Our Centers for Ethics:
Grants and funding
Grant opportunities
Find funding for character education
Each year grant-makers award more than $350 billion. Here are a few places you can look to fund your CHARACTER COUNTS! initiative.
Current opportunities
|
Funding sources
Government grants come from cities, counties, states, and the federal level. Sometimes city, county, and state grants are "pass throughs" for federal funds and cannot remove any restrictions set by the federal government. Foundations support a variety of causes. Some, like Gates, Ford, and Rockefeller, fund diverse projects around the globe. Others target specific issues or are dedicated to a certain geographic region. There are also over 2,000 corporate foundations, many of which support educational and youth-oriented programs.
Government funding and grants
Most schools receive government funding that is designated for specific programs. Check with your administrator or district to see if some of these could fund your CHARACTER COUNTS! activities:
- Title IV Safe and Drug Free Funds – Part of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, Title IV created a special set of funds for programs that address drug and violence prevention and promote student wellness. Many large federally administered grants come from these programs, but schools and school districts often receive Safe and Drug Free funds directly. Each state has different regulations on how these funds are used, but this is often a good starting place to look for funding.
- Title II Staff Development Funds – These NCLB funds are allocated for professional development. Many schools have used them to attend Character Development Seminars.
- Title I Funds – Schools receive Title I funds if a certain percentage of their students receive free or reduced lunches. They are not a common source for character education, but some schools have used certain portions of their Title I funds for CC! activities.
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) offers grants that can be used for character education. DOE grants are usually limited to Local and State Education Agencies (LEAs and SEAs), but some grants suggest or require involvement with partners in the community.
- See a list of current DOE grant applications, plus a forecast of funding opportunities.
- More about DOE grants
The following resources cover DOE grants that can be used for character education. These grants are particularly time-sensitive, and we suggest working with a grant-writer who has experience in writing U.S. DOE grants or at least state department grants.
- Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – The OJJDP offers grants to community organizations working with at-risk youth. See updated information on funding opportunities.
- Partnerships in Character Education – A program specifically for schools to start or enhance a character-education program, it focuses on integration with academic standards and research — perfect for CC!
- Promising Initiatives to Improve Education in Your Community – This guide from the Department of Education provides detailed information on specific programs, including 21st-Century Community Learning Centers – The complete guide may be downloaded as a PDF file or as a Word document.
- USA.gov for Nonprofits: This federal government resource directs nonprofit organizations to online information and services. The site includes links to relevant cabinet departments and agencies, and it contains information about grants, regulations and taxes.
- Safe Schools/Healthy Students – A program to create safe and drug free schools and promote healthy child development. This grant focuses on community-wide involvement in schools.
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers – A program focusing on creating community centers and before- and after-school programming to improve academic achievement and overall development. Though only one component of the overall program, character education, can be included in your proposal to meet grant priorities.
- Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) – A program to prepare underprivileged secondary students for college. Although it is not the main priority of GEAR UP, organizations have successfully coordinated CC! in their grant plans.
- Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP)– A program for schools to start or enhance their physical education programs to meet physical education standards. Offered under the Office of Safe and Drug Free funds, schools have used this program to incorporate CC! into their physical education program.
- Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program – A program to help schools start or enhance their counseling program.
- Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse – A program for LEA’s to develop innovative and effective programs to reduce alcohol abuse in secondary schools.
- Full Service Community Schools Program – The purpose of this award is to create partnerships within the community that work towards improving the academic achievement of schools in that community.
Foundations
- AT&T Foundation Awards cash grants to nonprofit organizations that are committed to programs promoting self-sufficiency with the intent to enable people to lead healthy, productive lives. They give primarily to the following program areas: Education, Civic & Community, and Arts & Culture.
- Albertson’s Community Support Albertsons supports projects that serve youth and education within the communities that they operate.
- Delta Foundation Primarily interested in assisting youth in three key areas: wellness, leadership development and cultural advocacy.
- New York Life Foundation To recognize the ongoing volunteer involvement of New York Life agents, employees and retirees in nonprofit charitable organizations and to support the New York Life Foundation's Nurturing the Children initiative, the Foundation will annually award up to 40 individual grants of $5,000 to the most compelling children-related projects submitted by eligible individuals.
- Sprint Foundation Sprint Ahead for Education - National Grant Program for Character Education
Awarding grants to school districts ($25,000) and individual schools ($5,000) to fund the purchase of resource materials, supplies, equipment and software that facilitates and encourages character education among K-12 students. With a national reach, the program is open to all US public schools (K-12) and US public school districts. - Starbucks Foundation This program helps young social entrepreneurs improve communities around the world through new ideas, volunteerism and civic action. Grants up to $1,000 are available to programs that help youth develop these skills.
- Tiger Woods Foundation Grants focus on providing opportunities to children who are underserved. The average grant range is between $2,500 and $25,000. Note: This foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit groups. Public schools are therefore not eligible for funding.
- Wells Fargo One of America’s largest financial contributors to nonprofits. They’ve given almost $200 million in grants the last two years – an average of $266,000 every day – to 14,000 nonprofits and schools. They provide grants to nonprofits that support education, community development, human services, arts and culture and the environment.
Funding for sportsmanship programs
- United States Soccer Foundation Awards cash grants to projects and programs that develop players, coaches, and referees in economically disadvantaged urban areas encompassing populations of 50,000 or more.
- Baseball Tomorrow Foundation Supports programs in softball and baseball through generating matching funds for programs addressing youth between the ages of 10 and 16 years.
- Tiger Woods Foundation Grants focus on providing opportunities to children who are underserved. The average grant range is between $2,500 and $25,000. Note: This foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit groups. Public schools are therefore not eligible for funding.
Get Involved
Professional development
Print brochures
Spread the word!
About CHARACTER COUNTS!