Grants for Emprical Research Programs Improving Lives of U.S. Youth Between 8 and 25 Years Old

From The Foundation Center...

[If you are interested in this grant opportunity, click "Link to Complete RFP" at the end of this blog post for more information].

"Deadline: January 3, 2013 (Letters of Inquiry)

"William T. Grant Foundation Accepting Letters of Inquiry for Studies on the Use of Research Evidence in Policy and Practice Affecting Youth

"The William T. Grant Foundation seeks to fund high-quality empirical research with the goal of improving the lives of youth between 8 and 25 years of age in the United States. To help accomplish this goal, the foundation is requesting Letters of Inquiry for its Request for Proposals on Understanding the Acquisition, Interpretation, and Use of Research Evidence in Policy and Practice.

"Support will be provided for empirical theory-building studies of what affects policy makers' and practitioners' acquisition, interpretation, and use of research evidence. The foundation is interested in policy and practice directly relevant to youth in the U.S..  Areas of focus can include education, juvenile justice, child welfare, health, family support, employment, mental health, and youth programs.

"The foundation will consider applications for newly initiated studies as well as add-on studies to existing projects. Add-on studies must address research questions not covered by prior funding from the Grant Foundation or other donors, although they may cover secondary analyses of existing data or collection and analyses of new data.

"The foundation encourages interdisciplinary projects and welcomes applications from researchers in various fields and disciplines, including anthropology, communications, economics, education, family studies, human development, organizational studies, political science, prevention research, psychology, public administration, public policy, public health, social work, and sociology.

"To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be employed at a nonprofit institution, either in the U.S. or abroad.

"The foundation will support research projects with awards ranging from $100,000 to $600,000 for direct and indirect costs over two to three years.

"Visit the Grant Foundation Web site for the complete Request for Proposals and application instructions."

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Grants and Scholarships for U.S. Middle or High School After School Science or Environmental Clubs' Students

From The Foundation Center...

[If you are interested in this grant opportunity, click "Link to Complete RFP" at the end of this blog post, for more information]

"Posted on September 27, 2012
"Deadline: Various

"Lexus and Scholastic Launch Sixth Annual Environmental Contest for Middle and High School Students

"A program of automaker Lexus and children's publishing company Scholastic, the Lexus Eco Challenge is an educational program and contest designed to inspire and empower middle and high school students in the United States to learn about the environment and take action to improve it. In its sixth year, the program will award a total of $500,000 in grants and scholarships.

"The competition is open to students in grades 6-12 who are either registered and home-schooled or enrolled in a public or accredited private school, and who are legal residents of the U.S. or the District of Columbia. Teams of students can enter if they are part of an after school science or environmental club, but the challenge is not open to clubs outside of school.

"Middle and high school teams comprised of five to ten students and a teacher-advisor are invited to participate in one or both of the two initial challenges, each addressing different environmental elements — land/water and air/climate.

"For each of the challenges, teams define an environmental issue that is important to them, develop an action plan to address the issue, implement the plan, and report the results. The submission deadline for Challenge 1 (land/water) is October 29, 2012; the deadline for Challenge 2 (air/climate) is December 17, 2012.

"Each of the challenges will have sixteen winning entries — eight middle school and eight high school teams. The winning teams each will receive a total of $10,000 in scholarships and grants to be shared among the students, teacher, and school.

"In early January, the winning teams from the first two challenges will be invited to participate in the program's final challenge. Teams will be asked to reach beyond the local community and inspire environmental action around the world through innovative ideas that are communicated to a wide audience. From the final challenge entries, eight first-place teams and two grand prize-winning teams will be selected. Each of the eight first-place teams will receive a total of $15,000 in grants and scholarships, and two grand prize-winning teams will each receive $30,000. The money will be shared by the students, their teacher-advisers, and their schools.

"For complete program information and entry requirements, visit the Eco Challenge Web site.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Grants for American and Canadian Grades 6 - 12 Science Classes ala the Shell Science Lab Challenge

From The Foundation Center...

[If you are interested in this grant opportunity, click "Link to Complete RFP" at the bottom of this blog post, for more information]

"Deadline: November 12, 2012

National Science Teachers Association Accepting Entries for Shell Science Lab Challenge

"The National Science Teachers Association, (NSTA) with support from Shell Oil Company, is accepting entries for the third annual Shell Science Lab Challenge.

"The challenge invites middle and high school science teachers (grades 6-12) in the United States and Canada (with special attention to urban and underrepresented groups) to illustrate replicable approaches to science lab instruction utilizing limited school and laboratory resources.

"Entries will be judged on the basis of a number of criteria, including demonstrated science inquiry and innovation in the classroom with limited laboratory equipment, materials, and resources; demonstrated impact and engagement with students and the school community; and demonstrated need for support to improve science laboratory experiences.

"Fifty-four regional finalists will be selected and asked to create a short video that displays the school's current science laboratory facilities and provides further explanation of how winning equipment and resources would make a difference in their science teaching and in the learning experience for students. The judging panel will then review the submissions and select eighteen regional winners. Of the eighteen winners, five national finalists will be chosen, and from those finalists a grand-prize winner will be selected.

"More than $90,000 in lab makeover prizes will be awarded to the eighteen winning schools. All winners will receive science lab equipment, cash grants, membership to the NSTA, and support to attend NSTA conferences on science education.

"For complete program guidelines and the application form, visit the NSTA Web site."

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

High School Or College Students From Around the World Invited To Apply for Science Essay Competition

From The Foundation Center...

[If you have any questions about this award opportunity, or want more information on it, click "Link to Complete RFP" at the end of this blog post].

Deadline: June 15, 2012

High School and College Students Invited to Submit Entries for New Cosmic Frontiers International Science Essay Competition

The New Cosmic Frontiers International Science Essay Competition on the Nature of our Universe and its Habitats is open to high school and college students worldwide. The competition is designed to inspire students to consider careers in science, to nurture their enthusiasm for the subject, and to engage young minds in creative, intellectual activities essential to scientific endeavors.

The essay contest has been organized in conjunction with the New Frontiers in Astronomy and Cosmology International Grant Competition, a research program led by the University of Chicago and funded by the John Templeton Foundation to advance understanding in fundamental areas of astronomy and cosmology.

The student essay competition is focused on addressing two "Big Questions." For college students, essays will address the question: What is the origin of the complexity in the universe? For high school students, the question is: Are we alone in the universe? Or, is there other life and intelligence beyond the solar system?

Students from anywhere in the world are eligible to enter; there is no restriction on nationality. The college category is open to undergraduate students registered full-time at a college or university at the time of submission. Part-time college students are not eligible.

The first-prize winners in each category will be awarded cash prizes of $25,000 (for high school) and $50,000 (for college); second-prize winners will be awarded $10,000 (for high school) and $25,000 (for college); and five third-prize winners in each category will be awarded $5,000 (for high school) and $10,000 (for college). In addition, up to ten honorable mention prizes of $3,000 each will be awarded in either category.

Winners also will be given an opportunity to meet world-renowned scientists and scholars at a conference and award ceremony, to be held in Philadelphia, October 12-13, 2012. The program will include presentations by winners of the New Frontiers in Astronomy and Cosmology Research Grant Program and the New Cosmic Frontiers Student Essay Competition, a public event lecture, and a panel discussion of Templeton Prize winners and other original thinkers.

Complete program information, an FAQ, and entry procedures are available at the New Frontiers in Astronomy and Cosmology Web site.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Primary Subject: Science/Technology

Grants for Public, Private, or Charter High Schools' Student Retention Programs

From The Foundation Center...

[If you are interested in this grant opportunity, click "Link to Complete RFP" at the end of this post for more information].

Deadline: April 18, 2012 (Pre-Qualification Survey - see below for information)

AT&T Aspire Local High School Impact Initiative Offers Funding for Student Retention Programs

AT&T Aspire, a $100 million philanthropic program created by AT&T to help strengthen student success and workforce readiness, is offering funding through the Local High School Impact Initiative to high school success and college and career readiness programs that are helping to reduce dropout rates in their communities.
The 2012 Local Impact Request for Proposals features an increased focus on metrics, with a preference for programs showing results for those served vs. peer groups, as well as a stronger emphasis on under-served populations. AT&T is most interested in funding local programs that have strong evidence-based practices grounded in the "What Works Clearinghouse Dropout Prevention: A Practice Guide" and data-driven outcomes.

AT&T will give special consideration to organizations that incorporate social innovation in their programs. Organizations might use new concepts, ideas, and strategies to achieve success for students who are at risk of dropping out of school; collaborate with school districts, foundations, nonprofits, government entities, and/or businesses to maximize positive impact on students' success; or employ technological innovations to support student success. AT&T will give additional consideration to organizations that focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) disciplines in their programs for students who are at risk of dropping out of school.

The 2012 Local Impact RFP will provide project support for currently operating high school retention programs. The support should be used to expand the program to serve additional students, or to add components to strengthen the program. Project support is intended for organizations that are ready and capable of operating by the first semester of the 2012/13 school year.

Funding ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 over two years (2012-14) is available.

The program encourages the following types of entities to respond to the pre-qualification survey: school districts, campuses, and school district foundations with 501(c)(3) public charity status; charter school foundations and private school foundations with 501(c)(3) public charity status; 501(c)(3) public charities that work on-site with public and private education institutions; and 501(c)(3) public charities that work with public and private education institutions on a project basis. Private foundations without 501(c)(3) status are not eligible.

All prospective applicants are required to complete a pre-qualification survey as part of the RFP process.

Based on an evaluation of the pre-qualification response, prospective applicants will be asked to submit a full length RFP response to AT&T using an online, invitation-only application process.

Visit the AT&T Web site for program information, the complete RFP, and the pre-qualification survey.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Leadership Awards for American and British Jr. High & High School Level Students Wishing to Improve Their Communities

From The Foundation Center...

[For more information on this award opportunity, click "Link to Complete RFP" at the end of this post].

Deadline: January 12, 2011

Bank of America Charitable Foundation Invites Applications for Student Leaders Program

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation is accepting applications for its annual Student Leaders Program, a component of the foundation's signature Neighborhood Excellence initiative. The program is open to eligible high school juniors and seniors in selected market areas who are committed to improving their communities.

Selected student leaders participate in a paid eight-week summer internship with a designated local nonprofit organization where they experience firsthand how they can help shape their communities — now and in the future. To enhance their leadership experience, award recipients also participate in a six-day, all-expense-paid student leadership summit in Washington, D.C., provided by Bank of America. The nonprofit internship and student leadership summit exposes students to leadership aspects in the civic, nonprofit, and business arenas. The program's goal is to nurture and develop the country's next generation of community leaders.

Five student leaders will be selected from each of the forty-five eligible markets. To be considered for the program, applicants must be a junior or senior in high school (U.S. markets) or enrolled in sixth form/college or college of further education (ages 16 to 18) (UK). Applicants also must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship and be a student in good standing at his or her school.

Visit the Bank of America Web site for complete program information and application procedures as well as information on obtaining posters to publicize the program.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP