How to Get Grants for Elementary School Technology
While grants are not easy to come by and very competitive, there are still some available that a school system can apply and receive. However, the school must have an effective proposal that is well written so they can stand out amongst their competitors.
- Create a detailed plan outlining the types of technology you want such as PCs, Macs, software, netbooks or IPod. Tell the foundation how you will use the items and what type of function having this equipment will accomplish that is lacking currently in your elementary school. Talk about the make up of your school district, if the student comes from a low income area, or whether they are special needs or gifted and talented. These might seem like insignificant issues, but sometimes grants go to school systems that cater to a certain segment of the population. If the technology you are requesting will impact others beyond your classroom such as teachers or staff, mention that in your proposal letter. Funding sources assess all the information they receive to determine the ideal candidate for their funding and the more information they receive make the decision process easier.
- Consider subscribing to grant subscription to find listing of national foundations that offer grants.
- Build a relationship with local businesses in your area. Many for profit businesses offer grants to school in their vicinity such as Lowes, Home Depot and Target.
- Check with your local state educational office because some grants go directly to the state education department. Check with organizations such as the National Science Foundation to see if they can provide the technology equipment the class need. Contact your parent teacher association to see if they can provide your class with the items you want for your class.
- Use your favorite search engine and look for school technology grants input your state and city to narrow your searches. The search engine will populate several companies that offer grants review the information received and fill out the application completely.