture maker, building site, lumberyard, box maker, etc.).

Award Amount: $250

Deadline: Applications accepted year-round. Applications received by March 15 will be considered for April 1-March 31 projects. All applicants will be notified of decisions by March 31.

 

 

Idaho STEM Action Center Grants

Description: The Idaho STEM Action Center is a great resource for STEM funding in your program. They offer many different grants throughout the year. Check back regularly for new grant opportunities.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: Varies

Eligibility: Out-of-state applicants and/or private/parochial organizations are ineligible

 

Nagel Foundation Grants: Southwest Idaho Only

Description: The Nagel Foundation supports qualified 501(c)(3) charities in southwest Idaho in the areas of basic needs, education, and youth programs. The selection of grant recipients is based primarily on need.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: October 31st annual deadline

Eligibility: Qualified 501)c)(3) tax exempt organizations

 

Idaho National Laboratory

Description: INL offers a variety of grants including statewide mini grants, Southeast Idaho Extreme Classroom Makeover Grants, and East Idaho Ultimate STEM Grants.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: Begins accepting grant applications in November

Contact: Brenda Greenhalgh, brenda.greenhalgh@inl.gov

 

New York Life Foundation

Aim High: Supporting Out-of-School Time Programs Serving Middle School Youth

The RFP is due Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. ET

Overview

On behalf of the New York Life Foundation, the Afterschool Alliance invites out-of-school time programs to apply for a competitive grant opportunity to support and bolster the ability of afterschool and summer learning programs to help prepare middle school students for success in high school, college, and life.

Eligibility requirements:

  • 501(c)(3) status. Applicants for this competitive grant program must have 501(c)(3) status. You will be required to verify your EIN as a part of the application.
  • Middle school youth (6th, 7th, 8th graders) served. This competitive grant program is targeted to programs serving middle school students in grades 6, 7 and 8.Organizations applying for funding may serve students outside of this grade range but grant funds are specifically for middle school youth. 
  • High percentage of low-income youth served. Applicants for this competitive grant program must serve a high percentage—at least 75 percent—of low-income youth. For the purposes of this grant program, “low-income” is defined as students who qualify for the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program (FRPL).
  • Disqualifications:

Applicants that currently receive funding, either directly or indirectly, from the New York Life Foundation are ineligible to apply. This includes:

  • National or regional organizations that receive New York Life Foundation funding directly.
  • Local affiliate organizations or programs that receive any financial support from their national headquarters that originates from New York Life Foundation grants.
  • Current recipients of Aim High grant funds.
  • Schools (public and private) and school districts are ineligible to apply.
  • Colleges and universities are ineligible to apply.

AWARD/CONTEST

ACCELERATOR AWARDS

The Lewis Prize for Music is now accepting 2024 Accelerator Awards applications. Accelerator Awards are open to Creative Youth Development (CYD) music organizations seeking to influence youth-serving systems so all young people have access to learning, creating, and performing experiences that reflect their culture and identity.

Multi-year awards of $500,000 each will be awarded in January 2024. By applying for the Accelerator Awards, organizations are also eligible for funding ranging from $15,000 to $75,000.

Deadline to Apply: June 2, 2023

NATIONWIDE CALL FOR STUDENT PERFORMING ARTISTS

The U.S. Department of Education issued a “call” across the United States and its territories for student performing artists interested in showcasing their talent, virtually or in-person, at internal and external Department-hosted events. They are now seeking specific talent by student performing artists who may be involved in summer learning and afterschool programs to be considered for events at the U.S. Department of Education, including events for the Engage Every Student initiative. Performance opportunities can include, and are not limited to, bands/marching bands, color guards, drumlines, soloists, choirs, dancers, singers, poets/spoken word artists, and theatrical performers.

GARDEN/AGRICULTURE

4 H Clober

4-H GRANTS AND AWARDS

Description: National 4‑H Council grants give young people and adults the opportunity to take on issues critical to their lives, families, and communities. Youth and adults work together to design the project, write the proposal, and evaluate funded projects. The grants are offered to 4‑H programs in local communities, counties, and states.

Grant deadlines are determined in conjunction with our funding partners. Once a particular grant is announced, grant proposals are normally solicited for a four- to eight-week period. Grants are awarded to 4‑H Extension groups and are not available to individuals.

WHOLE KIDS FOUNDATION GARDEN GRANT PROGRAM

Whole Kids Foundation knows that the more kids know and feel connected to their food, the more curious they become about how things grow or taste, and the more willing they are to try new foods. This is why they believe in edible garden learning spaces! Their Garden Grant program provides a $3,000 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden at either a (1) K–12 School (2) 501(c)(3) Non-profit working in partnership with a K–12 school (3) 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Deadline to Apply: March

SEED MONEY GARDEN GRANTS

Each year, SeedMoney offers challenge grants to diverse food garden projects through a 30-day crowdfunding challenge running from Nov 15 to Dec 15. Our grants are open to all types of public food garden projects (youth gardens, community gardens, food bank gardens, etc.) regardless of their location.
Deadline to Apply: November

GRANTS FOR YOUTH

Karma for Cara Foundation Microgrants

Description: Microgrants are available to youth aged 18 and under to fund community service projects such as community gardens, rebuilding playgrounds, helping senior citizens, etc.

Award Amount: $1,000

Deadline: Quarterly: January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1

Eligibility: Kids aged 18 and under

Contact: k4microgrants@livingclassrooms.org

 

Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Mini-Grant

Description: Apply for a mini-grant to complete a service campaign for people, animals, or the environment.

Award Amount: $200

Deadline: Several deadlines throughout the year

 

Project Learning Tree Greenworks Grant

Description: This grant is for environmental service-learning projects that link classroom learning to the real world. Students will implement an action project they help design to green their school or to improve an aspect of their neighborhood's environment.

The projects partner students with their whole school, local businesses and/or community organizations, and provide opportunities for student leadership. The funds can be used by students to implement recycling programs at their school, conserve water and energy, establish school gardens and outdoor classrooms, improve a forest, or restore a natural habitat.

Youth Service America Grants

These grants support expanded opportunities for students in afterschool programs –  particularly those from low- and moderate-income communities – to learn civic and 21st Century skills by leading community service or service-learning projects, with many grantees planning activities for 9/11 Day of Service, MLK Day of Service, and Global Youth Service Day.

GENERAL

HEALTH/FITNESS

U.S. Soccer Foundation Safe Places to Play Grants

Description: The U.S. Soccer Foundation wants all children across the country to have the opportunity to play outside, particularly soccer. To that end, the Safe Places to Play grant seeks to transform unused community spaces into recreational havens for young people in underserved communities. Grants are intended to help organizations and communities cover the material costs of building those spaces in the categories of lighting, irrigation, construction, surfacing, and enhancement. Interested applicants must first submit a letter of interest before being asked to formally apply.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: 3 grant cycles per year

 

Adidas Corporate Giving Grants

Description: Adidas Group focuses on projects that address education, children and youth, sports within a social context, and preventive health activities. The group offers cash grants as well as in-kind donations of services and equipment. Previous grants were used to fund after-school literacy, service-learning initiatives, sports programs for underserved and economically challenged urban communities, and before-school physical activity programs for children aged 5 through 12.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: US nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and schools.

Let's Play Imagination Playground Grants

Description: KaBoom! supports organizations that build playgrounds for children and youth to ensure they have the opportunity to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. KaBoom! grants support community-inspired projects that engage the larger community in all aspects of project planning and playground build execution. Let’s Play Imagination Playground Grants encourage creativity, communication, and collaboration in play with a collection of custom-designed, oversized blue foam parts. Imagination Playground allows children to turn their playground into a space constantly built and rebuilt by their imagination.

Award Amount: Varies

Eligibility: Municipalities, schools, and child-serving nonprofit organizations

Contact: apply@kaboom.org

LITERACY

The Out-of-School Programming Grant offers libraries up to $3,000 to increase out-of-school learning programs for Idaho’s K-12 youth. Grant funds may be used in a variety of ways to deliver high-quality, research-based learning opportunities. This funding source aims to address learning loss among students related to the impact of reduced instructional time due to COVID-19. The Idaho Commission for Libraries invites public, school, and special libraries (including tribal) to apply. Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants meeting grant requirements.

Applicants should plan to use grant funds to improve learning and enrichment activities in ways that best suit their local communities. The following strategies could be successful:

MULTI-CATEGORY

National Geographic Society: COVID-19 Remote Learning Emergency Fund for Educators

Description: The National Geographic Society’s COVID-19 Remote Learning Emergency Fund for Educators supports individual educators, or an individual educator working in collaboration with other educators or National Geographic Explorers, to design instructional resources that help educators effectively teach in remote or hybrid learning environments. Grants are provided in the subject areas of science, social studies, and geography. Priority is given to educators working in communities that have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, and who have not previously received National Geographic funding. Visit the National Geographic website to download the Application Guidance document.

Award Amount: $1,000 to $8,000

Deadline: Closed until further notice

Eligibility: Eligible applicants are K-12 (formal or informal) teaching professionals worldwide who work directly with students in the classroom.

 

Exelon Grants

Description: Exelon funds programs that deliver measurable, sustainable improvements in the communities where Exelon has projects. They fund projects in the following four areas: education, environment, arts & culture, neighborhood development.

Award Amount: Varies

Deadline: Ongoing

Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations in the communities where Exelon employees and customers live and work. Idaho's Exelon locations

 

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize

Description: The Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize honors individuals who have demonstrated leadership in their fields and who show creativity, commitment, and extraordinary accomplishment in effecting positive social change.

Award Amount: $100,00- half to the winning individual and half to their organization

Deadline: Usually October of each year

Contact: sannings@grinnell.edu; 641.269.4940

 

STEM

ION STEM Funding Opportunities

Description: The Idaho Out-of-School Network offers resupply TMC Mini-Grants! Organizations owning or hosting TMC mobile makerspace labs are eligible to receive between $500 and $10,000 to resupply or operate quality STEM education programs, when funds are available.  Applications will be considered monthly. The deadline to apply is the first regular working day of each month.

 

 

 

STEM Action Center Funding Opportunities

Description: This site contains current funding opportunities from the  Idaho STEM Action Center and associated regional STEM Ecosystem including Idaho North and North Central Ecosystem, the Idaho South and East Ecosystem and the Southwest Idaho STEM Hub.

Funding is available for organizations and programs which help integrate STEM experiences, create problem-solvers and critical thinkers to sustain and lead Idaho's economy. Programs already funded through a STEM AC opportunity do not qualify for additional EcosySTEM Hub Sponsorship.

Program proposals are reviewed twice monthly.

 

 

Various STEM Learning Funding Opportunities

Description: This site contains current funding opportunities from the US government's National Science Foundation.  Programs  seeking to advance new 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 should search for awards here.

 

 

 

JOIN THE SEARCHABLE DIRECTORY OF YOUTH PROGRAMS

List your youth program for free on ION's searchable online database.
Families and youth are looking for out-of-school time options now.

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