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Grant Opportunities and “Green” Fundraising Ideas for School Field Trips

The following list of organizations may provide funding for school field trips and/or transportation for field trips. While this list is brief, it provides a starting point for educators and parents who wish to obtain financial support for student learning experiences outside of the classroom.

For additional grant opportunities, visit the California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) website pages, entitled "Funding Opportunities" at http://www.creec.org/stories/storyReader$61. CREEC’s website includes a variety of resources that may sponsor field trips and/or school projects. These resources range from federal and state agencies, to school districts and parent-teacher organizations, as well as local businesses and community service clubs. Further Internet research is another option for locating monetary assistance.

Fundraising events may offer more opportunities for financing field trips and/or transportation. There are many companies that offer products intended for school fundraisers. However, the organizations included here concentrate on products that endeavor to be ecologically and/or socially responsible, or that recycle items which would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill.

Granting Organizations, January Deadlines

• California Fertilizer Foundation Grant
  • Submission Deadline: January 15, 2012
  • Grants are for growing gardens for your school
  • http://www.calfertilizer.org/grant.htm

• Captain Planet Foundation
  • Submission Deadline: January 15, 2012
  • Proposal must promote understanding of environmental issues
  • Field trip must be supplemented by semester-long lesson plan & post-trip contact w/foundation
  • DOES NOT fund transportation costs
  • http://www.captainplanetfdn.org

Granting Organizations, February Deadlines

• Toshiba Education Grant
  • Submission Deadline: February 1, 2012
  • Grants are for Science and Math for more than $5,000
  • Grant applications for $5,000 or less are accepted on a rolling basis
  • Teachers for grades 6-12 may apply
  • http://www.toshiba.com/taf/612.jsp

• NEA Student Achievement Grants
  • Submission Deadline: February 1, 2012
  • Available in the form of Student Achievement grants to K-8 public school educators
  • Grant amount is $2,000 or $5,000
  • http://www.neafoundation.org/

• Gannett Foundation Community Action Grant
  • Submission Deadline: February 16, 2012
  • Average grant amount is in the $1,000 - $5,000 range
  • Applicants are notified of final decisions about 90-120 days after deadlines
  • Community Action Grant priorities include education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.
  • http://www.gannettfoundation.org/

Granting Organizations, March Deadlines

• Target Art Grants Program
  • Grant applications will be accepted starting March 1, 2012
  • Art and Culture in Schools Grants are $2,000
  • Grant notifications are delivered in September
  • http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031819

Granting Organizations, Rolling Deadlines

• The W.K. Kellogg Foundation
  • The W.K. Kellogg Foundation believes it is important to walk alongside prospective grantees to accomplish goals of mutual interest
  • They are most interested in reviewing new and innovative ideas aimed at helping vulnerable children succeed
  • No deadline
  • http://www.wkkf.org/grants/for-grantseekers.aspx

School Fundraisers

• Equal Exchange Fundraising
  • Equal Exchange offers catalog fundraising featureing 100% Organic & Fair Trade foods and gifts from small farmers and artisans around the globe.
  • Raise 40% profit, catalogs and posters are free
  • http://www.equalexchange.coop/fundraiser
• Fundraising Green
  • Fundraiser utilizes sales of coupon book with discounts on Southern California and web-based companies that offer eco-conscious, fair trade products and services
  • Local Southern California organization promotes “ethical consumption” and healthy, green living
  • http://www.fundraisinggreen.com
• GRC Wireless Recycling
  • No cost to sign up for program; collects used cellular phones
  • Reuses/refurbishes viable phones and recycles non-viable phones according to EPA guidelines
  • Pays for shipping of collected phones and sends check to school
  • http://www.grcrecycling.com/index.cfm
• Newman’s Own Organic Chocolate
  • Organic chocolate is sustainably-grown in Costa Rica and Panama; variety of flavors
  • Provides income for native peoples and preserves rainforest lands
  • Fundraising conducted entirely online; no door-to-door sales
  • NOTE: The “CrunchTime” website includes a NON-NATIVE tree seedling fundraiser, that the ENC does not endorse, because it disrupts the native diversity of California ecosystems. (The tree offered on the website is native to China.)
  • http://www.crunchtime.org
• Phoneraiser
  • No cost to sign up for program; collects all brands used cell phones & ink jet cartridges
  • Reuses/refurbishes viable phones, and recycles non-viable phones according to EPA guidelines; ink jet cartridges are recycled and then reused in the marketplace
  • Pays for shipping of collected phones/ink jet cartridges and sends check to school
  • http://www.phoneraiser.com
• Smencils
  “Gourmet” scented pencils made from 100% recycled newspapers
  • Sells variety of scents & colors in different size packages (kits, packs, buckets)
  • Company advertises from 45% - 49% profit, depending on quantity ordered and sold
  • Free shipping
  • http://www.smencils.com

Other Fundraising Ideas for Educators, Parents, and Students

• Plant Sale: Plant and care for seeds, then sell larger seedling plants (veggies, herbs, flowers).

  Some things you’ll need: seed packets, soil, seed containers (egg cartons, yogurt cups), water; a place in the sun for seeds to sprout and grow; tags or popsicle sticks and a permanent marker to identify types of seeds; larger containers to transplant seedlings

• Movie Night/Popcorn Sales: Hold a movie night in the auditorium and sell cheap tickets.

  Some things you’ll need: recycled copy paper and school copy machine to make tickets; movie projector/DVD projector and screen or white wall; movies; rental popcorn machine/microwave; popcorn; small bags for popcorn; also offer beverages for sale

• Rummage Sale: Sell gently used toys, clothes, books, and household items to the community.

  Some things you’ll need: place to hold sale (school field or auditorium); tables, boxes, and/or blankets to hold sale items; pens, cardboard, and stickers to price items and to make directional signs to sale; items to sell (with parents’ permission first, of course); beverages and snacks to sell

• Walk/Run/Jog-A-Thon: Get family and friends to sponsor students by paying per lap, etc.

  Some things you’ll need: sponsor sign-up sheets for each student or class; place to run (school field/playground); water/snacks for participants; boom box with music; friends, family, teachers, and principal to act as cheerleaders for students