While the opportunities to learn more about Big6 through seminars and resources grow, school budgets rarely do. What follows is a suggested list of funding opportunities that may allow you to attend a Big6 workshop, purchase Big6 resources and more.Keep in mind that education grants tend to be extremely competitive, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t have success at first – keep trying.

General Grant Opportunities

If you are seeking funding for a large project (or a small one, for that matter), here are a few good places to start.

Grant information resources from the George Lucas Educational Foundation This is a great starting place for those seeking a grant. Access a list of grant-making agencies by type, learn more about the grant process and more.

eSchool News Online Access a comprehensive clearinghouse of education grant opportunities, expert advice, application strategy and more. Many resources are available with a free registration; others require a small annual subscription fee.

State Grant Opportunities Looking for a grant that’s a bit closer to home? Access this list of state-level grant opportunities, and you might find one that does the trick.

Professional Development Grants

Interested in participating in a Big6 workshop, or perhaps looking for some funding to develop Big6 training in your school? The following grants focus on professional development.

Arthur Vining Davis Foundation Grants This large grant program encourages collaboration between like-minded institutions to develop innovative professional development programs addressing issues and problems in education. This might be a good opportunity to reach out to other institutions in your area for a collaborative Big6 project.

AT&T Foundation Grants This foundation has a special interest in professional development for teachers and in technology integration. This could be a good fit for Big6 programs.

Advanced Micro Devices Corporate Contributions This grant program encourages science, math and technology education in institutions in specific locations worldwide. Note that in-kind donations are also a possibility. See the Website for more information about location.

Braitmayer Foundation Grants This is another great program targeting K-12 professional development. It is important to note that this grant program, like many, does not support individuals, but rather institutions.

Coca-Cola Foundation Grants This large, international grant program could provide an opportunity for Big6ers around the world to develop innovative professional development and technology programs.

Dow K-12 Education Grants Math and science is the name of the game for this grant program. If you have an idea for integrating Big6 into these core subjects, this might be a good option for you.

Citigroup Foundation This grant program places an emphasis on financial education. There’s a great opportunity here to create a program that uses Big6 to teach financial responsibility.

Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program This grant program from the US Department of Education can make the difference for library media centers interested in improving services and resources.

The NEA’s National Foundation for the Improvement of Education If you have an idea for innovative professional development integrating Big6 that will have a measurable positive impact on student achievement, this grant program may be the perfect opportunity for you.

State Farm Companies Foundation There’s no question that Big6 improves the quality of teaching and learning, so an application for an interdisciplinary Big6 project may be well received by this foundation.

Washington Mutual’s Education Grants This grant program focuses on schools in needy communities and encourages the development of innovative financial education programs.

Technology

Got an idea to integrate cutting-edge technology in your school? Interested in adding Big6 TurboTools to your system? These grant programs just might hold the key.

Corning Foundation Grants This program supports innovative technology projects and other improvements in K-12 schools.

RGK Foundation Grants Looking to improve your technology infrastructure? This grant program places a priority on technology integration and teacher training.

Wells Fargo Grants Grant guidelines vary from state to state, but there are some great opportunities for technology integration and professional development.

Although grant writing can be a time consuming process, it can help you to evaluate what’s going on in your institution and think strategically about improvements. We hope that you find a grant program that is a perfect fit for your school. Good luck and happy hunting!