Learn strategies and tactics for how to get a STEM Grant in the article, Top 7 Tip for Getting a STEM Grant by Cynthia Berger on EIE’s blog

See the suggested strategies below: 

  1. Identify the need. Be ready to explain exactly why you need support. Perhaps your state has adopted the Next Generation Science Standards and you need to adjust your curriculum to meet the standards. Maybe a high number of students aren’t meeting performance expectations in science and math. Or perhaps your district is committed to closing the “opportunity gap” for low-income and minority students
  2. Get clear on your goals. What will you do with the grant? Lay out realistic goals and aim for measurable results—for example, “We plan to launch a pilot program to integrate engineering and science education for third-grade students in two schools, reaching 400 students over two years.”
  3. Determine how you’ll measure success: How will you know that adopting a new curriculum made a difference . . . higher student test scores? An improvement in post-implementation vs. pre-implementation assessments? Be prepared to describe the assessment tools you will use.
  4. Get permission: This is an easy step to overlook, but don’t skip it! For most grants, you’ll be asked to show that you have the support of school administrators.
  5. Make a budget. Your budget must clearly show the connection between what you propose to do and the money it will take to make it happen. Do you need a few hundred dollars? A few thousand? Hundreds of thousands? Remember to include costs for staff time along with materials and supplies.
  6. Identify possible funders. Consider your goals and budget and look for a variety of funders that match your needs. . . then pick the best match. Websites like STEMfinity and Edutopia aggregate information about available grants, and S&S Worldwide has a handy online grant finder that lets you search for opportunities in your state. Look for funders who aim to support projects like yours rather than trying to force your project to meet the requirements of an attractive grant opportunity.
  7. Follow directions. Every funder will provide precise instructions on what they expect to receive from you. Follow directions carefully and double check your work.