Best Parent-Teacher Organization Grants in Washington

Nonprofits and other organizations in Washington ready to run AmeriCorps programs can seek operational funding to address education, economic opportunity, disaster services, environmental stewardship, health, and veterans’ needs. Serve Washington’s New & Recompete AmeriCorps Operational Grant supports new applicants and those renewing after a three-year cycle, which may benefit K–12 school and parent-teacher organization partnerships.

Existing AmeriCorps operational grant recipients in Washington running K–12 or related community service programs can seek continuation funding for years two or three. Serve Washington’s AmeriCorps Continuation Grants support current grantees across areas like youth services, educational access, health, environment, and civic engagement; parent-teacher organizations already funded may be eligible.

About Serve Washington

Serve Washington advances national service, volunteerism, and civic engagement to improve lives, expand opportunity to meet the local critical needs of residents of Washington, and strengthen community capacity while creating healthy and resilient communities.

AmeriCorps Planning Grant

AmeriCorps Planning Grants provide initial funding to support current staff or to hire additional staff who can plan a proposed AmeriCorps program and develop systems for successful implementation of an AmeriCorps operational grant application. This is a great place to start if you are new to AmeriCorps! 

AmeriCorps Focus Areas

The National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act, emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of issue areas. To carry out Congress’s intent, maximize the impact of investment in national service, and achieve the goals laid out in the Strategic Plan (2022-2026), AmeriCorps has the following Focus Areas:

• Disaster Services: Helping individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of disasters and increase community resiliency.
• Economic Opportunity: Improving the economic well-being and security of underserved individuals.
• Education: Improving educational outcomes for underserved people, especially children. AmeriCorps is particularly interested in program designs that support youth engagement and service learning as strategies to achieve high educational outcomes.
• Environmental Stewardship: Supporting communities to become more resilient through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve land and water, increase renewable energy use and improve at-risk ecosystems, especially in underserved households and communities.
• Healthy Futures: Support for health needs within communities, including mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 and other public health crises, access to care, aging in place, and addressing childhood obesity, especially in underserved communities.
• Veterans and Military Families: Improving the quality of life of veterans, military families, caregivers, and survivors. 

Funding

Awards for planning grants may not exceed $75,000

Washington K–12 and youth-focused nonprofits can seek funding for housing stability, youth development, financial education, and economic development programs serving local communities. Banner Bank provides support to organizations in Washington, with priority for low- and moderate-income populations, which may include initiatives that complement school and parent-teacher organization efforts.

Parent-teacher groups and K–12 schools in Washington can seek funding for outdoor educational experiences, with awards from US $10,000 - US $175,000. Grants from Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office help support experiential outdoor learning, STEAM activities, habitat restoration, field studies, and leadership or mentorship programs that connect students with nature and their communities.

K–12 education and community-focused 501(c)(3) organizations or government units in Washington can seek more than US $2,500 to support local programs, services, and initiatives. First Interstate Bank provides funding for projects recommended by its local branches, benefiting schools, youth, health, human services, arts, and sustainability efforts.

K–12-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Washington can apply for BECU Foundation’s People Helping People Awards; grants up to Up to US $50,000 support education, basic needs, community development, health, environment, arts, and economic opportunity. PTAs, PTSAs, and school-support organizations may be eligible if their work fits these giving areas and serves BECU communities.

BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations in Washington and other Western states can receive funding for youth programs in athletics, culture, and education, including general operating support. The Charlotte Y Martin Foundation prioritizes rural groups serving ages 6–18, especially those advancing K–12 learning, STEAM education, cultural expression, and college access for communities of color.

Washington K-12 schools, libraries, colleges, universities, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits offering family literacy services can receive up to US $10,000 for adult education, children’s education, and parent-child literacy activities. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports programs within 15 miles of its stores, which may include parent-teacher organizations partnering on family literacy initiatives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Washington running long-term, transformative programs for underserved youth can seek funding for mentoring, K–12 academic support, and college or career preparation. Focused on youth development, Silver Family Foundation also considers general operating and multi-year support for programs serving school-aged children through college-age students.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and schools supporting K–12 students can apply for $2,500 - $10,000 in program funding from The Albertsons Companies Foundation, including in Washington. Focus areas include youth and education, hunger, health and human services, veterans, and inclusion. Parent-teacher organizations may be eligible if they meet these criteria and serve communities where the company operates.

K–12 schools and related education partners in Washington can seek funding to improve walking and biking safety and access within two miles of primary, middle, and high schools. Washington State Department of Transportation provides support for infrastructure and activities that enhance student mobility, promote healthy active lifestyles, and reduce traffic, fuel use, and air pollution near schools.

Parent-teacher organizations and school-related groups in Washington seeking to improve student walking and biking safety can apply for this program, which funds pedestrian and bicyclist infrastructure and mobility projects. The Washington State Department of Transportation supports projects like sidewalks, buffered bike lanes, crossings, and speed management to increase active transportation trips, with awards up to US $49,380,000.

Ellison Education Grants

The Ellison Education Grants were created to empower and support Washington State’s most effective, innovative and inspirational K- 12 public school teachers. This is done by providing support to educators who design academic enrichment curriculum for students and or professional learning experiences for their current practice. The Ellison Foundation acknowledges a classroom teacher's expertise in understanding their own professional learning needs and the needs of their students. Since 2017 the Ellison Foundation has awarded 163 grants and over $800,000 to public-school educators in Washington State.

The Ellison Foundation wishes to award multiple grants in the Spring of 2027 for the 2027 – 2028 school year. Grant amounts range between $1,000 and $10,000.

With a mission to improve lives, KeyBank Foundation provides Washington K–12 education and community nonprofits with US $10,000 - US $25,000 for programs in academic success, college and career preparation, and financial literacy. Parent-teacher organizations and school-support groups may be eligible if they are nonprofit charitable organizations working within KeyBank’s priority areas.

Healthy Kids-Healthy Schools Grants

Funds for this grant are available in two categories: physical education/physical activity and nutrition. The nutrition category includes but is not limited to, renovations or repairs, new purchases and improvements to cafeteria and kitchen equipment, and spaces, water bottle filling stations, garden-related structures, and greenhouses. Garden related and greenhouse projects must provide students access to fresh produce. The physical education and physical activity category includes, but is not limited to, physical education renovation, indoor or outdoor physical education equipment, playground equipment, covered play areas, related structures and renovations. Prior to applying, districts must consider their ability to sustain improvements over time. Districts receiving funding must also demonstrate a consistent commitment to addressing school facilities’ needs. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. No single district may receive more than $200,000.

Grant Process Key Points

• There is no district leveraged or matching funds requirement.
• Grants are for procurement of equipment, repair, and renovation of existing equipment or facilities, or design and construction of new facility space and infrastructure related to the categories listed above.
• In-house labor costs will not be reimbursed.
• For more information including scoring criteria, see Form Package 505.

Indoor Air Quality Assessment Grant

The Indoor Air Quality Assessment Grant grant will fund technical assistance from various state and local entities, as well as commercial experts, to help schools improve their HVAC and smart building systems. 

This grant will support technical assistance from state funded entities, such as OSPI, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Health. It will also provide funding for technical assistance from other entities, such as local health jurisdiction school safety programs, the Smart Building Center’s K-12 ventilation and the indoor air quality resource team. Additionally, the grant will help cover the cost of hiring commercial experts who know how to troubleshoot modern HVAC or smart building systems. 

The Human Trafficking Youth Prevention Education (HTYPE) Demonstration Program aims to empower local education agencies (LEAs) by funding initiatives that equip school staff to identify and respond to human trafficking signs. Collaborating with nonprofit partners, LEAs will provide students with essential knowledge on avoiding victimization and recognizing trafficking indicators. This program fosters a safer school environment by establishing reporting procedures and safety plans in consultation with local law enforcement, ultimately enhancing awareness and prevention of human trafficking in educational settings.

The Women Helping Women Fund is dedicated to empowering women and children in Spokane County through community-based programs. This responsive grant initiative supports organizations that align with their mission, ensuring that funds are utilized effectively to create stronger homes. Eligible agencies must hold 501(c)(3) status and demonstrate financial stability. The fund emphasizes philanthropy and aims to uplift the community, fostering a brighter future for those in need.

K–12 public, charter, and private schools in Washington and across the U.S. can access School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN) grants to expand on-campus mental health services for grades 6–12. SBHSN provides a fully funded mental health professional plus US $5,000 - US $25,000 in performance-based awards, which principals can use for student support initiatives.

Washington K–12 educators who use or manage chemicals in middle or high school labs can seek funding to improve chemical safety, training, and infrastructure. Parent-teacher organizations partnering with eligible science teachers may benefit from the American Chemical Society High School Chemical Safety Grant, which offers up to US $3,000 for safety workshops, PPE, professional development, and related needs.

Full-time preK–12 classroom teachers in Washington and across the U.S. can apply for Fund For Teachers fellowships to design personalized professional learning experiences that strengthen their teaching practice. These grants support educator-designed growth that ultimately benefits K–12 students, and may be of interest to parent-teacher organizations partnering closely with school staff.

K–12 teachers and educators in Washington can get funding for insect science projects through the Entomological Society of America’s Chrysalis Fund. Grants up to US $2,500 support classroom and school-based programs, covering supplies, services, travel, and educator stipends. Parent-teacher organizations partnering with K–12 educators may benefit for student-focused activities.

The White-Reinhardt Grant offers funding for projects that enhance agricultural literacy among K-12 students. With grants of up to $1,000 available, state and county Farm Bureaus can initiate new educational programs or expand existing ones. This initiative, supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation and its Women’s Leadership Committee, honors the contributions of Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, aiming to bolster agricultural knowledge across the nation.

The Woodworth Family Foundation Grant supports nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Tacoma and Pierce County, focusing on education, youth services, health care, and human services. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $25,000, with no back-to-back funding in consecutive years. Applicants must submit an online Letter of Inquiry, with reviews completed within 60 days. The foundation aims to enhance community well-being through various targeted initiatives.

The NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) fosters innovative educational initiatives aimed at pre-college students, promoting their interest in STEM fields, especially in biomedical and behavioral sciences. This program supports both classroom projects and informal science education activities, such as after-school programs and library events. Emphasizing the development of quantitative and computational skills, SEPA seeks to inspire the next generation of scientists and thinkers through engaging educational experiences.

The Christina Sue Lilja Resource Grants support agricultural literacy by providing funds for educators to purchase resources from the Ag Foundation store. In 2025, 100 educators will receive $100 in store credits, selected randomly if applications exceed this number. This initiative, backed by the CSL Foundation, honors Christy Lilja's legacy of advocating for agricultural education. The grants aim to enhance classroom resources and improve students' understanding of agriculture, ensuring access to accurate information.