STEM Funding

Getting funding and long-term sustainability can feel daunting. We've put together resources specifically for STEM afterschool programs, that you'll find below.  Also you’ll find more tools in our Funding and Sustainability toolbox if you need more help getting started and planning for the future.

NOAA Office of Education - Funding Announcements and Competition Status

This link shows up to date funding announcements for NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Grants (ELG) and Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) programs. ELG are competitive national grants focused on creating an environmentally literate public that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the ocean, coasts, Great Lakes, weather and climate in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions. The B-WET program is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

NIEHS has fostered partnerships for science education since 1993. The purpose of the science education projects has been to improve overall academic performance as well as enhance students' comprehension of and interest in environmental health sciences. These programs provided teachers with opportunities for professional development so that they can use the curricular materials effectively in the classroom. Grantees have developed many innovative and engaging, standards-based curricular materials. Following are the past and current programs supported by NIEHS with a focus on K-12 environmental health science education.

NIH Office of Extramural Research – Funding Opportunities and Notices

The NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts is the official publication for NIH medical and behavioral research grant policies, guidelines and funding opportunities. NIH Guide announcements (PAs, RFAs and Notices) are published daily. See below for a description of each announcement type. At the end of each work week (usually on Friday afternoon), NIH transmits an e-mail to the NIH Guide LISTSERV with a Current Weekly Table of Contents (TOC), including links to announcements published during the week.

National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA)

NCRR encourages applications to its SEPA program for the development and evaluation of innovative research education programs to improve Pre K-12 research career opportunities and the community's understanding of the health science advances supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded clinical and basic research.  SEPA encourages dynamic partnerships between biomedical and clinical researchers and PreK-12 teachers and schools and other interested organizations. Particular importance will be given to applications that target Pre K-12 and/or ISE/media topics that may not be addressed by existing curriculum, community-based or ISE/media activities. SEPA K-12 programs provide educational resources, a supportive learning environment, near-peer mentoring and community involvement.  PreK-12 curriculum content must be inquiry-based, hands-on, biomedically relevant and rigorously evaluated.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - Science Education Awards This funding opportunity solicits applications from organizations that propose creative and innovative research education programs that will 1) increase the public’s understanding of biomedical research, or 2) encourage K-12 students to enter areas in biomedical science in the mission area(s) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Examples of appropriate Science Education projects include, but are not limited to, those listed below:

• K-12 curriculum that will increase student understanding and interest in science and the scientific method. 
• Professional development and/or research internship opportunities for K-12 teachers that deliver scientific content, an understanding of the scientific research process and pedagogical skills.  
• Science center and public outreach activities (e.g., Science Cafes and after school programs) that will educate students, teachers and the community on topical, health related research such as: HIV/AIDS, immune mediated diseases (including allergies and asthma), vaccines and their importance, and emerging and re-emerging infectious disease.

LIONS - Local Investigations of Natural Science

Local Investigations of Natural Science (LIONS)" engages grade 5-8 students from University City schools, Missouri in structured out-of-school programs that provide depth and context for their regular classroom studies. The programs are led by district teachers. A balanced set of investigations engage students in environmental research, computer modeling, and advanced applications of mathematics. Throughout, the artificial boundary between classroom and community is bridged as students use the community for their studies and resources from local organizations are brought into school. Through these projects, students build interest and awareness of STEM-related career opportunities and the academic preparation needed for success.

Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)

ITEST projects may include students or teachers, kindergarten through high school age, and any area of the STEM workforce.  Projects that explore cyberlearning, specifically learning with cyberinfrastructure tools such as networked computing and communications technologies in K-12 settings, are of special interest. The Strategies category seeks projects design, implement, and evaluate models for classroom, after-school, summer, virtual, and/or year-round learning experiences for students and/or teachers.  The strategies are intended to encourage students’ readiness for, and their interest and participation in, the STEM workforce of the future. Strategies project proposals must describe the anticipated contribution to the research knowledge base about STEM career preparation in addition to immediate impacts on participants.

Toyota Philanthropy

Education is the focus of Toyota's giving. In addition to funding national programs, Toyota supports the social well-being of communities where it has major operations (Alabama, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Texas and West Virginia). This includes assistance for Arts & Culture and Civic & Community Development, Health & Human Services. 

American Honda Foundation Grants
With the mission to help meet the needs of American society in the areas of youth and scientific education by awarding grants to nonprofits, while strategically assisting communities in deriving long-term benefits, the American Honda Foundation engages in grant making that reflects the basic tenets, beliefs and philosophies of Honda companies, which are characterized by the following qualities: imaginative, creative, youthful, forward-thinking, scientific, humanistic and innovative. We support youth education with a specific focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment.

Intel Schools of Distinction

This awards program is open to K–12 public, private, charter, and parochial schools in the United States,

Department of Defense Dependents schools, and Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. There are two categories for the 2011 Intel Schools of Distinction Award: mathematics and science. Programs for either math or science should be designed to ensure high levels of achievement for all students in all program areas. Among many other aspects, judges take into consideration for each school’s level of community involvement, level of collaboration/teamwork, and variety of instructional strategies incorporating such areas as critical-thinking skills, hands-on experiences, and project-based learning.

Motorola Innovation Generation Grants

The expanded Innovation Generation grants program features two distinct pre-K through 12^th grade funding areas: 1) Innovation Generation Grants  –  Support targeted, innovative STEM education programs for U.S. pre-school through 12th grade students and teachers, and 2) Innovation Generation Collaborative Grants  –  Support medium- to large-scale STEM education collaborations between two or more non-profit organizations, schools and/or school districts