From a Million Moments to the Next One
by Levi Patrick—Executive Director
The summer months are a welcome season of rest and reflection. Gratitude and hope swell as I look back at our collective work and forward to what’s to come. As the signs of a new school year begin to emerge, I’m filled with that familiar, invigorating feeling of a fresh start.
This year, that feeling is magnified by a truly monumental achievement made possible by the sweat, tears, and tireless pursuit of opportunity for all that makes our ecosystem so powerful. I’m incredibly proud and humbled to share that since becoming our own nonprofit in 2017, Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance, in collaboration with our partners, has reached 1,000,000 youth! Just think about that for a moment. That’s one million new STEM experiences across Oklahoma that inspired, engaged, and prepared Oklahoma youth for a STEM-enabled future. Each one of those moments, from lessons to mentor relationships and hands-on experiences, is a testament to what we can accomplish together when we lean into the power of our STEM ecosystem.
It’s a powerful moment of celebration, but it is not the destination. It is the foundation for our next chapter. We’ve laid the groundwork, and now it’s time to double down and empower the people who make this work happen every day.
That’s why I’m thrilled to also announce the opening of the 2025 STEM Funding Center. This year, we’ve allocated grants totaling $35,000 to directly support our community. We know that doing more with less is a constant challenge for educators and program providers, and we want to be a partner in a tangible way.
We’ve organized the grants into two areas to help fuel your work:
1. Out-of-School Time Grants:
With a total of $25,000 available , these grants are designed to support new and existing out-of-school time (OST) programs. We know that impactful STEM learning happens before and after the school bell rings, and these funds are here to help. We’ve designed grants for both individuals and organizations, with awards ranging from $500 to $5,000. We are prioritizing support for programs that issue Digital Badges for students or are partnering with the Opportunity Project’s EnrichED program. We know that sometimes programs receive some funding but aren’t able to implement the full scope they envisioned. Therefore, we also want to help fill the gap for those programs that have partial funding but need more to cover things like supplies, or for those who want to expand their reach.
2. Curriculum and Resources Grants:
With $10,000 available for this program area, these grants are specifically for initiatives that support classroom instruction. They’re designed to help educators adopt open-access, high-quality curricula like Weathering the Storm, OpenSciEd K-12 Science, OpenUp K-12 Math, Code.org, and Bootstrap for integrated high school computer science. These funds are for one or more specific initiatives, not general use, and can be used for non-consumable supplies and materials.
These grants aren’t just a financial transaction; they’re an investment in our shared vision. We are prioritizing applicants who are already actively engaged in our ecosystem, especially those at Title 1 schools and our official partners. We also want to support those who have participated in our student events or professional development, and programs that prioritize the recruitment of underserved and disinvested populations.
The future of STEM in Oklahoma is brighter when our educators, program providers, administrators, and community members work together. We have the wisdom and the passion to make a difference, and we get to decide the kind of community we want for our kids.
So, I invite you to learn more about the funding opportunities, because this is your chance to fuel the next chapter of our story. Let’s go from a million moments to the next one, together.