Best Grants for Charter Schools in South Carolina

South Carolina K-12 schools, charter schools, and other eligible public entities can seek funding for traffic safety, driver education, and financial literacy programs through the Auto Club Group Foundation, with awards of US $5,000 - US $15,000. Grants may support classroom initiatives, scholarships, or related programming within the foundation’s multi-state service area.

Public charities and government units in South Carolina working on K–12 or higher education, STEM, or environmental stewardship projects can seek funding to strengthen local communities. Vulcan Materials Company Foundation supports programs in areas where it operates, with preference for initiatives involving schools, environmental education, and active Vulcan employee involvement.

South Carolina 501(c)(3) organizations running K–12 education or related community programs can seek US $1,000 - US $15,000 to support specific projects. With a mission to strengthen communities, Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation provides funding for education, human needs, environmental stewardship, and community vitality in areas where it serves, which may include charter school initiatives.

Public schools and districts in South Carolina seeking to enhance K–12 arts curriculum can apply for the Arts Curricular Innovation Grants, offering up to US $40,000 for one-year projects. Programs must support comprehensive arts education and, over a three-year strategic plan, address dance, music, theatre, and visual arts, which may include charter schools.

K-12 education providers serving migratory children in South Carolina can seek funding to improve academic outcomes and support high-quality, comprehensive educational services. South Carolina Department of Education supports K-12 education in South Carolina by funding programs that address educational disruption, language and cultural barriers, social isolation, and related challenges so migratory youth can meet state standards and earn diplomas.

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.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities providing K–12 education or related services in South Carolina and North Carolina can seek funding for programs that build self-sufficiency and long-term impact. With a mission to strengthen education, healthcare, human services, and Jewish values, Leon Levine Foundation provides established Carolinas organizations with support for scalable, financially sustainable initiatives.

Charter schools, other K–12 schools, libraries, colleges, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in South Carolina offering family literacy programs can seek up to US $10,000 to support adult education, children’s education, and parent–child together time. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation funds organizations within 15 miles of a Dollar General store and listed in the National Literacy Directory.

The Robinson Foundation Grant, established in 2016, aims to alleviate hardships faced by individuals and communities, demonstrating God's love through charitable contributions. As a family-operated foundation, it focuses on creating meaningful, long-term impacts in various areas including animal welfare, education, and disaster relief. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501(c)(3) public charities. The foundation prioritizes fiscally responsible projects with the potential for tangible results, while not supporting capital projects.

The C4O Organizing Grant, offered by the National Education Association Staff Organization, supports collaborative strategic organizing projects. It provides resources for training, coaching, and workshops aimed at enhancing member engagement and addressing equity in education. Eligible projects include those that align with NEA Strategic Goals, fostering leadership among members on critical issues affecting their practice. This grant aims to empower educators and improve opportunities for all students.

K-12 teachers and educators in South Carolina can seek funding for insect-focused classroom and outreach projects, including supplies, services, travel, and educator stipends. The Entomological Society of America’s Chrysalis Fund offers micro to large grants up to US $2,500 to support creative insect science education for K-12 students, including charter schools.

Charter schools and other K–12 programs in South Carolina can partner with their county or state Farm Bureaus to seek funding for agricultural literacy projects. Focused on K–12 agricultural education, the American Farm Bureau Federation invites Farm Bureaus nationwide to apply for up to US $1,000 to start or expand reusable ag literacy initiatives.

South Carolina K–12 schools, districts, and education-focused organizations can seek funding to develop innovative STEM and biomedical science education projects for pre-K through grade 12 students and teachers. Charter schools may be eligible for the NIH Science Education Partnership Award, which supports both classroom-based and informal learning, including after-school and library programs that build quantitative and computational skills.

K–12 educators seeking agricultural literacy materials in South Carolina can use this grant to purchase classroom resources from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture store. With a mission to support K–12 education, American Farm Bureau provides U.S. teachers with US $100 in store credit for accurate agriculture-focused learning tools.

Nonprofit organizations providing K-12 education for Native American children living on reservations can apply for approximately US $77,000 in program support from the Ruth Danley and William Enoch Moore Fund. With a mission to strengthen charitable and educational efforts, this fund backs year-round, measurable programs, which may include charter school initiatives serving these students in South Carolina and beyond.

South Carolina K–12 education professionals in higher education who mentor future teachers can access recognition through the Mentor of the Year Award, honoring exemplary faculty role models. Offered by Society of Health and Physical Educators, this award highlights outstanding academic advising, professional preparation, and student engagement in professional opportunities across the U.S. and territories.

South Carolina K–12 and youth music education programs can access funding through the IBMA Foundation’s Bill Breen Bluegrass Youth Education Fund to help young people experience and learn bluegrass. The fund is used where most needed to support bluegrass-related educational activities for individuals age 21 and younger across the U.S., which may include charter school initiatives.

Nonprofit organizations offering K-12 education, youth programs, workforce development, or basic needs services in South Carolina may be eligible for national community grants that prioritize Indianapolis and Maine. Grants from OneAmerica Financial help strengthen financial stability, improve academic outcomes, expand access to housing and food, and build the capacity of social service providers through sustainable community initiatives.

K–12 educators and program leaders supporting girls’ and women’s sports can seek funding for research, leadership development, or after-school sports initiatives, including work in South Carolina. The Society of Health and Physical Educators offers the NAGWS Legacy Award, providing US $1,000 annually to a current SHAPE America member whose proposal advances opportunities for female participants and leaders in sport.

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.

The Luther Halsey Gulick Award, presented by SHAPE America, recognizes individuals with over ten years of membership who have made outstanding contributions to health and physical education. This prestigious honor is awarded annually to a candidate selected for their exemplary leadership and service in the field. Nominations are carefully evaluated based on the candidate's impact on the profession and their ability to inspire future generations to lead healthy, active lives.

Arnold Ventures

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 at all levels of government and help build durable, bipartisan coalitions for lasting change.

Causal Research on the Impacts of Cell Phone Policies in K-12 Schools

The Opportunity

Smartphones are nearly universal among children and adolescents in the United States: 95% of teens reported having access to a smartphone, giving them regular exposure to social media, gaming, and video streaming platforms. While smartphones can support learning and social connection, emerging evidence suggests that using phones during school may also interfere with important educational goals, including student engagement, attendance, and academic performance.

In response, more than 30 states have passed laws restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools in recent years. These policies vary widely, ranging from “bell-to-bell” policies to classroom-level bans on phones only during instructional time. Despite the rapid adoption of these policies, rigorous evidence on academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts remains limited. In the absence of strong research, federal and state policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, lack the information needed to make informed decisions that effectively support student success. Building a robust evidence base is critical for shaping policies and practices that improve learning and well-being in both the short- and long-term.

This RFP seeks to address these gaps by supporting rigorous, causal research on the academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts of cell phone policies in K-12 schools in the United States. We seek studies that generate actionable insights for policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, who are deciding whether and how to implement or refine such policies. This RFP will support both Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Quasi-Experimental Designs (QEDs) that can credibly estimate causal effects. While we are open to a range of research questions, we highlight 2 areas of particular interest below.

What are the overall impacts of policies restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on student-level outcomes, including academic achievement and attainment (e.g., standardized test scores, graduation rates), behaviors (e.g., engagement, attendance, disciplinary actions), and/or mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness)?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on school-level outcomes, including school safety (e.g., reported incidents), school climate (e.g., bullying, social connections), and administrative factors (e.g., costs, logistics, communications with parents)?

• Do initial impacts persist, fade, or grow as schools refine their practices over time?

What factors explain variation in the impacts of cell phone policies?

• Which students, schools, and districts are most impacted by cell phone policies?

• Which policy design features (e.g., what devices are banned, when devices are banned, how devices are stored/locked) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• Which implementation strategies (e.g., training and supports for school staff, consistent approaches for enforcement) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• How do the resource and operational implications of different policy approaches (e.g., costs, staff time, infrastructure needs) influence their effectiveness? How do these factors affect the scalability and sustainability of effective approaches?

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.