Best STEM Education Grants in Iowa

Iowa public school districts and accredited nonpublic school systems can seek funding to provide proven computer science professional development for teachers. Focused on STEM education, the Iowa Department of Education invites Iowa school systems and collaboratives to support high-quality computer science instruction, including allowable costs like required training equipment and stipends for off-contract time.

Public, private, and charter schools in Iowa seeking to launch a PLTW Biomedical Science pathway can receive up to US $14,000 to cover participation and teacher training fees over three years. Project Lead The Way provides funding for new PLTW Biomedical Science programs running from 2026–2027 through 2028–2029.

Iowa public school districts and accredited nonpublic school systems can apply for Iowa Department of Education funding to reimburse tuition and textbooks for teachers pursuing computer science or 5–12 CTE Information Technology endorsements. Awards up to US $1,300 help build local capacity for high-quality STEM and computer science instruction in Iowa schools.

Iowa 501(c)(3) nonprofits offering STEM education, workforce readiness, safety, environmental, or community vitality programs in Union Pacific–served communities can access funding through Union Pacific Foundation for programmatic projects, not general operations. Grants of US $5,000 - US $30,000 prioritize underrepresented populations and initiatives that demonstrate clear need, strong capacity, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Secondary STEM educators and pre-service teachers in Iowa can receive up to US $5,000 and three graduate credits for completing 200–240 hours in a summer workplace through paid externships. Iowa STEM Council provides Iowa STEM / STEAM education professionals with hands-on industry experience to better connect classroom learning to real-world careers.

Iowa 501(c)(3) nonprofits and eligible government entities can access funding for STEM and workforce development education, sustainability, and thriving community initiatives. Marathon Petroleum supports programs with measurable outcomes in regions where it operates, including Iowa, with grants focused on technical and vocational training, youth development, environmental conservation, and community safety and resilience.

Schools and nonprofit partners in Iowa providing after-school academic and enrichment programs, including STEM education, can seek US $50,000 - US $150,000 annually through the Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC program. With a mission to expand community learning centers, Iowa Department of Education funds Title I-eligible schools serving significant low-income student populations.

Middle schools in Iowa seeking to launch the PLTW Gateway STEM program for the first time can receive US $9,100 in non-cash support for participation and teacher training. Grants from Project Lead The Way help cover PLTW Gateway participation fees and six Core Training registrations for eligible public, private, and charter schools, including rural and high-need campuses.

About Us

We enable donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

Mission & Values

Our vision is for just, equitable and resilient communities.

Our mission is to inspire enduring philanthropy and enable community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region.

We value all people, all partners and our region.

Common Scholarship Application

Achieve your Higher Education Dreams

In just one application, our Common Scholarship Application provides students access to more than 150 scholarship opportunities with awards ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,000.

In 2025, San Diego Foundation awarded a record-breaking $5.5 million in scholarships to nearly 1,400 students.

The Pittsburgh Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four–year universities, graduate schools, and career/technical schools.

Pittsburgh ERG Scholarship Fund

The Pittsburgh ERG Scholarship formed by employees of Microsoft delivers on the mission of Microsoft’s local employee resource group to support diversity and inclusion. This scholarship enables high school students with disabilities and/or financial needs to go to college and pursue a career in technology. In addition, we hope to contribute to increasing the pool of people living with a disability enrolling in higher education and, in the long term, decrease the unemployment bias for this demographic. This scholarship will be awarded to promising high school seniors living in the city of Pittsburgh who plan to attend a vocational or academic college and have a financial need. The amount of this multi-year renewable scholarship is $12,000 payable over four years ($3,000 per year). (Immediate family members of Microsoft employees are not eligible for this scholarship.)

• Average Award: $12,000 over 4 years.
• Award Type: Multi-Year (up to 4 years). Recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and enrollment in the stated major.

The Pittsburgh Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four–year universities, graduate schools, and career/technical schools.

Kennametal Scholarship Fund

The Kennametal Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to support students in Southwestern Pennsylvania with financial need pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related degrees. The purpose of the scholarship is to broaden the awareness of opportunities in STEM by supporting students who have been disproportionately affected by systemic barriers to educational achievement.

• Average Award: Varies
• Award Type: Multi-Year (up to 4 years).

Better World Scholarship Fund

The scholarship encourages women to acquire a degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) field. The donor’s bachelor’s degree is in mathematics, followed 15 years later with a master’s degree in business administration. Her degree in mathematics provided opportunities for jobs in software development and application, medical research, technical documentation, organizational education and training, scientific research, and business. Her career was challenging, dynamic, encouraged creativity, never boring, offered schedule flexibility that allowed her to parent her four children, provided career choice independence, and was lucrative. Go STEM Girls!

Award Amount:

• Minimum $1,000

Community Foundation of the North State

The Community Foundation builds trust through relationship, integrity, and by providing safe places for donors to give their resources.

We are a nonprofit, public charity serving the people of Shasta, Siskiyou and Tehama counties, with a mission to impact the region through the power of giving.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of the North State manages many scholarship funds that are awarded to graduating high school seniors as well as students already in an undergraduate program. Some scholarships were started by families or individuals; others by businesses or organizations. All scholarships share one important focus: helping young people reach their educational goals.

REU Powering Redding’s Future Scholarship Fund

Redding Electric Utility (REU) is proud to offer students in the Redding community awards from the REU Powering Redding’s Future Scholarship, Program. The purpose of REU’s Program is to identify and support local students dreaming and planning to attend community college, a 4-year college/university, or technical school. The primary goals of REU’s Powering Redding’s Future program is to encourage Redding’s youth to consider a college/university or technical school education that may lead to career opportunities in the electric utility industry, preferably with REU. This program will award up to $50,000 in scholarships for local students each year.

All REU scholarships are offered to Redding residents.

EPSCoR RII Research Fellows Limited Competition

EPSCoR RII: EPSCoR Research Fellows directly aligns with the NSF EPSCoR strategic goal of establishing sustainable Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professional development pathways that advance workforce development and effects engagement in STEM at national and global levels. EPSCoR RII: EPSCoR Research Fellows provides awards to build research capacity in institutions and transform the career trajectories of investigators and further develop their individual research potential through collaborations with investigators from the nation's premier private, governmental, or academic research institutions and/or centers. The fellowship provides opportunities to establish strong collaborations through extended or periodic collaborative visits to a selected host site. Through collaborative research activities with the host site, Fellows will be able to learn new techniques, develop new collaborations, advance existing partnerships, benefit from access to unique equipment and facilities, and/or shift their research toward potentially transformative new directions. The experiences gained through the fellowships are intended to have lasting impacts that will enhance the Fellows' research trajectories well beyond the award period. The benefits to the Fellows are also expected to improve the research capacity of their institutions and jurisdictions more broadly.

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors.

The Reuter Scholarship Fund

• Interested in pursuing a career in engineering, science or technology
• Based on good moral character and student’s overall performance as to academic ability and standing, extracurricular activities, success in dealing with life’s challenges in individual circumstances and financial need

This FOA is intended for proposals related to basic and applied research in the STEM categories, and not related to the development of a specific system or hardware procurement.The proposal submission process has two stages:I. Applicants are encouraged to submit a white paper first to Grants@NPS.edu, ; andII. Applicants must submit a full proposal through Grants.gov (do not submit white papers through Grants.gov, only full proposals)Applicants are encouraged to submit a White Paper in advance of a Full Proposal to minimize the labor and other costs associated with the production of detailed full proposals that have little chance of being selected for funding. Based on an assessment of the white papers, the responsible Research Program Officer will provide informal feedback notification to the prospective awardees to encourage or discourage submission proposals. The Research Program Officer may also, on occasion, provide feedback encouraging re-work to strengthen a proposal. White Papers may be submitted at any time during the open period of this FOA. A separate White Paper is required for each research proposal.

About Legacy Foundation

Legacy Foundation is the community foundation for Lake County, Indiana. We connect people, knowledge, and funding to build an equitable, accessible, and inclusive Lake County, now and for generations to come.

Legacy Foundation is supported by a broad base of individuals, families, and businesses connected by the desire to improve Lake County, Indiana. With a growing portfolio of over 300 funds and approximately $80 million in assets, Legacy Foundation is a trusted source for philanthropic giving in the region.

For over 30 years, Legacy Foundation has been empowering people, providing strategic leadership, and impactful philanthropic support to create an equitable Lake County where all people thrive.

Mission Statement

Transforming Lake County by providing strategic leadership and impactful philanthropic support to ensure equitable opportunity for all communities that we serve.

Vision Statement

Create an equitable Lake County where all people thrive.

Milton and Ruby McClendon Scholarship

Use the chart below to see which scholarships are the best fit for you! You must complete the Legacy Universal Application to apply.

Scholarship eligibility requires students to attend an accredited 2 or 4 year public or private institution of higher learning. All scholarships are for full-time students, unless otherwise noted. Renewable awards are for 4 years of undergraduate study and cannot be used for post graduate coursework; all awards are paid directly to the school or may be used for book reimbursement.

Students pursuing college studies in industrial arts, technology, construction, manufacturing, or related STEM fields who demonstrate a strong work ethic and have low to modest income may be eligible for this scholarship. The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation prioritizes Kansas and Midwest residents, which may include Iowa students preparing for STEM-related careers.

Community college-bound STEM students in Iowa can access funding through the Community Foundation of North Central Washington for STEM and environmental studies education. Graduates or graduating seniors of Wenatchee or Westside High School who later declare a STEM major may be eligible, with preference for first-generation, disadvantaged, foster care, or science-focused students.

American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM, environment, energy, or cultural sustainability degrees at accredited U.S. institutions can receive $5,000 scholarships through Native Forward Scholars Fund. Iowa students meeting GPA, full-time enrollment, and Tribal affiliation requirements may be eligible, especially those preparing for renewable energy careers.

Iowa Indigenous students pursuing full-time STEM-related vocational or trade programs can access funding through the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, with Indian Motorcycle and the Polaris Foundation. This US $2,000 scholarship supports AISES student members studying fields such as welding, automotive or diesel technology, clean energy, IT, construction, and related technical disciplines.

Female high school seniors from Erie, Huron, or Ottawa County, Ohio planning to study STEM or medical fields can apply for the Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky High School STEM Scholarship Fund. Administered by Erie County Community Foundation, this scholarship may interest students exploring STEM education opportunities beyond Iowa-focused funding.

American Indian and Alaska Native students pursuing full-time STEM degrees at accredited institutions in Iowa and nationwide can access funding through Native Forward Scholars Fund. This need-based scholarship supports undergraduate, graduate, and professional study in fields like engineering, life sciences, environmental sciences, technology, and more, with awards ranging from US $100 to US $30,000 per academic year.

Iowa students interested in STEM or arts-focused post-secondary education may be eligible for the Dr. Alice M. Hudder–Richard T. Molder Scholarship, which supports Erie County high school seniors pursuing college or university study. Erie Community Foundation awards one scholarship for science, math, or business and another for art or music majors, based on need and merit.

High school seniors planning to study STEM at a U.S. college, university, or technical institution can receive US $10,000 to support their education, including students from Iowa. Aiaa Foundation’s Future’s Resilient Student Scholarship prioritizes those facing disabilities, financial hardship, or being first-generation college students and includes mentorship from aerospace professionals.

Our Impact

UNCF was founded in 1944 to help more African American students attend and graduate from college.

Since then, we've helped to more than double the number of minorities attending college.

For Students

UNCF is more than just scholarships. We’re the nation’s leading minority education organization and our goal is to help you get to and through college.

Our support takes many different forms. From merit scholarships to financial assistance, on-campus assistance to professional development, emergency financial aid to community support, UNCF is committed to getting more students like you to and through college.

2026-2027 The RADM (ret.) Jeffrey A. & Linda J. Cook Scholarship

The RADM (ret.) Jeffrey A. & Linda J. Cook Scholarship is a need-based, recurring scholarship for active-duty, retired U.S. military veterans, or their dependents who are enrolled full time and pursuing undergraduate STEM degrees at an accredited HBCU. Recipients will receive a renewable award of up to $4,250 to support them in obtaining their undergraduate degree.

This scholarship is in honor of CPO Arthur A. Cook and Capt. Delbert E. Colwell, the fathers of the Grantors who served honorably during WWII.

The Sammy and Shirley Church Scholarship supports students from Ashe County, NC, including those graduating from the NC School of Science and Math. Eligible candidates must demonstrate academic excellence, physical vigor, and leadership in various activities. Financial need is considered but not the only criterion. Applications open on Dec. 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026. Ensure to meet specific eligibility requirements set by the donor for successful application.