Central Valley
Serving Mariposa, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare Counties

Local Funding Opportunities

Resources to consider when looking for grants

• Program officers of various agencies
  
  
  Dept. of Water Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Districts, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, CA Dept of Fish and Game, US Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, CA Air Quality Board, regional Air Pollution Control Districts, local Water Districts and Agricultural Groups.
  
  
  
• Private sources
  
  
  Corporations (local-regional) may need promotional aspect (e.g. Display Sponsors’ labels at events or sites). The community relations person at many companies may have up to $5K “nuisance money”, that they can distribute without having to obtain authorization.
  
  
  
• Service clubs
  
  
  Rotary, Lions, PTA, wealthy individuals in the community, Ag business, Wal Mart, PacBell, PG&E, Pepsi, Coke, Bass Masters (Note: with local entities ask for volunteers first, start small with a few instruments or needs, report back and give credit, ask for more).
  
  
  IMPORTANT: Don’t just ask for handouts, form relationships and partnerships in addition to requests for funds and/or materials. Can they offer volunteers, references or assistance with projects. Keep sponsors and donors informed with progress reports, thank you notes and acknowledgement in newsletters
  
  
• State Funds
  
  
  Members of the State Senate and Assembly listen to teachers with big ideas. Call your legislator's office and make a request inquiring about funding.
  
  
  
• School District Funds
  
  
  PTA's often fund environmental education field trips. Request SIP funds from your SITE Council. Most districts subsidize student outings to an outdoor school. If yours doesn't, its time to talk to the superintendent! There is discretionary money for environmental education curriculum. Talk to your principal. Capital Outlay Monies are available to the district. Do you need a piece of expensive equipment (microscopes, a Starlab), or want to build something like an aquarium? Your principal or department head is the best place t begin your inquiries about the process.
  
  Other Federal funds given to local school districts are called: Title VI Grants (formerly known as Chapter II) has a goal of "acquisition and use of instructional and educational materials...used to improve the quality of instruction." Eisenhower Funds. The Eisenhower focus is "staff development in math and science resulting in improvement of math/science teaching." For example, they can be used pay registration fees and the cost of a substitute so you can go to a conference.
  
  
  
• Foundations
  Over $8 billion a year is given away by thousands of foundations in the United States. Established by wealthy individuals, foundations serve the public and carry on the family name. It is important to know how the foundation works and what they give to. The IRS requires foundations to give away at least 5% of their income each year, and that is public information. This information is tabulated, cross-referenced and available in searchable form in the library and on the Internet. Since there are so many foundations, professional grant seekers writers-fund raisers are happy to help you (for a fee!) or you can do it yourself with a little research and help from the great websites provided by the CREEC Network.

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