Technology Grant Funding

Technology and Learning Colleagues,

 In this discussion thread let's explore possible funding sources for adult basic skills education technology grants. In some cases the grants posted in this thread will clearly be intended for adult basic skills education (among other priorities), but in other cases it isn't clear. My hope is that in cases where it is not clear simply because the funding source is not aware of adult basic skills as an education program, your letters or emails of inquiry may cause them to take a new interest in adult basic skills. If you send a letter/email of inquiry, or have a phone conversation with the foundation and find that they would like to receive technology grant proposals from adult basic skills programs, please share that information here. If you have already received a technology grant from a foundation, please let us know that the funder is open to funding grant proposals from adult basic skills programs.

To  begin, the Lowe's Charitable and Education Foundation has a Community Partners grants program. The Foundation provides funding only to 501(c) (3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and public agencies in communities where Lowe’s operates stores and distribution centers. Grants range from $2,001 - $100,000. Average grants are $10,000 - $25,000. They also have several other grant programs that you can read about on their website. It is not clear if they would include adult basic skills under K-12 education or funding for public education. At least one of their grant programs supports technology upgrades.

Anyone have experience with this foundation supporting adult basic skills programs?

David J. Rosen

Moderator, Technology and Learning CoP

djrosen123@gmail.com

Comments

I love that you've started this thread, David, and can't wait for more resources to be shared. Since we live in the boonies, I find that very, very often, we don't qualify for grants that are offered by businesses like Lowe, Dollar, and others who support Adult Ed since we don't have big businesses in our communities. The big exception is Walmart. I wrote a Walmart grant to fund training to help students succeed in training for entry-level careers. As I recall, they funded around $65 K, which paid for instructors, child care, and curriculum development, I believe. The amount was restricted to a certain % of the total need to implement the project. It was a real success. I wrote two additional grants, but they never funded us again.  http://giving.walmart.com/foundation

One huge supporter for purchasing live-video equipment has been the RUS grant from the US Dept of Ag! "The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. For example, this program can link teachers and medical service providers in one area to students and patients in another." The small Adult Ed program in this region has state-of-the-art equipment, which it uses to both broadcast and receive instruction in the region and around the globe." http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants This grant is a "bear" to write, but we have a national grant writer that is a pro writing RUS proposals. In fact, if anyone out there wants to collaborate on writing a RUS, I have a contact that I can share. Drop me a note at leecywise@gmail.com. Leecy