Every teacher knows the challenge of having big ideas for the classroom but little or no budget! Instead of dipping into your own pocket to purchase supplies, check out these grant options to help bring your innovative ideas to life! Here are some of the best grant opportunities for teachers around the globe in 2026! (Looking for our US Funding post?)

Top Ongoing Grants by Country

Canada

• Eco Schools: Eco-funding Opportunities for Schools

• Best Buy Canada School Tech Grants

• Canada Post

• Alberta Teachers Association Grants, awards, and scholarships

• Canada Grant Watch 

• PromoScience (Science and Engineering) - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

• TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

UK

• Wingates Wind Farm Community Grants (Rural Northumberland)
• Gatwick Airport Community Trust
• John Lyon’s Charity (London)
• Primary Science Teacher Award
• Ford Britain Trust
• National Lottery Awards 

Scotland

• National Lottery Awards

• Education Trusrs Scotland

Northern Ireland

• National Lottery Awards
• Creative Clusters Programme (3-5 schools collaborate)
• Creative Schools Funding

Wales

• National Lottery Awards  
• Have a Go Fund for Expressive Arts

Australia

• GHD Foundation STEAM Education Innovation Grants
• National Science Week (Annual)
• Arrow Energy Brighter Futures Program (Annual)
• Engaging Science Grants Queensland (Annual)
• Peter Doherty Awards for Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Queensland
• Inspiring South Australia Community Grants for NSW
• Children’s Week Grants Victoria (Annual)
• Innovation Grants Program Victoria (Annual)
• Grants and Programs for Educators in Victoria
• National Science Week (All of Australia)

Grant Writing Tips

We know that securing funding for classroom projects can be a challenge. That's why we've compiled a list of grant writing tips, designed to help your project shine and significantly boost your chances of receiving the classroom funding you deserve.

1. Be clear, specific, and include measurable outcomes: “The Invent Kit from Makedo will help my students synthesise their learning through hands-on projects.” 

2. Align with the grant’s mission: Read the grant carefully and tailor your writing to match their mission and priorities for funding. In your application, use keywords from the grant description.

3. Tell a compelling story: Use real anecdotes from your classroom and emphasise the impact this grant will have on your students. Explain how Makedo will engage your students with inquiry and hands-on learning.

4. Highlight sustainability: Makedo is a one-time, long-term purchase that can be used year after year! Makedo provides free educational materials that do not require a paid membership or subscription. With materials and tools built to stand the test of time, Makedo is a long-term investment in creative learning and innovation that will continue to deliver long after the grant funding ends.

5. Align with your local curriculum: Highlight how Makedo's growing resource hub is full of lesson ideas aligned to globally recognised frameworks, including the Australian Curriculum, the UK National Curriculum, and more. Be sure to reference the specific standards and frameworks recognised in your country to strengthen your application.
6. Connect to local and national priorities: Strengthen your proposal by linking your project to community or national education initiatives in your region, such as sustainability programs, STEAM priorities, or equity and inclusion efforts relevant to your country.
7. Check eligibility carefully: Many grants are region or country-specific. Before investing time in an application, confirm that your school and location meet all geographic and institutional eligibility requirements.
8. Back your application with locally recognised research: While neuroscience and hands-on learning research are universal, citing studies or education reports recognised in your own country can add extra credibility with local grant reviewers.

Why is Makedo good for the classroom?

Here are 5 reasons why Makedo and education are a match made in (cardboard) heaven. Makedo is:

1. Budget-friendly: Buy them once, use them again and again (and again!).

2. Safe, intuitive and easy to use: Feel confident about putting your kids in the driver's seat. 

3. Adaptable: Activities available across all subjects and all ages!

4. Accessible and inclusive: With a low barrier to entry, building with cardboard is fun for everyone

5. Builds real-world skills while having FUN! Collaboration, creativity, communication, critical thinking, all while exploring concepts deeply.

Aligning Grant Writing with Research

Research consistently demonstrates that hands-on learning enhances student engagement, retention, and academic achievement. By linking your grant proposal to research, you demonstrate that your application isn’t just about buying supplies, it’s about improving student outcomes! Find research to back up your application. Neuroscience research, for instance, proves that learning by doing activates multiple areas of the brain, increasing both comprehension and long-term memory. 

Use key phrases to lock in grant funding:

• Evidence-based hands-on learning

• STEM integration through low-cost, sustainable materials

• Fostering creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking

• Accessible maker education aligned with NGSS and 21st-century skills

Securing funding for your classroom doesn't have to feel overwhelming. With the right grant opportunities and a compelling, well-crafted application, you can turn your biggest teaching ideas into reality with no out-of-pocket spending required. Start exploring the grants listed above, tell your story with passion, and remember: every great classroom innovation begins with an idea sparked by an amazing educator like you!