Mid-Del Public Schools Foundation

Supports the planning and implementation of programs for children that motivate and encourage reading, especially for struggling readers. Selection criteria include the potential to measure and evaluate a literacy project that promotes the importance of reading and facilitates the learners' literacy development by supporting current reading research, practice, and policy. Maximum award: $2,500. Eligibility: reading programs specifically designed for children (grades K-9) in the school library setting. Deadline: February 7, 2011. http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslawards/innovativereadinggrant/aaslreading.cfm

Campbell's Labels for Education

The Campbell's, Inc., Labels for Education Program gives schools free educational equipment in exchange for labels from Campbell products. Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: Schools or parents coordinate label drives to raise resources for schools. Most Mid-Del Schools already participate in this program. http://www.labelsforeducation.com/about-the-program.aspx

Colonial History Resources

The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is encouraging schools statewide to create Community Colonial Day events. To support this effort, the foundation has created a Community Colonial Day Web site. http://www.ofe.org/col/col-day/index.htm.

Cox Connects Foundation - Innovation in Education Grants

Teachers/principals at eligible schools are encouraged to submit an application. Classroom and school-wide projects are welcome in any subject area, however, strong consideration will be given to programs that employ technology components. The one-year grant may be used to create a new classroom program, build upon an existing classroom program, or promote student learning and participation through a school-wide program. Only one application per school may be submitted. http://www.cox.com/oklahoma/coxconnects/innovation.asp

Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants

Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grants provide funding to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations that help students below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. Maximum award: $3,000. The 2010 grant application and selection has now closed. Be on the watch for a new grant cycle sometime during the spring of 2011. http://www.dollargeneral.com/dgliteracy/Pages/youth_grants.aspx

Guardian Life Insurance: Girls Going Places Awards

The Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Program rewards the enterprising spirits of girls who demonstrate budding entrepreneurship, are taking the first steps toward financial independence, and are making a difference in their schools and communities. Maximum award: $10,000. Eligibility: girls between the ages of 12 and 18 as of December 31, 2010, who are enrolled in middle school or high school and are a U.S. legal resident. Deadline: February 28, 2011. http://www.guardianlife.com/womens_channel/girls_going_places/girls_going_places.html

Herb Society of America: Donald Samull Classroom Herb Garden Grant

The Herb Society of America has established indoor herb garden grants for teachers in grades 3 through 6, to ensure that teacher Donald Samull's tradition of using herbs with students will continue for years to come. Maximum award: $200. Eligibility: public and private 3rd-through-6th grade teachers with classes of a minimum of 15 students. Deadline: November 1, 2010. http://herbsociety.org/resources/samull-grant.html

Mockingbird Foundation: Grants for Music Education

The Mockingbird Foundation grants funds to schools and nonprofits to effect improvements in music education for children (see website for specific requirements). Mockingbird is interested in targeting children 18 years or younger, but will consider projects that benefit college students, teachers, instructors, or adult students. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: public schools K-12, 501(c)3 organizations. Deadline for letters of inquiry: September 1, 2010. http://www.mockingbirdfoundation.org/funding/guidelines.html

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Nature of Learning Grant Program

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Nature of Learning Grant Program seeks to use National Wildlife Refuges as outdoor classrooms to promote a greater understanding of local conservation issues and utilize field experiences and student-led stewardship projects to connect classroom lessons to real world issues, as well as build partnership among local schools, community groups, natural resource professionals and local businesses. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: schools or non-profit organizations. Deadline: April 1, 2011. http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Charter_Programs_List&CONTENTID=18432&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm

OG&E Teacher Grant Program

OG&E Energy Corp. awards grants up to $1,000 to public school teachers in grades K-12 to fund innovative math, science, and reading projects. The deadline for submission in May 31, 2010. Winners can expect 2010 grants to be awarded after the beginning of the fall 2010 semester. Teachers can email questions to ogecommunityrelationsteam@oge.com. http://www.oge.com/community/teacherskids/Pages/TeachersKids.aspx

Sodexo: Stop Hunger Scholarship

The Sodexo STOP Hunger Scholarship program supports the education of young people working to end hunger in communities across the United States, and brings attention to the innovative and effective solutions they are implementing toward ending hunger in their lifetime. Maximum award: a $5,000 scholarship award and a matching $5,000 grant in their name for the hunger-related charity of their choice. Eligibility: students enrolled in an accredited education institution (kindergarten through graduate school) in the United States who can demonstrate an ongoing commitment to hunger-relief activities in their community. Deadline: February 18, 2011. http://www.sodexofoundation.org/hunger_us/scholarships/scholarships.asp

Target: Early Childhood Reading Grants

Target Early Childhood Reading Grants promote a love of reading and encourage young children to read together with their families by supporting programs such as after-school reading events and weekend book clubs. Maximum award: $2,000. Eligibility: schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations. Deadline: April 30, 2011. http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031821

Target: Arts and Culture in Schools Grants

Target Arts and Culture in Schools Grants help schools and nonprofits to bring arts and cultural experiences directly to K-12 students. These programs must have a curriculum component. Maximum award: $2,000. Eligibility: schools and nonprofit organizations. Deadline: April 30, 2011. http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031819

Teaching Tolerance's Free Educational Kits & Magazine Subscription

Teaching Tolerance's educational kits and subscriptions to its magazine are FREE to classroom teachers, school librarians, school counselors, school administrators, professors of education, leaders of homeschool networks, youth directors at houses of worship and employees of youth-serving nonprofit organizations. Order form:
http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/TT_free%20order%20form%2011-09.pdf

Note: Most of these listings come via the PEN Weekly NewsBlast, published by Public Education Network. The NewsBlast is a free electronic newsletter featuring resources and information about public school reform, school finance and related issues. To subscribe, please visit their site at http://www.publiceducation.org and follow the subscribing instructions in the lower left of their home page.