Technology Funding Sources for Schools

By Susan Brooks-Young

Whether your current funding landscape is lush or arid, it's always a good idea for administrators to keep an eye on grants made available through government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Tracking individual agencies is an inefficient use of your time, but there are online resources you can access to find the latest information on a wide range of available funds.

Most resources are updated at least monthly and provide a description of the grant, application requirements, and contact information. Here are links to sites that you will want to bookmark and visit regularly.

• Grants and Contests is Technology and Learning magazine's online database with more than 200 listings for grants, contests, and scholarships for both educators and students. Updated monthly, you can browse the entire database or search for specific kinds of funding. The site also offers a comprehensive Funding Directory that is published annually and can be accessed from the database page.
• The Guide to U.S. Department of Education
  Programs and Resources provides detailed information on every type of funding available through the Department. Also handy is the Grants Forecast.
• The National Science Foundation funds research and education in science and engineering through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. This site keeps you up to date on current funding opportunities and also provides information about applying for various grants and programs.
• School Grants has provided grant information to PreK-12 educators since 1999. You access various kinds of funding sources by clicking on links to federal, state, and foundation opportunities. Although there is not a search function, the site is easy to navigate. In addition to information about grants, the site offers grant writing tips, sample proposals, newsletters, and ideas for fund raising. Updated regularly.
• Philanthropy News Digest is a free weekly eNewsletter published by the Foundation Center. This resource includes information about recent grant awards and upcoming opportunities. It also helps readers familiarize themselves with national and local foundations that grants to educational institutions.
• The SSTI Weekly Digest and Funding Supplement, another free weekly eNewsletter, reports funding opportunities, changes in state and federal programs, Congressional activities, and the latest studies and reports.