What do you want to do?

First, ask yourself what you need, and have a specific vision for how the grant will help your students. When I write a grant, I start by thinking of my vision:  "What will it look like if I get funded?"  and "What will I be able to accomplish?"

Do you need funds to get started (for example, to purchase a copy of the curriculum and a set of field guides)?  Or do you already have the curriculum and want to go further (for example, by improving your schoolyard with feeders, birdbaths, and plants or by getting binoculars)?

Understanding what you need will help you decide what grants to apply for, and which approaches to take. 

Start Locally

When you set out on your quest to secure funding and resources for a birding program at your school, first consider your local community. Besides a source of funds and resources, local community involvement in your program may help foster a sense of ownership through participation, making your program more sustainable. 

Ideas for Local Support 

• Some BirdSleuth teachers have approached their local bird/nature center and offered to provide bird walks and other guided activities in exchange for resources like seed and feeders.
• Some teachers have asked their students to write a persuasive letter to local businesses, particularly those already interested in the community and/or birding activities, requesting funds or supplies for birding projects.
• Students' families, like parents and grandparents, are sometimes willing to donate time, money, or resources (used field guides and binoculars, for instance) to help out their student's classroom. Try targeting the families of students who have a particular interest in your birding curriculum.
• Always research the possibility of applying for local or regional grants. Often, it's your local foundations that will have the most interest in supporting small-scale educational programs.
• Consider approaching your local Audubon or other bird-club chapters for assistance. These are likely to be the people who would love to help you get kids involved with birding. Several BirdSleuth teachers have gotten their copy of the curriculum by simply asking their local bird club or Audubon to purchase it for them.

Follow Up!

If you've gotten funding locally, make sure you tell the funder what you did with their donation.  For example, if your local bird club purchased the curriculum for you, perhaps you could send them a photo of your students watching birds or using the BirdSleuth resources. They may be willing to fund additional resources each year!

Grant Databases

There are a large number of large and small grants... finding the right one for your situation can be tricky.  If you have in mind what you need and what you will accomplish, start digging through these databases and find funders who might support your goals!

Government Grants

1. Environmental Education Grants

   Sponsored by the EPA, this program provides funding for, "environmental education projects that enhance the public's awareness, knowledge, and skills to help people make informed decisions that affect environmental quality." They have a history of providing funding for workshops and program equipment. However, they tend to fund larger-scale projects (budgets of $15,000 - $25,000).

Foundation Grants

1. Captain Planet Foundation Grants
   

   This foundation's granting program is meant to promote the understanding of environmental issues through hands-on approaches. It is targeted to children 6-18 years old. They have an excellent history of supporting birding programs, as well as providing resources like field guides. They tend to fund programs that are budgeted between $250 - $2,500.

2. Toyota TAPESTRY Grants
   
   

   This granting program focuses on K-12 Science education, but is otherwise very broad. Teachers participating in BirdSleuth have had success with receiving funds from TAPESTRY grants. This granting program has a history of funding a wide variety of birding projects, making it an affective and proven resource.

Funding Databases

1. Birdnet

   Birdnet is a website maintained by the Ornithological Council and is hosted by the Smithsonian Institute. It is an excellent database of resources for funding projects, research, as well as student scholarships.

2. ED.gov

   A searchable database of federal education grants, supported by online grant-writing tutorials and application assistance.

3. FirstGov for Non-Profits
   
   

   A "good government gateway" to information about local, regional and national nonprofit organizations.

4. SchoolGrants.org

   For public school K-12 teachers and administrators, compiles all the information your school needs to seek out educational funding and write and submit grant proposals to support BirdSleuth curriculum and activities in your district!