We encourage you to check our website for updates on the application process and deadline. We look forward to reviewing your application in 2025!

STEM Funding Center

Request Financial Support

The STEM Funding Center is your one-stop shop to request financial support for your STEM education initiatives, designed to make funding more accessible and flexible for our community. We’ve simplified our grant opportunities into one application that will be open from January to October, with periodic reviews.

Eligibility

  1. Must be an Oklahoma educator, coordinator, administrator, organization or STEM program provider with at least two years of experience.
  2. Must be actively supporting or providing STEM-focused programming for Oklahoma youth (PK-12) or Oklahoma educators (PK-12) for the duration of the grant period.

Funding Levels

  1. Small: $499 or less (EX: supplies needed for a classroom STEM project)
  2. Medium: $499-$1,999
  3. Large: $2,000-$5,000

Restrictions

  1. Programs funded through this grant must be provided at no charge to participants
  2. Funds may not be used for inherently religious activities. 
  3. Funds are intended only for organizations, schools, or foundations and may not be applied to individuals or personal projects. 
  4. Other restrictions may apply depending on the funding level request.
All awards will be made in the form of a check. Checks will be made payable to the school/organization, not an individual, and a W-9 is required.  If you are an out-of-school-time provider wishing to provide programming at a school, you will need to upload a letter from a principal, teacher, or other administrator indicating that the program is supported and will be implemented at the school site. Out-of-school-time providers will also be asked to provide a Certificate of Liability.  

Resources

It is helpful to have all information and required documents (budget, letter of support, etc.) prepared prior to starting this application. Please note that this is a competitive grant application, and we encourage you to think through the projects and thoughtfully answer each question in full.
 

For tips on grant writing, check out these resources from STEMfinity and NSTA.

Process

Funding requests are reviewed 3 times a year and all applicants will be notified of the status of their request after each review period. Applicants may request funding for multiple projects throughout the year. However, funding is not guaranteed, and prior funding status will be taken into consideration.

The length and depth of the application will vary with the amount of funding requested.

Deadlines and Notifications
The application is open continuously from January-October with periodic reviews and the following deadlines:
 
ROUND 1 FUNDING
February 29, 2024: Round 1 Application Deadline
March 29, 2024: Round 1 Applicants Notified
 
ROUND 2 FUNDING
May 31, 2024: Round 2 Application Deadline
June 28, 2024: Round 2 Applicants Notified
 
ROUND 3 FUNDING
October 18, 2024: Round 3 Application Deadline
November 15, 2024: Round 3 Applicants Notified
 
Grant Period
Funding should be used during the school year in which it is awarded unless prior approval has been given.

Funding Priorities

We are deeply committed to supporting high-quality STEM education and believe that all students, regardless of their background or circumstances, should have access to opportunities that allow them to succeed in these critical fields.

To achieve this goal, our funding priorities focus on removing barriers to STEM education through various approaches. This includes providing in-school support to teachers and students, offering out-of-school opportunities that expand learning beyond the classroom, attending or facilitating a professional development to assist educators in teaching high-quality STEM, and sponsoring STEM competitions that inspire and challenge students to achieve their full potential.

Below are examples of projects or initiatives we’ve previously funded, but please note that this is not comprehensive, and we welcome applications that address other barriers not recognized on this list.

In-school Support

  • Consumable or non-consumable supplies needed for a classroom STEM project
  • STEM-related professional development for an educator, team of educators, or district/organization (any STEM area)
  • Anything needed to create excellent STEM experiences in the classroom or school

Out-of-school Opportunities

  • Resources to create an afterschool program, summer camp, or family STEM night
  • Materials needed to participate in a TRSA event or other STEM program
  • OST mentorship experiences
  • OST field trips 

Professional Development

  • Any costs to attend a PD or conference, including travel costs
  • Any costs to facilitate a STEM-related professional development for an educator, team of educators, or district/organization

STEM Competitions

  • Materials needed to participate in a TRSA event or other STEM competition.
  • Note: This especially includes any supplies needed to compete in our Drone & Aviation Showcase, Tulsa Regional Science Fair, and SeaPerch Challenge

Requests that will not be funded include items that are not STEM-related, general classroom supplies that do not specifically detail how they will be used to promote STEM education, and general classroom furniture or storage supplies.