Unlock Funding: Essential Grant Writing Tips for Educators- US Funding Opportunities

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 US teachers in 2025. 

Top Ongoing Grants for US Educators

• Donors Choose

• Costco Wholesale Grants

• Kars4Kids Small Grants

• Sony USA Foundation

• AdoptAClassroom.org

Grants with Deadlines for US Teachers

• Toshiba Grants

• Infosys Infymakers

• Association of American Educators

• Project Lead the Way STEM Grants

• Motorola Solutions

• Voya Unsung Heroes

• Walmart Spark Good Local Grants

• HEB Excellence in Education Awards

• ASM Foundation K-12 Grants for Material Science

• McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation

Grant Channels for US Teachers

• National Education Association

• Mackin Grant Channel

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 curriculum: Highlight how Makedo has a growing resource hub full of lesson ideas that are globally standards aligned!

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