Best Parent-Teacher Organization Grants in Pennsylvania

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.

Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in K–12 education, health, hunger, or support for everyday heroes can apply for Wawa Foundation grants over More than US $2,500. Grants from Wawa Foundation help fund pediatric health, hunger relief, first responder and veteran support, and mentoring programs that benefit local communities Wawa serves.

Pennsylvania K–12 public schools and education-focused 501(c)(3) charities can seek funding for programs that enhance learning, especially in math, science, and business, as well as environmental stewardship initiatives. Vulcan Materials Company Foundation prioritizes projects in communities where its employees live and work and values strong employee involvement with applicant organizations.

Parent-teacher organizations, K–12 schools, libraries, colleges, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Pennsylvania can seek up to US $10,000 to support comprehensive family literacy programs. Dollar General Literacy Foundation funds projects within 15 miles of its stores that combine adult education, children’s education, and parent-child together time, which may benefit PTO-led school literacy initiatives.

Public and charter K–12 schools within 50 miles of Mountain Top, Pennsylvania can apply for Project Lead The Way’s PLTW Biomedical Science Program Expansion grants, offering US $10,000 for PLTW participation fees, required devices, equipment, supplies, and teacher core training costs. High-need schools and those adding or expanding PLTW Biomedical Science courses in 2026–2027 may benefit.

Pennsylvania K–12 public and charter schools near Mountain Top that want to start a PLTW Biomedical Science course can apply for funding from Project Lead the Way, supported by the ON Semiconductor Foundation. Grants of US $20,000 cover PLTW fees, required technology, equipment, supplies, and teacher core training costs for the 2026–2027 school year.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW)

Our Mission: Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Our Philosophy for Education: We believe all students – beginning at a young age – need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career, and beyond.

We believe teachers play an immeasurable role in empowering students, and our programs provide teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students.

PLTW Engineering - New Program In Partnership With Ardagh Group

Ardagh Group has partnered with PLTW to support education in its local communities where Ardagh employees live and work. This partnership recognizes the critical role education, and access to education, plays in ensuring equal opportunities and in building successful, vibrant communities. It is expected that over the next 10 years, Ardagh sponsored education programs will benefit more than 500,000 PreK-12 students as well as delivering best-in-class teacher training to more than 5,000 teachers across 2,000 schools in Ardagh's U.S. communities.

Ardagh is a global supplier of sustainable packaging solutions with 16,000+ employees worldwide, and proud local employer.

Program Requirements

The purpose of this grant is to assist the grantee's implementation of the PLTW Engineering program. Grantee must offer the PLTW Engineering program for three academic years. Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Engineering course in the 2027-2028 academic year and must offer one additional course in the 2028-2029 academic year (two different courses in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Engineering courses of their choosing. Grantee must complete three years of grant reporting.

Caroline J.S. Sanders Trust 2 provides Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) organizations with grants supporting education, health, human services, public benefit, and related programs. Nonprofits serving K–12 students, youth, and families, including libraries and scholarship initiatives, may be eligible for awards of US $3,000 - US $7,000, with priority for educational and broad social welfare efforts.

Nonprofit charitable organizations running K–12 education, basic needs, or workforce readiness programs in Pennsylvania and other KeyBank states can apply for KeyBank Foundation grants of US $10,000 - US $25,000. Grants from KeyBank Foundation help strengthen affordable housing, financial literacy, small business growth, academic success, and job creation in eligible communities.

K–12 education nonprofits in Pennsylvania seeking funding for tangible items may be eligible for up to US $10,000 to support school-related programs and resources. Snee-Reinhardt Charitable Foundation supports organizations that foster transformative community programs, with preference for Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania, and also considers broader educational and youth-focused initiatives.

Pennsylvania K–12 schools, PTAs/PTOs, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits running after-school or out-of-school youth programs or operating food banks/pantries can access funding through Aldi Foundation’s Community Gift Card Program. Awards of US $100 - US $1,000 provide ALDI gift cards to support youth development, education, arts, athletics, and efforts addressing food insecurity and nutrition.

Focused on K–12 agricultural education, this program invites Pennsylvania Farm Bureaus to seek up to US $1,000 for reusable materials that build agricultural literacy. County and state Farm Bureaus apply on a competitive basis, and local schools or parent-teacher groups may partner with them to start or expand classroom or school-based ag literacy projects.

K-12 teachers and youth educators in Pennsylvania can seek funding for insect-focused classroom and outreach projects, including supplies, services, travel, and stipends. The Entomological Society of America supports hands-on insect science education for K-12 students through the Chrysalis Fund, offering up to US $2,500 across micro, regular, and large grant tiers.

Full-time preK–12 classroom teachers seeking personalized professional development can apply for fellowships that fund self-designed learning experiences to enhance K–12 education. With a mission to strengthen teacher leadership, Fund for Teachers provides U.S. educators, including those in Pennsylvania, with support to deepen practice and bring new skills back to their students and school communities.

Middle and high school science educators in Pennsylvania can seek funding to improve chemical safety in their classrooms and labs. American Chemical Society supports K-12 education by offering up to US $3,000 for safety training, professional development, PPE and lab safety materials, inventory and ordering systems, consultant support, and related substitute teacher costs.

Public, charter, and private middle and high schools in Pennsylvania can receive funding to expand on-campus mental health services for students in grades 6–12, with awards from US $5,000 - US $25,000. School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network provides a fully funded mental health professional and discretionary principal grants to address absenteeism, behavioral issues, and academic decline in K–12 settings, including PTO-supported initiatives.

Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) nonprofits providing K–12 education, youth development, college access, or economic self-sufficiency programs can access funding through BLBB Charitable for operating support, projects, or capacity building, with awards up to US $15,000. Organizations serving the Greater Philadelphia area, especially Bucks and Montgomery counties, including school-related parent groups structured as nonprofits, may be eligible.

Pennsylvania K–12 education organizations and partners running STEM and biomedical science programs can access funding through the National Institutes of Health’s Science Education Partnership Award. Projects may include classroom curricula, teacher support, or informal science education such as after-school programs and library initiatives, including efforts to build quantitative and computational skills.

K–12 educators seeking agricultural literacy materials in Pennsylvania can use this grant to purchase accurate ag resources for their classrooms. With a mission to support agricultural literacy, American Farm Bureau provides U.S. teachers with US $100 in AFBFA store credit for approved resources, which must be used by September 30, 2025.

The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust Grant supports educational initiatives in Philadelphia and surrounding counties, focusing on children and youth. The Trust prioritizes programs that improve literacy and provide equitable educational opportunities. Grants, capped at $25,000, are available for first-time applicants and require 501(c)(3) status verification. Organizations must demonstrate effective use of funds, including audited financial statements and IRS Form 990 submission. The Trust seeks to enhance lives through community-driven educational projects.

Nonprofit organizations providing K-12 education for Native American children living on reservations, including programs connected to Pennsylvania schools or PTAs/PTOs, may be eligible for support. With a mission to advance charitable and educational purposes, the Ruth Danley and William Enoch Moore Fund backs year-round, measurable programs serving underserved students across select Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern regions.

The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Grant supports excellence in education and assists distressed individuals in the Greater Philadelphia area, established by Christian R. Lindback's testamentary gift. Since 1961, the foundation has honored outstanding faculty with the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and partners with the School District of Philadelphia to recognize exemplary public school educators. The Foundation prioritizes discretionary grants for projects that can be accomplished in a brief timeframe.

The SHAPE America: Mentor of the Year Award recognizes an exemplary role model committed to fostering student engagement in professional activities. Candidates must have a minimum of three years of membership in SHAPE America and serve as full-time faculty at a higher education institution. This award emphasizes mentorship through professional behavior, involvement in student projects, and providing academic guidance, ensuring that students are well-prepared for their future careers.

Our Story

The IBMA Foundation was created by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2007 with a bequest from the Richard Barnhart estate. Mr. Barnhart was a musician from northern Virginia who loved bluegrass and wanted to support educational programs for children. Since the beginning, our goal has been to support bluegrass-music-related educational, literary, artistic and historic preservation activities.

In our early years we produced Discover Bluegrass, an educational video that has been used in thousands of classrooms and libraries around the world. We have hosted dozens of teacher workshops and artist trainings. We created a bluegrass lesson plan competition and provided a network for leaders of after-school bluegrass programs.

Our project grants, which now total $25,000 a year, support bluegrass-related initiatives throughout the world. We also fund Bluegrass in the Schools Mini-grants ($7,000/year) which help schools to hire bluegrass bands for school programs. The Rosenberg Bluegrass Scholar Award recognizes excellence in academic research. Six college scholarships are granted for students working in various areas of the bluegrass music industry. The Arnold Shultz Fund supports increased participation of people of color in bluegrass music with grants that total $30,000/ year. Fletcher Bright Memorial Grants for Young Musicians (age 18 and younger) help young people go to bluegrass music camps and workshops, take lessons, and purchase educational materials. 

Bill Breen Bluegrass Youth Education Fund

The Bill Breen Bluegrass Youth Education Fund was initially financed by friend and colleague, Susie Stephenson. The fund is an option for donors who want to help young people experience and learn to play bluegrass music. Instead of funding a specific scholarship or grant, the Breen Fund will be used by the IBMA Foundation where needed most, in a variety of ways that benefit individuals age 21 and younger. Based in Chicago, Illinois, Bill was an Associate Professor and Professor of Finance at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University from 1971-2002, going on to serve as Chairman of the Finance Department and Head of Doctoral Studies for the Kellogg School. In addition to playing the banjo, Bill was an avid sailor and fly fisherman, and he never met a dog he didn’t like. His friends and family say it’s fitting that a man so passionate about the banjo, bluegrass music, and education is memorialize with a bluegrass youth education fund.

The OneAmerica Financial Community grant supports 501(c)(3) organizations focused on education, workforce development, safety, wellness, and community vibrancy. With a commitment to making a difference, OneAmerica aims to transform lives through strategic philanthropy. Their initiatives include disaster relief, arts support, and civic engagement, fostering resilient communities. By investing in meaningful change, they build a foundation for shared success across the country, ensuring that community needs are met and future generations thrive.

The National Girls and Women in Sports (NAGWS) Legacy Award, established by SHAPE America, honors exemplary contributions to increasing opportunities for women in sports. This annual award recognizes current SHAPE America members who submit impactful proposals related to women's sports, with a monetary prize of $1000. The award will be presented at the National Convention & Exposition, with a special deadline of November 1st. Nominations can include various initiatives aimed at empowering women in sports.

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.