Funding Opportunities

Developing and producing curriculum or other heritage education materials for Social Studies classrooms can stretch the budgets of many educators. There are many funding opportunities available for educators that encourage and promote the development of relevant, challenging, and up-to-date learning experiences for students.

Heritage 4Culture funding comes from a small portion of the King County Lodging Tax, a credit on the state sales tax charged on every hotel, motel, inn and B&B room occupied throughout the county. 4Culture is committed to providing heritage organizations with critical operating support as a priority in our award programs. Through the four heritage funding programs, dozens of groups and heritage specialists are encouraged to build and improve facilities, develop new exhibits, deliver educational programs to the schools, produce publications and videos, expand websites, and preserve invaluable collections and resources that relate to King County history and heritage. As a result of these programs, 4Culture helps the heritage community provide cultural services and citizen involvement in creative projects to every corner of the county. Every funding award 4Culture makes is the result of careful consideration by peer panels of heritage professionals and specialists, citizens and administrators. For more information go to
http://www.4culture.org/heritage/funding/education/index.htm,
schedule a visit to the Resource Library at 4Culture to review applications, project reports, and hard copies of education projects, books, or videos, or contact Heritage Director at 206-296-8688.

4Culture Heritage Cultural Education Program: This program annually funds innovative classroom-based heritage education projects, which are expected to align with state education standards. Deadlines for applications vary each year but are usually due in early spring. Heritage 4Culture provides technical assistance and funding to heritage organizations and their education partners that encourage the development of high-quality curricula promoting the discovery of King County history and heritage by elementary, middle, and high school students.
http://www.4culture.org/heritage/funding/education/index.htm

4Culture Heritage Special Projects Program: This program provides funds each year to a broad spectrum of one-time or short-term ventures that enhance the documentation and interpretation of King County history and heritage. Funds from this program may be used to support projects that promote the documentation and interpretation of King County's historic resources and cultural traditions. This annual program provides funds to organizations and individuals, including historical museums and societies, independent historians and heritage specialists, public agencies, and community groups to support their efforts to identify, document, exhibit and interpret King County heritage resources.
http://www.4culture.org/heritage/funding/projects/index.htm

Best Buy Te@ch Program: Best Buy provides these grants to teachers enhance their classroom technology. Several National History Day teachers have received grants of $2,500 to put video editing software and equipment in their classrooms for students to use when creating NHD documentaries. This annual program provides funds to organizations and individuals, including historical museums and societies, independent historians and heritage specialists, public agencies, and community groups to support their efforts to identify, document, exhibit and interpret King County heritage resources.
http://schooltoolsfor.us/grants.htm

Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award: This award was established in 1986 to assist classroom teachers in developing and implementing innovative social studies teaching strategies, activities, and citizenship projects with their students. The grant serves to help social studies educators achieve a dream that under ordinary circumstances would not be fulfilled. Awards up to $2,500.
http://www.socialstudies.org/awards

CUFA/FASSE Social Studies Inquiry Grant: This grant established by the Fund for Advancement of Social Studies Education (FASSE) and the College and University Faulty (CUFA) of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) to support inquiry in citizenship education.
http://www.socialstudies.org/awards

Fund for Advancements of Social Studies (FASSE) Grant: The FASSE grant was created by the National Council of Social Studies to support research and classroom application projects which improve social studies education and promote engaged, effective citizens. Grant awards up to $10,000.
http://www.socialstudies.org/fasse  

Humanities Washington Project Grants: Project Grants are available to support projects that have as their primary purpose the public presentation of insights gained from the humanities. Project formats include exhibits, symposia and public forums, extra-curricular school programs, lecture and discussion programs, cultural presentations, websites, and radio documentaries. School programs are not required to be open to the public. Project Grants are usually awarded twice a year through a competitive grant process. Grants range from $1,500 to $10,000, with award amount typically around $5,000.
http://www.humanities.org/programs/grants

Landmark of American History and Culture: Workshops for School Teachers: These NEH grants are available for organizations to create one-week residence-based workshops for K-12 educators that use historic sites to address central themes and issues in American history. Contact NEH Curriculum Director, to discuss a proposal.
http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/landmarks.html

Save our History Grant: Museums, historic sites, historical societies, preservation organizations, libraries, and archives are invited to partner with a local school or youth group and apply for funding to help preserve the history of their communities. Annually, $250,000 in grants is given with awards up to $10,000.  Application forms and guidelines are posted online in January and due in June of each year.
http://www.ncptt.nps.gov/up-to-10000-
available-in-save-our-history-grants/

Target Foundation: As part of the Target commitment supporting education, the innovative new Target Field Trip Grants program will award up to 5,000 educators grants of up to $700 each to fund a field trip for their students. Teachers can use one of these grants to fund a school field trip that connects their curriculum to out-of-school experiences. It’s a great way to engage and inspire students. You can apply online any time before September 30, 2010.  Applications must be submitted electronically. 
http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/
page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031880

Teaching American History Grants: These Department of Education (DOE) grants are available for schools or school districts to partner with National History Day to create workshops or institutes on American History. Contact NHD Curriculum Director to discuss potential proposals.
http://www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/applicant.html