Internal Funding Sources

External Funding Sources

American Educational Research Association
Association for the Study of Higher Education
Carolyn Foundation
Foundation for Child Development
Lawrence Foundation
Learn and Serve America
McGraw-Hill Companies
National Science Foundation, Education Overview
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Rockefeller Foundation
Spencer Foundation
Steppingstone Foundation
U.S. Department of Education

Specific Programs

• American Honda Foundation Grants Program
• Annenberg Foundation Grants Program
• ARO-BAA--Conference and Symposia Grants
• AT&T Foundation--Civic and Community Service Grants Program
• AT&T Foundation Education Grants Program
• CCNY Education
• Citigroup Foundation Grants Program
• Coca-Cola Foundation Grants Program
• Davis Foundations Grants Program
• DOS--OGEP--College and University Affiliations Program for Tunisia
• EHR-ESIE Informal Science Education
• EHR--REC--Evaluation Program
• EHR--REC--Interagency Education Research Initiative (IERE)
• Focus Area Grants
• GE Foundation Grants Program
• Gloeckner Foundation--Grants Program
• Hearst Foundation Grants
• IBM Corporate Community Relations Program
• Klingenstein Fund Grants Program
• NATO--Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS) Fellowship (Currently Inactive)
• NCRR--Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA)
• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Challenge Grants
• Pew Charitable Trusts--Education Program
• SBE--INT--Planning Visits
• SBE--INT--Research Experiences for Students
• Sloan Foundation Grants Program
• Spencer Foundation--Major Research Grants
• Spencer Foundation Small Grants Program
• Toyota USA Foundation Grants Program
• Wallace Foundation

Sponsor:American Honda Foundation
Deadlines: February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, annually

Objectives:
The sponsor provides grant support for projects in the areas of youth and scientific education. The sponsor defines "youth" as pre-natal through twenty-one years of age. "Scientific education" encompasses both the physical and life sciences, mathematics, and the environmental sciences. Grants are made to worthy, national non-profit causes, programs, and organizations which directly benefit the people of the United States. The sponsor will engage in grantmaking which is consistent with the following characteristics: dreamful (imaginative); creative; youthful; foresightful (forward thinking); scientific; humanistic; and innovative.

To be considered for possible funding, programs related to youth and scientific education should: be dedicated to improving the human condition of all mankind (humanistic); look to the future or be foresightful programs; be innovative and creative programs that propose untried methods which ultimately may result in providing solutions to the complex cultural, educational, scientific, and social concerns currently facing the American society; be broad in scope, intent, impact and outreach; possess a high potential for success with a relatively low incidence of duplication of effort.

Restrictions:
Eligible applicants are national organizations working in the areas of youth and scientific education. Applicants should be in urgent need of funding from a priority basis (not necessarily financial need); i.e. the relative importance of the program or project to the public. The sponsor will make grants in these fields to:

• educational institutions, K-12
• accredited higher education institutions (colleges and universities)
• community colleges and vocational or trade schools
• scholarship and fellowship programs at selected colleges and/or universities or through selected national, non-profit organizations
• other scientific and education-related non-profit, tax-exempt organizations
• gifted student programs
• national youth educational or scientific programs or institutions
• national educational radio and/or television stations or networks
• nationally distributed and aired films, movies, film strips, slides, and/or short subjects concerning youth and/or scientific education
• college, university or other non-profit laboratories engaged in scientific education
• private, non-profit scientific and/or youth education projects
• other non-profit, tax-exempt, national institutions in the fields of youth and scientific education
• national programs pertaining to academic or curriculum development that emphasize innovative educational methods and techniques

Organizations should not submit a grant application more than once in any twelve-month period. Repeat requests will not be considered in the same year. Only one request per institution in any one quarter may be submitted. The sponsor will consider all of the following possible types of grants: seed; operating; project/program; general support/continuing support; challenge; matching; conditional; scholarships and fellowships; and proactive.

The following grant ranges will apply to requests of a one-time only basis, payable in one lump sum, within one quarter's (three months) grantmaking: $10,000-$50,000. The average grant range is $20,000 to $50,000 per year. The sponsor does not allow indirect costs. Examples of the types of support the sponsor will not provide are: support for individuals, including individual scholarships; organizations operating for profit; loans for small businesses; arts and culture; health and welfare issues; research papers; medical research and/or educational research; programs outside the United States; private foundations; and student foreign exchange programs. Guidelines are available. Proposals may not be submitted by fax.

Sponsor:Annenberg Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor provides support for program development and some pilot projects. Support is primarily made for precollegiate education, and specifically on public school restructuring and reform, grades K through 12. These areas are of particular interest: public education, K-12; early childhood education in relation to public education at the primary level; and child development and youth services.

Restrictions:
Eligible applicants are tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations that are not classified as private foundations. Projects extending over more than one year are normally not considered. Grants are normally not made for basic research, capital construction, or general operating expenses. No grants are awarded for annual or capital campaigns, scholarships, debt reduction, endowment, conferences, the production of films, or programs focused exclusively on research or evaluation. The sponsor will make no awards intended directly or indirectly to support candidates for political office or to influence legislation, and is generally unwilling to assume responsibility for the long-term support of any organizations or activity.

The sponsor generally does not generally fund programs dealing with mental or physical disabilities, and does not fund book publication or educational media projects, such as television programs, films, or videotaped documentaries. The foundation cannot consider proposals from cultural organizations, social service agencies, or institutions of higher education located in other countries. Initial contact should be a letter of inquiry. Formal proposal guidelines are provided.

Sponsor:Department of the Army
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor supports conferences and symposia in special areas of science that bring experts together to discuss recent research, education findings, or to expose other researchers or advanced graduate students to new research and education techniques. The sponsor encourages the convening in the United States of major international conferences and assemblies of international alliances.

Restrictions:
Requests for support should be submitted a minimum of six months prior to the date of the conference. Eligible applicants are tax-exempt, scientific, technical, or professional organizations. Co-sponsorship of conferences and symposia with industrial concerns is prohibited. Foreign participants are eligible with the exception of those from communist countries. Funding amounts vary depending upon the scientific and technical conferences. Funds can not be used for payment to any federal government employee for support, subsistence, or services in connection with the proposed conference or symposium. Potential applicants are urged to contact the ARO Legal Office at (919) 549-4292, or e-mail at Rutter@aro-emh1.army.mil before submitting a proposal for a conference or symposium.

Sponsor:AT&T Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor supports a variety of comprehensive civic and community service programs. The sponsor is especially interested in projects that utilize technology to advance one or more of the following objectives:

• support projects of organizations that provide direct health services to those in need, including private or independent, not-for-profit hospitals, if they are first-call hospitals to which the sponsor refers employees for emergency treatment, are near a major AT&T facility, and serve a substantial number of the medically underserved
• encourage diversity in the work force and society through education and direct-service programs promoting equal opportunities for minorities, women, and people with disabilities
• support environmental projects or initiatives, particularly in the areas of technology, education, volunteerism, sustainability and clean water
• support U.S.-based national organizations that study broad public-policy issues related to governance, and social and economic conditions
• enhance the effectiveness of the nonprofit sector, and support of organizations that work to engage more people more effectively in volunteer community service

Sponsor:AT&T Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor supports education programs that focus on the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning, concentrating on the role of technology in education and its capacity to connect students, teachers, classrooms, institutions and communities. Funding is offered under the Learning Network Grants Program and the Invitational Grant Program. The Learning Network Grants Program provides funding to projects which demonstrate effective and innovative uses of technology in supporting families, schools and communities to accomplish the following: encourage family involvement in education; provide professional development opportunities for educators and assist in the preparation of future teachers; and develop and implement plans to promote lifelong learning and community collaboration.

Invitational grants provide funding for projects that address issues of technology in public policy; systemic education reform; academic standards, assessment, and accountability; and access to educational opportunities by all segments of society. Special consideration will be given to: projects that involve collaboration among families, schools, colleges, universities, educational organizations, and/or community-based organizations; and schools, institutions, organizations and projects located in areas where the sponsor has large concentrations of employees and business operations.

Restrictions:
Eligible applicants are all accredited public and private elementary and secondary schools as well as accredited public and private two and four-year institutions of higher education and educational nonprofit organizations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and all U.S. territories. Applicants must be tax-exempt organizations. The program focuses on the use of technology, not on the equipment and infrastructure necessary to support that use. Grants will not fund requests which are exclusively for the purchase of computers, modems, wiring or other infrastructure needs.

The sponsor does not: award grants to individuals; support organizations whose chief purpose is to influence legislation or to participate or intervene in political campaigns on behalf of or against any candidate for public office; support endowments or memorials; support construction or renovation projects; sponsor sports teams or any sports-related activity or competition; purchase tickets to fund-raising events or sponsor advertising.

In addition to the general sponsor exclusions, the Education Program does not support: the purchase or installation of computers, modems, printers, telephones, facsimile machines, wiring, or other equipment, unless a small but integral part of a larger project; scholarships to individual students; non-academic or extracurricular programs such as sports programs or administrative activities; student organizations; endowments, memorials or named academic chairs; or general operations.

Interested applicants should submit a brief letter of introduction and description if the project is local in scope to the appropriate AT&T Regional Contributions Manager. Information on the regional office serving your state or nation is available from the sponsor. If the program is national in scope, the sponsor should be contacted at the address above.

Sponsor:Carnegie Corporation of New York
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor provides support to academic institutions and national and regional organizations for projects concerned with programs three main focus areas: Early childhood education and care; urban school reform; and higher education.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE--research and policy analysis needed to expand the availability of affordable, high-quality programs that improve all children's chances of success in school and that better meet the needs of working parents. Particular attention will be paid to financing, professional development, and system design options.

URBAN SCHOOL REFORM--analyses of progress and barriers to change in a number of cities; identification and dissemination of effective district practices with respect to key roles, such as professional development of teachers; assistance for local school change; the institution of accountability mechanisms; and mobilization of public support.

HIGHER EDUCATION--concentrate initially on the dissemination of the best models of teacher education to encourage their wider adoption; on assistance to governors and other state policymakers in developing incentives and accountability mechanisms to promote more widespread change; and on promoting broader public understanding of the importance of teaching quality; and exploring the most effective ways to address these questions about undergraduate liberal education and, therefore, will not be accepting unsolicited proposals in this area until further notice.

Restrictions:
The sponsor makes grants primarily to academic institutions and to national and regional nonprofit organizations for projects that have potential for national or international impact. Grants are not generally made to individuals. Support is not provided for scholarships, fellowships, or travel grants. The sponsor does not make grants for basic operating expenses, endowments, or facilities of individual schools or school districts, colleges, universities, or human service organizations. It does not make program-related investments. There are no application forms. Applicants should submit a brief statement containing a description of the project's aims, amount of support required, duration, methods, personnel, and budget. Detailed proposals may be requested if the project is within the sponsor's areas of interest.

Sponsor:Citigroup Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The Citigroup Foundation seeks to strengthen the quality of teaching, improve student achievement, increase access to higher education, and encourage students creativity through arts education programs. Enhancing educational opportunities will better prepare the next generation to achieve personal and professional success. The Foundation provides grants for teacher training and innovative teaching strategies that increase student achievement. Programs that enhance learning by integrating the arts into school curricula and increase student access to leading cultural institutions are also funded.

Restrictions:
Organizations encouraged to submit proposals may do so at any time during the calendar year. The sponsor encourages submissions early in the year. Eligible applicants are non-profit, tax-exempt organizations. Grants are not made to individuals for educational or other purposes; political causes or candidates; or religious, veteran, or fraternal organizations, unless they are engaged in a significant project benefiting the entire community.

The sponsor prefers to solicit proposals from prospective grantees with demonstrated success in the areas described above. Unsolicited proposals will be accepted, but a favorable decision is less likely. Funding and duration of grants will vary from proposal to proposal. Approximately seventy-five percent of the grant budget will be dedicated to funding requests for community development and education programs. The remaining budget will be used for programs in the arts, health and human services, and environmental education. Grants are not made for fundraising events, telethons, marathons, races, benefits, or courtesy advertising. Applications and guidelines are available.

Sponsor:Coca-Cola Foundation
Deadline(s): March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1, annually

Objectives:
The sponsor provides support to encourage new solutions to countless problems that impede educational systems today, and it supports existing programs that work. The sponsor offers support to public and private colleges and universities, elementary and secondary schools, teacher-training programs, educational programs for minority students and global educational programs. The sponsor devotes much of its efforts to partnership in three main areas:

HIGHER EDUCATION--pipeline programs connecting various levels of education that encourage students to stay in school and to proceed with confidence to college and graduate school; scholarship programs in support of graduate and undergraduate students; and minority advancement in the form of scholarships, urban programs and cultural diversity programs.

CLASSROOM TEACHING AND LEARNING--innovative K-12 public school programs, and those outside the "four walls" of the classroom; teacher development programs; and smaller projects dealing with specific activities in the elementary and secondary classroom.

GLOBAL EDUCATION--global exchange programs that encourage international studies, global understanding or student/faculty exchange; and programs outside the U.S. promoting education.

Restrictions:
Eligible applicants are tax-exempt organizations, public and private colleges and universities, and elementary and secondary schools. The sponsor does not make grants to individuals; religious organizations and endeavors; political, legislative, lobbying or fraternal organizations; or organizations that do not have tax-exempt status. Funding amounts will vary. Applications and guidelines are available.

Sponsor:Davis (Arthur Vining) Foundations
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
Support is concentrated in the following areas:

SECONDARY EDUCATION--the majority of grants will be made to innovative professional development programs that strengthen teachers and their teaching in grades 9-12. Consideration will be given to projects which seek to address the concerns and problems of secondary education on a national level. Collaborative partnerships between the faculties of colleges (e.g., arts and sciences and education) and high schools or combined efforts involving reform organizations, colleges/universities, and high schools are also encouraged. Proposals will be accepted from institutions ranging from graduate schools of education to free-standing educational research institutes.

PUBLIC TELEVISION--the Foundations are interested in public television as an educational medium. Grants primarily provide partial support for major educational series assured of airing nationally by PBS. Consideration will also be given from time to time to single stand-alone programs of exceptional merit. Programs should have lasting educational value. A consideration in evaluating competing proposals is their utility in K-12, college/university and continuing education settings. Children's series are of particular interest. Consideration will also be given to innovative uses of public television (including computer online efforts) to enhance educational outreach in schools and communities. Proposals for "capstone" grants which assure completion of production funding are preferred. Research and pre-production funding are seldom supported.

Restrictions:
Eligible applicants are institutions within the U.S. and its possessions. Individuals are not supported, except as participants chosen by the grantee institution in an organized scholarship program. The sponsor does not support publicly governed colleges and universities and other entities (except medical institutions) which are primarily supported by government funds. For grants in the category of secondary education, public as well as private universities and colleges are eligible for funding; only in exceptional cases will proposals be accepted directly from individual private or public schools or school districts.

Grant amounts normally range in each area of interest as follows: private higher education--$100,000 to $200,000; secondary education--$75,000 to $150,000; health care--$50,000 to $200,000; religion--$75,000 to $150,000; and public television--$100,000 to $500,000. Projects requiring multi-year annual funding are not supported. Applicants should submit a letter, for which guidelines are available. All proposals must come from the president or other primary executive of an institution.

Sponsor:Department of State
Deadline(s):Open

Objectives:
The sponsor offers an assistance award program to support the development of programs of instruction and faculty training at universities in Tunisia in business management, public administration, or another field with significant potential impact on the Tunisian economy. Eligible applicants may apply to pursue institutional or departmental objectives in partnership with one or more Tunisian institutions with support from the College and University Affiliations Program.

The means for achieving the objectives of the applicant and its partner(s) may include mentoring, teaching, consultation, research, distance education, internship training, and professional outreach to public and private sector managers and entrepreneurs. Proposals emphasizing practical strategies to assist the Tunisian faculty and administrators to develop new curricula, teaching methodologies and programs are encouraged. All proposals should explain the potential impact of the project on the Tunisian economy.

Eligibility:
In the United States, participation in the program is open to accredited two and four-year colleges and universities, including graduate schools. Applications from consortia or other combinations of U.S. colleges and universities are eligible. Secondary U.S. partners may include governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as non-profit service and professional organizations. Participants representing the U.S. institution must be U.S. citizens. With the exception of outside consultants reporting on the degree to which project objectives have been achieved, participants who are traveling under the Bureau's grant funds must be teachers, advanced graduate students who are teaching or research assistants, or administrators from the participating institution(s).

Advanced graduate students are eligible for Bureau-funded participation in this program only if they are working under the direction of an accompanying faculty participant. In Tunisia, the partner must be a recognized institution of post-secondary education. Secondary foreign partners may include relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as non-profit service and professional organizations concerned with issues in business development or public administration training in Tunisia. Foreign participants must be citizens or permanent residents of Tunisia and must be qualified to receive a J-1 visa.

Sponsor:National Science Foundation
Deadline(s): Preliminary proposals - Septmeber 14, 2006 and March 8, 2007; Full proposals - December 14, 2006 and June 21, 2007

Objectives:
Grants support activities which provide rich and stimulating opportunities outside formal school settings, where individuals of all ages, interests, and backgrounds increase their appreciation and understanding of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. The program especially encourages projects that are creative and innovative learning activities that reflect and apply recent research in science, mathematics and technology (SMT) education; contribute to strengthening the infrastructure of informal science education through such activities as electronic networking, technical assistance, and professional development; and conduct research on the informal education process to determine the effectiveness of innovative techniques for motivating and informing the public about topics in SMT. Community based programs may increase the sciences, mathematics, and technology interests and literacy of their audiences.

Supported projects included, but are not limited to: television series and programs for youth or for the general public; films on SMT topics; exhibits or educational programs at science and natural history museums, science-technology centers, aquaria, nature centers, botanical gardens, arboreta, zoological parks, and libraries; and educational programs and activities at community and youth centers. Most projects are designed to reach large audiences and to have a significant regional or national impact.

Restrictions:
Preliminary Proposals must be submitted in FastLane no later than 5:00 p.m. local time on the due date immediately prior to the Full Proposal submission date. They are required in all cases, including resubmission of a proposal that has been previously declined. In the case of a resubmission, the proposal must be substantially revised. A new Preliminary Proposal is required for each round of competition. Eligible applicants are U.S. organizations with a scientific or educational mission, including colleges and universities, State and local education agencies, school districts, professional societies, museums, research laboratories, media producers, private foundations, private industry, publishers, and other public and private organizations whether for profit or not-for-profit.

Proposers are strongly encouraged to involve participation from other sectors. The expectation for significant cost-sharing is dependent on the scope and nature of the project. In most media projects, the sponsor may contribute up to one third of the total project cost. For museum and community/youth-based projects, the sponsor generally supports up to two-thirds of the total project costs. Indirect costs are allowed, but not on participant costs. In the past, awards ranged from $25,000 to $3 million, for one- to five-year projects. Submission of preliminary proposals is required. Unless otherwise specified in the Program Announcement (NSF 99-92), proposals should be prepared and submitted according to the guidelines and using the standard NSF Forms found in the Grant Proposal Guide (NSF 00-2). The document is available electronically at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2000/nsf002/start.htm; paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Clearinghouse, 301-947-2722, pubs@nsf.gov.

Sponsor:National Science Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The Evaluation Program recently completed a five-year plan to evaluate the science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET) education initiatives. Evaluation findings may be used by the sponsor to improve science education programs; by principal investigators as they direct their own education projects; and by policy-makers, administrators, and members of the instructional workforce who implement and adapt the various products of NSF programs, including materials, computer software, teaching strategies, and research findings.

Evaluations and impact studies are produced by outside researchers and organizations under competitively awarded contracts. The program also may accept proposals for the development of innovative techniques, approaches, and methodologies for the general improvement of the field.

Restrictions:
There are no fixed target dates for submission of proposals under this program; however, preliminary proposals are required in all cases in which a grant is sought. Eligible applicants are public and private colleges and universities, industry and business, and other organizations and associations with an educational mission. Support is provided for up to five years. Indirect costs are allowed. Cost sharing is generally required at a minimum of one percent on unsolicited proposals.

The sponsor makes only a few awards in this program area, generally no more than five per year. Application forms and guidelines are available. Proposals must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the Grant Proposal Guide, NSF 00-2, available from the NSF Clearinghouse, 301-947-2722, pubs@nsf.gov. or electronically at www.nsf.gov. Applicants are advised to contact the sponsor before submitting a request for funding.

Sponsor:National Science Foundation
Deadline(s): March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1, annually

Objectives:
The sponsor provides support to advance progress toward the EHR goals through the development and application of new scientific knowledge. Goals for the ROLE Program are:

• to discover and to describe neural, cognitive, affective, and conceptual learning processes required for life-long SMET learning
• to understand how prekindergarten through secondary teacher and post-secondary faculty content knowledge and pedagogy relate to the implementation that innovative and effective curricula, materials, and assessments require
• to develop research-based learning tools, pedagogical approaches, and materials that enhance SMET education at all levels
• to reevaluate the overall curriculum structure (including selection, ordering, and priorities of topics) to enhance SMET education at all levels
• to develop and to refine new education research and evaluation methods
• to increase the research capacity of the field, especially the development of new researchers and research-oriented education practitioners
• to collect and to analyze data and to use data to inform researchers, decision-makers and the general public
• to understand the factors that enhance the full participation of all Americans in the SMET enterprise and the approaches that can increase this participation
• to increase the knowledge of learning, teaching and organizational models that lead to substantial and large-scale improvement in the efficiency, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of the United States educational system.

The goals of EHR are:

• making high quality science and mathematics education available to every child in the United States
• ensuring that the educational pipelines to careers in science, mathematics, engineering and technology yield a diverse, well-educated technical workforce adequate for the needs of the United States
• ensuring that the instructional workforce has the disciplinary and pedagogical skills necessary to provide an excellent education to every student in science and mathematics
• ensuring that those who select careers in science, mathematics or engineering have the best professional education at the undergraduate and graduate levels
• promoting scientific literacy and public interest in and awareness of scientific and technological developments through high quality informal science education and college courses for nonspecialists.

The ROLE Program will support research across a four-quadrant science of learning continuum that includes:

• brain research as a foundation for research on human learning
• fundamental research on behavioral, cognitive, affective and social aspects of human learning
• research on SMET learning in formal and informal educational settings; and research on SMET learning in complex educational systems.

Each of these quadrants constitutes a broad research area, with its own distinct characteristics and historical foundations.

Brain Research as a Foundation for Research on Learning--will support a limited number of theoretical studies focused on human learning that help frame advances in areas that may include but are not limited to biological neural networks, computational neuroscience, functional imaging, neuroplasticity, and adaptive systems. The ROLE Program seeks proposals for workshops and similar activities that will inform and gather advice from relevant scientific communities in these areas.

Fundamental Research on Behavioral, Cognitive, Affective, and Social Aspects of Learning--to enhance the multidisciplinary understanding of the foundations of human learning. NSF seeks proposals that formulate compelling and innovative bridges from cognitive science either to brain research (Quadrant I) or to research on learning in educational settings (Quadrant III). A sample of areas of interest includes: modeling of cognitive processes and mapping of models to brain function in the context of human learning; sociological, ethnographic, anthropological, economic, and organizational studies that address the special characteristics of educational environments; and understanding the cognitive and pedagogical implications of new scientific and technological advances.

Research on SMET Learning in Educational Settings--to provide a stronger base to support sustained improvement in science and mathematics educational practice in settings such as classrooms, informal learning sites (including the home), and technological learning environments (e.g. non-academic technological education). Another expectation is to bridge research and educational practice. In particular, ROLE seeks proposals that bridge research on science and mathematics learning with areas of educational practice associated with programs in the EHR Divisions and that include collaborations with investigators funded under such programs.

Research on SMET Learning In Complex Educational Systems--welcomes proposals that study existing large-scale reform experiments, in which foundational research on human learning or research in components of SMET educational practice are embedded in a sustainable and scalable way in actual complex systems of practice. Eligible research includes studies that involve testable hypotheses, studies that challenge current systemic reform strategies, design experiments, and other research methods such as quasi-experiments, testbeds, longitudinal data, and national and international comparisons.

A sample of research areas of potential interest includes: studies of systemic reform strategies, including predictive modeling, frameworks for systemic change, and evaluations of costs and effectiveness; "Innovation flow" and organizational mechanisms conducive to policy changes and sustained, coherent improvements in systemwide practice; interactions among accountability reforms, curricular reforms, textbook adoptions, technologies, teacher professional development opportunities, revised graduation requirements, schedules, and other reforms; modeling of large educational systems and their evolution in terms of multilevel adaptive systems, with possible theoretical parallels to issues and research in the first three Quadrants.

Restrictions:
Proposals may be submitted by any organization eligible for NSF support, including universities and colleges, nonprofit, non-academic organizations, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, unaffiliated individuals, foreign organizations, and other federal agencies. Synergistic collaboration among researchers and collaboration or partnerships with other educational institutions (including schools or school systems), scientific organizations, industry or government laboratories is encouraged when appropriate.

ROLE awards may be funded up to three years and will generally range from $100,000 to $1,800,000. Depending on the availability of funding, between twenty and thirty proposals may be selected for support per funding cycle. ROLE will consider planning, workshop and exploratory research grants for up to one year and up to $100,000 each. Twenty to thirty awards are anticipated. Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), NSF 00-02.

The complete text of the GPG (including electronic forms) is available on the NSF Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/cpo/policy/grants.htm. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone 301.947.2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov. FastLane use is required for both preliminary proposals and full proposals.

Eligibility:
Focus area grants are provided to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations within the sponsor's company service territory through the foundation focus areas. The sponsor's service area includes: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Sponsor:General Electric Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor supports programs in the following areas of interest:

HIGHER EDUCATION--seeks to help talented students go to college and ensure that they have access to quality education once they get there. The sponsor also supports programs that revolutionize the way professors teach. The sponsor is interested in diversifying faculty in the fields of business, engineering, and science.

PRE-COLLEGE EDUCATION--supports innovative programs to improve education at elementary and secondary schools throughout the United States.

Restrictions:
Eligible applicants are tax-exempt organizations. The sponsor does not provide support for capital or special purpose campaigns, chairs, endowments, or equipment purchases. Scholarship or research grants are not made directly to individuals. The sponsor advises that applicants may wish to submit a brief concept paper to assess the sponsor's interest in a particular project prior to submission of a full proposal. The sponsor reviews proposals by invitation only. The sponsor's ability to review unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry is extremely limited. Application guidelines are available.

Sponsor:Gloeckner (Fred C.) Foundation, Inc.
Deadline(s): April 1, annually

Objectives:
Support is provided for research and educational projects in floriculture and related fields, such as plant pathology, plant breeding, agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, entomology, and plant physiology, as they relate to floriculture.

Eligibility:
Eligible applicants are universities, colleges and Federal research institutions in the U.S.

Sponsor:Hearst Foundations
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor provides support within a general policy of assisting institutions to provide access and opportunity to underrepresented, low-income and minority populations. Priority areas of interest include:

EDUCATION--primary focus is support of undergraduate education through the establishment of endowed scholarships at private liberal arts colleges and universities. In addition, endowed scholarship support is provided for professional study in teaching, medicine, nursing, engineering, math, science, and the health care professions at the undergraduate and graduate level. A limited number of proposals are also accepted from K-12 independent schools with outstanding academic programs, and demonstrated track records of outreach to economically disadvantaged students. In general, grants are not made to public schools; however, private organizations or coalitions seeking improvement of public education and broadening access to education will be considered.

Restrictions:
Proposals may be submitted throughout the year. Eligible applicants are tax-exempt organizations. Examples of eligible applicants are colleges and universities, hospitals, and cultural institutions. Private sector organizations are favored over those financed through taxation, as are organizations serving larger geographical areas. Individuals may not receive funding. Organizations may only submit one proposal per calendar year. Grants must be used for charitable purposes within the U.S. and its possessions.

Support is not provided for loans, funds for radio, film, television, or other media-related projects, or special events, tickets, tables, or advertising for fundraising events. he sponsor also does not support public policy, conferences, workshops, or seminars, building projects, or start-up/seed funding. Application should be in the form of an executive summary, for which guidelines are available. The above address is the contact for applicants east of the Mississippi River. Applicants west of the Mississippi River should contact The William Randolph Hearst Foundations, 90 New Montgomery Street, Suite 1212, San Francisco, CA 94105, telephone: (415) 543-0400.

Sponsor:IBM Corporation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor provides support for philanthropic projects and programs that fit within the sponsor's areas of interest. The overwhelming majority of grants are initiated by the sponsor and do not stem from unsolicited proposals. However, areas of interest supported by the sponsor in the past include: K-12 school reform; adult education and job training; education beyond the classroom; and the environment. Historically, the sponsor has supported multiple other contributions programs in partnership with its employees. These programs include: the IBM Matching Grants and K-12 Matching Grants Programs, the Fund for Community Service, and the United Way/Employee Charitable Campaign.

Restrictions:
Eligible applicants are non-profit, tax-exempt organizations or educational institutions. Priority is assigned to requests involving IBM technology or the volunteer efforts of its employees. The sponsor does not make equipment donations for grants from corporate philanthropic funds to: individuals, political, labor, religious or fraternal organizations or sports groups; fund-raising events such as raffles, telethons, walk-a-thons, or auctions; capital campaigns, construction, and renovation projects; chairs, endowments or scholarships sponsored by academic or nonprofit institutions; and special events such as conferences, symposia, or sports competitions. Application guidelines are available. Unsolicited proposals are reviewed on an ongoing basis, but the sponsor advises that funding is unlikely.

Sponsor:Klingenstein (Esther A. & Joseph) Fund
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor provides grants in the following two major areas of interest: basic research in neuroscience, specifically related to the etiology of epilepsy; and independent secondary education, primarily (but not exclusively) for faculty development activities through the sponsor's Klingenstein Center for Independent Secondary Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

In addition, the sponsor makes some grants to organizations and institutions concerned with the historic importance of the separation of church and state and the preservation of religious liberty; animal-based research; family planning; teenage pregnancy; minority affairs; and public policy.

Restrictions:
Proposals are considered at Director's meetings, which take place four or five times a year. Eligible applicants are domestic tax-exempt organizations. Previous grants have generally ranged from $10,000 to $50,000. Support has been provided for conferences/seminars, fellowship programs, general support, matching funds, operating expenses, project support, research, and seed money. No grants are made to individuals or endowments and rarely for building or other capital projects. Indirect costs are allowed in certain cases. Application materials are available.

Sponsor:North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Deadline(s):Open

Objectives:
The sponsor provides support to a number of scholars each year to encourage research linked to the CCMS ongoing pilot projects. Current pilot projects are active in the following areas:

(1) pollution control: ecosystem modelling of coastal lagoons for sustainable management; evaluation of demonstrated and emerging remedial action technologies for the treatment of contaminated land and groundwater, and; regional transboundary transport of air pollution.

(2) environmental education and training: forms of environmental education in the armed forces and their impact on the creation of pro-environmental attitudes.

(3) health and technological risks: advanced cancer risk assessment methods, and; new agricultural technologies.

(4) quality of life and planning: clean products and processes; methodology, focalisation, evaluation and scope of the environmental impact assessment; technologies for the study, preservation and management of cultural resources; modeling nutrient loads and response in river and estuary systems; the future trends of concentration of migratory movements in large cities - consequences for the environment and security, and; environmental decision making for sustainable development in Central Asia.

Eligibility:
Applicants should be citizens of NATO countries: Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the USA.

Sponsor:National Endowment for the Humanities
Deadline: November 1, 2006; May 2007 (anticipated)

Objectives:
NEH challenge grants help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs and resources. Awards are made to museums, public libraries, colleges, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, public television and radio stations, universities, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit entities to improve the quality of their humanities activities and their financial stability.

Through these awards, many are able to transform their humanities capacity and secure permanent support from an endowment. In special circumstances challenge grants can also help with limited direct costs, such as acquisitions, the purchase of capital equipment, construction and renovation, and even fund-raising. Because of these matching requirements, these NEH awards also strengthen the humanities by encouraging nonfederal sources of support. Challenge grants are offered only when NEH funds will make a significant improvement in humanities programs, help institutions carry out long-term plans for strengthening their basic resources and activities in the humanities, and enhance financial stability through increased nonfederal support.

Eligibility:
With the exception of elementary and secondary schools or school districts, any U.S. nonprofit institution (public agency or private nonprofit organization) working wholly or in part with the humanities may apply for a challenge grant. Affiliated institutions (e.g., university museums) should consult with NEH staff on questions of separate eligibility.

Sponsor:NIH
Deadlines: October 1, annually

Objectives:
The Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) Program encourages biomedical and/or behavioral scientists to work as partners with science museum educators, media experts, and other interested organizations on projects to improve the student (K-12) and the public understanding of the health sciences.

Sponsor:Pew Charitable Trusts

Deadline(s): Open
Objectives:
The sponsor's Education program provides support to raise the performance of students at all levels of education, especially their capabilities to learn for understanding and to acquire the literacies they need for productive employment and effective citizenship in an increasingly complex society. Toward this goal, the program funds K-12 and higher education. Higher education faces challenges of cost, quality and connection to the public agenda.

The program's three priorities for grantmaking respond to these challenges by:

fostering new aspirations for undergraduate student learning, with a focus on improving the incentives for attention to quality that are imbedded in ratings systems, methods of state funding and practices of accreditation, and focus on the design, implementation and dissemination of exemplary practices that result in higher levels of student learning

supporting colleges and universities in their efforts to become more strategic partners with schools in working toward higher standards, with a focus on aligning the standards for student learning embedded in policies of admissions and course placement more closely with high, performance-based standards in schools

supporting that nation's higher-education faculty in its efforts to facilitate student learning through a better alignment of the faculty's role with the mission and work of the colleges and universities, with a focus on reform of the requirements of the Ph.D. for those who aspire to be faculty, the policies and practices of faculty employment, and the treatment of teaching as scholarly work.

Grantmaking in K-12 will focus on increasing the quality and quantity of accomplished teaching that goes on in America's classrooms by improving the professional development of teachers, producing high-quality curricular materials and developing leadership and community support for accomplished teaching.

In the area of K-12 Reform, the goal is to encourage the fundamental reforms in the profession of teaching and the work of schools that are needed to enable all students to perform at high levels. Objectives are to sustain and advance the movement toward systemic school reform by generating and sharing information about the progress of reform and about what works; and to reinvent professional development policies and practices so that teachers will have the opportunities for continuous learning that are essential to quality teaching.

The sponsor especially welcomes:

nationally significant initiatives that promise to deepen and broaden professional and public understanding of school reform

initiatives that promise to increase the demand for high-quality professional development for educators, such as state/district policy changes concerning the criteria for recertification, standards for professional development and/or teacher assignment policies

initiatives that promise to increase the availability of high-quality professional development, such as expanded teacher networks and/or new modes of providing professional development via technology

initiatives that generate and disseminate knowledge about the types of professional development that are most effective.

In the area of Higher Education Reform, the goal is to raise the aspirations of both academic leaders and external stakeholders with respect to what they expect undergraduates should learn and what colleges and universities should contribute to this learning. Objectives are to strengthen accountability for student learning; to make assessment of student learning a core feature of campus academic life; and to align high standards for undergraduates with high standards for student learning in K-12.

The sponsor especially welcomes:

initiatives to develop new tools for measuring college quality and to design effective policies that make use of these tools

initiatives to strengthen the effectiveness of academic peer review of institutions, programs and individual faculty members

initiatives to admit, transfer, promote and graduate students on the basis of demonstrated mastery of learning outcomes, rather than the accumulation of course credits

initiatives that illustrate how assessment results can be used to improve the quality of academic programs and to undergird institutional evaluation

initiatives to develop standards for admission and placement at colleges and universities that are aligned with and reinforce high, performance-based high school graduation standards.

In the category of Special Institutions, the goal is to support institutions with which the sponsor has a special historical relationship. The objective is to respond to the priority needs of selected schools, colleges and universities with which the sponsor has an historic relationship.

Restrictions:
Proposals are accepted year-round and are reviewed on a rolling basis. If a proposal is considered appropriate for board review, it will be slated for the next available opening on a board agenda. The board meets quarterly, generally in March, June, September, and December. Although the sponsor seeks to improve the quality of teaching and learning in all institutions, the sponsor is especially oriented toward schools and colleges that serve high concentrations of disadvantaged students.

In addition, the Education program provides support to institutions with which the sponsor has an historic relationship. Individual school districts, public schools or independent schools, and colleges and universities outside the United States are eligible by invitation only. An organization whose full proposal is turned down by the sponsor must wait a minimum of twelve months before submitting a new proposal.

Although the grant size varies from program to program, the median size in the past year was $400,000. Generally speaking, smaller grants are made in programs that work closely with community-based and direct-service organizations; larger grants are made in programs that work with larger organizations such as research, academic and health institutions. Indirect costs are allowed.

Requests will not be considered for: financial aid, fellowships, individual study or travel grants; summer programs, except as a component of a year-round program; endowments; or capital projects, unless invited by the sponsor. Initial application should be in the form of a brief letter of inquiry, for which guidelines are available. If the sponsor determines that the proposed activity falls within the goals and objectives of the program, the sponsor will send an application package. Direct general questions to the above contact.

Sponsor:National Science Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The Division of International Programs (INT) contributes to NSF's mission by promoting new partnerships between U.S. investigators and their colleagues in other countries, or new cooperative projects between established collaborators. Such activities may be in any field of science and engineering research and education supported by NSF. Planning visits offer U.S. researchers the opportunity to consult with their prospective foreign partners to finalize plans for a cooperative activity eligible for consideration for support by NSF. This mechanism is used sparingly. Evidence of substantive prior communication and preparation is required.

Sponsor:National Science Foundation (NSF)
Deadline(s):Various

Objectives:
INT will consider proposals to develop programs that provide international research experiences to American (U.S. citizen or permanent resident) students, including: Global Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (Global GK-12) International Research Experiences for Undergraduates (International REU) International Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (International IGERT) International research experiences for students Student participation in “cooperative research” and “joint workshops and seminars” Student participation in international linkages for NSF centers East Asia & Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI).

Sponsor:Sloan (Alfred P.) Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor provides support for the following areas of interest:

EDUCATION AND CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY--for programs designed to educate and interest people in scientific and engineering fields. Topics include:

general education and training, including, career choice

retention of students in science and engineering

learning outside of the classroom

immigration of scientists and engineers

minorities and women

public understanding of science and technology, including books, radio, and television.

Under the topic of learning outside the classroom, support is focused on the advance of electronic technologies via asynchronous access to on-line course and library materials. Grants in the past have focused on three categories of learners: those living on or near campus; those within commuting distance; and those very far from campus.

Restrictions:
Eligible applicants are tax-exempt domestic organizations, including colleges and universities.

Grants of $30,000 or less are made throughout the year by officers of the sponsor; grants usually support workshops, symposia, and conferences. Grants over $30,000 are made by the Trustees, who meet four times a year for that purpose. Officer grants may not include any overhead charge; for trustee grants, at most, fifteen percent of direct project costs can be budgeted for overhead. The sponsor's activities normally do not extend to religion, the creative or performing arts, elementary or secondary education, medical research or health care, the humanities, or activities outside the U.S. Grants are not made for endowments or for buildings or equipment.

The sponsor has no standard application forms. Often a brief letter of inquiry, rather than a fully developed proposal, is an advisable first step for an applicant. Guidelines are available.

Sponsor:Spencer Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor encourages research that promises to yield new knowledge about education, in one or other of its forms, in the United States and abroad. It offers a unique opportunity to researchers and teachers in a broad range of institutions who are engaged in educational research. The program is appropriate for modest-sized research projects, exploratory studies, specific phases of larger investigations, and projects which arise in response to unusual opportunities. The program encourages researchers with diverse perspectives to develop ideas and approaches which extend the conventional boundaries of a research question, area, or method.

Restrictions:
The researcher must be currently affiliated with a school or school district, a college or university, a research facility or a cultural institution. The researcher must have an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or professional field and/or experience in the teaching profession. Grantees are not permitted to receive two research grants simultaneously from the sponsor. Grants made under the program range from $1,000 to an upper limit of $35,000. Projects may not extend beyond a year in duration. The sponsor does not pay government-approved indirect costs rates on research grants, and it prefers not to pay indirect costs in the Small Research Grants Program. Individual efforts as well as collaborations are supported. Guidelines are available.

Sponsor:Spencer Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
The sponsor encourages research that promises to yield new knowledge about education, in one or other of its forms, in the United States and abroad. Programs in the research division support work that shows promise of contributing new knowledge, understanding, and improvement of educational thought and practice.

Restrictions:
Principal investigators must have an earned doctorate in an academic discipline or a professional field and must have an affiliation with a college or university, a research facility or a cultural institution. Grantees may not receive two research grants simultaneously from the sponsor. Funding is given to research projects requiring more than $35,000 in grant support. Projects are widely-varied, ranging from medium-sized studies that can be completed in a year by an individual researcher to more extensive collaborative studies that last several years.

The sponsor does not grant funds to maintain organizations or infrastructures of educational research. For research grant proposals over $75,000, the sponsor will pay indirect costs equaling up to fifteen percent of the direct costs of the proposal. The sponsor cannot give support for capital funds, operating or ongoing program expenses, direct support for teacher or staff pre-service or in-service training, and funds for developing tests, curricula, or for program evaluation. Guidelines are available. Interested applicants must send a brief preliminary proposal.

Sponsor:Toyota USA Foundation
Deadline(s):Open

Objectives:
The sponsor provides support to improve the quality of K - 12 education, with a primary interest in mathematics and science. The sponsor places a high priority on: systemic math and science programs that are broad in scope and incorporate interdisciplinary curricula, "real world" classroom applications and high student expectations; creative and innovative programs which develop the potential of students and/or teachers; and cost-effective programs that possess a high potential for success and relatively low duplication of effort. Grants are made which support innovative programs which foster creativity and inquiry in the classroom, encourage problem solving and independent thinking, and increase teamwork and leadership skills.

Restrictions:
Eligible applicants are tax-exempt organizations in the U.S. Grants may be obtained by accredited higher education institutions (colleges and universities), by community colleges, and vocational or trade schools, and by nonprofit organizations. Not eligible are government agencies, individuals or for-profit businesses. K - 12 public and private schools may not directly apply to the sponsor, but may be the beneficiary of an independent nonprofit agency's funding request. The sponsor's annual grants exceed $1.5 million. The sponsor normally makes one-time grants; however, multi-year requests may be considered for organizations not likely to become dependent on continuing sponsor funds.

Funds are not provided for routine institutional expenses, operating costs, annual fund drives or deficit reductions; endowments, capital campaigns, construction and equipment (unless a component of an eligible program); fundraising events, conferences, meals, and travel; publication subsidies, advertising and mass mailings; and lobbying organizations, fraternal groups and religious organizations. Application materials are available.

Sponsor:Wallace Foundation
Deadline(s): Open

Objectives:
For more than a decade, The Wallace Foundation has worked to expand learning and enrichment opportunities for all people. Our efforts toward this goal have yielded important insights and lessons, and we have designed our website to make this knowledge more accessible to visitors.  We especially invite you to browse the Knowledge Center . It is a repository of field-based evidence of what is working, what is not, and why - not only in our current areas of focus (art participation, educational leadership and out-of-school learning), but in areas where we have worked in the past.

Back to Granting Opportunities By Discipline