Best Grants for Charter Schools in Connecticut

Connecticut education and child welfare organizations can apply for Elizabeth Carse Foundation grants of up to US $10,000 for one-year projects, excluding general operating or capital needs. Charter schools and related K–12 programs that support teacher training or help children achieve better standards of living may be especially competitive, though funding is limited to three consecutive years.

Connecticut 501(c)(3) education and K–12 organizations can seek project support for programs in human needs, environmental stewardship, education, and community vitality. With a mission to strengthen communities, Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation provides grants of US $1,000 - US $15,000 to nonprofits in its Connecticut service area, including charter schools and related educational initiatives.

Connecticut K–12 charter schools and other 501(c)(3) organizations that integrate visual or performing arts into education can access funding through Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust. Grants up to US $25,000 support arts-based programs that revitalize curricula, motivate students, empower educators, and address inequities in education through evidence-based instruction and strong community partnerships.

Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The FCIDD was founded for the purpose of providing support to organizations that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Mission Statement: The Foundation supports organizations which enhance the lives of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities by promoting research, projects, education and advocacy. 

Nonprofit Project Grants

The Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FCIDD) funds 501(c)(3) organizations working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages, primarily in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. 

Funding Priorities

• Grants will be awarded for the purpose of primarily benefiting, including, or increasing accessibility for individuals with intellectual or development disabilities.
• Grants may be awarded for scholarships or training personnel in the care and education of individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. 
• Grants shall mainly be distributed to a Charity whose primary purpose or whose project is to support individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. A Charity which has a project to benefit individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities based on financial need shall be awarded the grant money based upon its own objective criteria and without any special preference to members of Civitan or members of their family.

Grant Categories

A grant application typically fits into one of the following categories: Accessibility & Engagement; Educational Spaces; Program Area Improvements; Outreach and Education 

Educational Spaces

For I/DD serving school programs with a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) attached needing property improvements or equipment/resource purchases to better serve their students with I/DD.

K–12 educators in Connecticut seeking support to attend STEM professional development programs can apply for scholarships that cover registration or related expenses. Offered by NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium, this opportunity may benefit charter school teachers focused on K–12 education, space science, aerospace engineering, or broader STEM/STEAM instruction and teacher training.

K-12 educators in Connecticut seeking support for STEM, aerospace, or aeronautics programming can use this grant to fund classroom or school-wide projects and activities. With a mission to inspire STEM careers, NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium provides funding for presentations by experts, design contests, robotics teams, and similar enrichment initiatives that charter schools may implement.

Charter schools and K–12 education nonprofits in Connecticut seeking support for student preparation, academic success, and college or career readiness can apply for grants of US $10,000 - US $25,000. Grants from KeyBank Foundation help organizations advance K–12 education, financial literacy, and workforce preparation within its Connecticut service area.

Connecticut K–12 schools, charter schools, child care providers, and organizations developing farm to school programs can access funding through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to build long-term farm to school capacity. Microgrants up to US $5,000 support projects that increase local foods in child nutrition programs and provide hands-on agricultural and nutrition education.

Connecticut 501(c)(3) nonprofits, K–12 schools, colleges, universities, and public libraries offering comprehensive family literacy—adult education, children’s education, and parent-child learning time—may receive up to US $10,000 for programming within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports K–12 education and literacy efforts that can benefit charter schools meeting these criteria.

Connecticut schools, school districts, childcare centers and homes, and education-focused organizations can obtain funding to develop or expand farm-to-school programs in Connecticut, supporting K–12 nutrition and agricultural education. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s CT Grown for CT Kids Grant offers up to US $50,000 for projects that increase local food in child nutrition programs and provide hands-on learning.

Connecticut K–12 education programs focused on agricultural literacy can access funding through the American Farm Bureau Federation’s White-Reinhardt Grant, which offers up to US $1,000 for reusable educational resources. State and county Farm Bureaus apply competitively, so charter schools may participate by partnering with their local Farm Bureau to start or expand ag-literacy initiatives.

Connecticut K–12 schools, districts, and education partners can seek funding to develop innovative STEM and biomedical science education projects for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students and teachers. Charter schools may be eligible for classroom or informal science education initiatives, including after-school programs and activities that build quantitative and computational skills, through the NIH Science Education Partnership Award program.

K–12 educators seeking agricultural literacy materials in Connecticut can use this grant to purchase classroom resources from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture store. With a mission to educate students about agriculture, American Farm Bureau provides US $100 in store credit to 100 selected teachers, which must be used on AFBFA resource items.

Nonprofit organizations providing K-12 education for Native American children living on reservations can apply for approximately US $77,000 from the Ruth Danley and William Enoch Moore Fund to enhance year-round, direct-service programming. With a mission to support educational and charitable purposes, this private fund primarily serves select regions including Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Washington DC, and West Virginia.

Connecticut higher-education faculty who mentor future K–12 educators can access recognition through the Mentor of the Year Award, honoring exemplary professional role models and advisors. Society of Health and Physical Educators highlights faculty who involve students in service, research, and professional organizations, and who actively support student clubs and honorary projects in education and athletics.

The Bill Breen Bluegrass Youth Education Fund provides Connecticut K–12 music education programs and other youth-serving groups with support to help people age 21 and younger experience and learn to play bluegrass. Administered by the IBMA Foundation, funding may assist school-based or extracurricular bluegrass education initiatives for children and teens.

Charter schools and K–12 education nonprofits in Connecticut working on youth education, workforce development, or basic needs may be eligible for this community grant supporting programs that build stability and growth. Grants from OneAmerica Financial help organizations nationwide, with primary focus areas including education-based learning, workforce readiness, and food security and housing stability.

Charter school educators and K–12 professionals in Connecticut supporting girls’ and women’s sports can apply for the National Girls and Women in Sports Legacy Award, which provides US $1,000 for projects like research, after-school programs, or leadership development. Society of Health and Physical Educators awards this annually to current SHAPE America members nationwide.

The Measurement and Evaluation Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a distinguished SHAPE America professional who has significantly impacted measurement and evaluation in health and physical education. This prestigious award highlights the importance of scholarly achievement and the influence of national standards in enhancing educational practices. It aims to honor those who have dedicated their careers to improving the quality of health and physical education, ultimately promoting healthier lifestyles for students across the nation.

The Measurement and Evaluation Honor Award recognizes exceptional contributions by a SHAPE America professional towards the Measurement and Evaluation SIG's mission. This prestigious accolade celebrates those who advance health and physical education practices, inspiring educators to enhance student well-being. Eligibility requires current membership in SHAPE America and the Measurement and Evaluation SIG, ensuring that only dedicated professionals are honored. This award embodies the commitment to fostering excellence in educational environments, ultimately aiming to prepare all children to lead active, healthy lives.

The Measurement and Evaluation Graduate Student Award, offered by SHAPE America, aims to support graduate students specializing in psychomotor measurement and evaluation. This scholarship assists with professional expenses, ensuring candidates can focus on their studies. Eligible applicants must be current SHAPE America members and pursuing relevant master's or doctoral degrees. The award prioritizes those who have completed their first year of study, promoting excellence in health and physical education across the U.S.

Arnold Ventures

Overview

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We focus on improving systems where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the time is right for change.

To advance this mission, we invest in rigorous research to better understand the root causes of problems and strengthen the evidence base on what works to solve them. Using this evidence, we advocate for policy reforms and help build durable, bipartisan coalitions for lasting change.

Request for Proposals

Causal Research on the Impacts of K-12 School Policies 

The next several years present an important opportunity to shape the future of state K-12 education policy. States are making consequential decisions about curriculum, assessment, and accountability systems; school choice and governance policies; and teacher and leader workforce policies. High-quality research in these areas will help policymakers distinguish between reforms that are merely appealing and those that meaningfully improve student outcomes over the long term.

Through this request for proposals (RFP), Arnold Ventures seeks to support research studies that estimate the causal effects of actionable, politically viable U.S. K-12 education policies that can be influenced at the state level and have the potential to improve outcomes at scale. Competitive proposals should employ rigorous causal research methods and, where feasible, examine not only short-term educational outcomes but also longer-term impacts on postsecondary and/or labor market outcomes using administrative data. Given the pace of state policymaking, we place a high value on research that can inform decisions quickly and will give preference to studies that can be completed within 18 months of project kickoff and/or produce actionable findings by the end of 2028.

The NEA Professional Excellence Grants aim to empower state and local affiliates by providing funding for innovative practices and resources that enhance the education profession. These grants support initiatives focused on student success, professional development, and the establishment of a quality educator workforce. Typical funding ranges from $3,000 to $25,000, enabling affiliates to implement programs that address specific learning needs and foster community partnerships.

The Local President Release Grant, offered by the National Education Association, aims to support local associations by providing financial assistance for the release of local presidents. This program facilitates critical leadership work, professional development, and member engagement within the community. Eligible local associations, including those offering part-time release, can apply to enhance their capacity without compromising existing programs. The initiative ultimately strengthens the effectiveness of local associations in achieving NEA's strategic priorities.

The NCUEA-NEA Urban Grants, funded by the National Education Association Staff Organization, aim to enhance membership growth through focused organizing proposals. These grants specifically support initiatives that promote density growth, bargaining readiness, and the development of new units. By prioritizing these areas, the program seeks to strengthen collective action and empower educators in their bargaining efforts.

The Aspiring Educators CREATE Grants, funded by the National Education Association Staff Organization, offer up to $2000 to strengthen the AE Program and foster impactful partnerships. Grants focus on areas such as Educator Quality, Community Engagement, Political Action, and Social Justice. Eligible organizations include state AE chapters, and submissions are accepted three times a year. This initiative encourages aspiring educators to develop their skills and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The NEA Community Advocacy & Partnership Engagement (CAPE) Grant aims to support local affiliates in mobilizing community organizations to enhance student achievement, particularly for students of color. Key priorities include fostering initiatives for racial justice in education, engaging NEA members trained in leadership, and creating union roles for community engagement. This grant encourages collaboration between educators and community leaders to build capacity and drive positive change.