Non-Federal Funding Sources for Informal STEM Education
Welcome to Insights & Opportunities: A Hub for Informal STEM Education! Insights & Opportunities is a twice-monthly newsletter for educators, administrators, legislators, and advocates who recognize the importance of informal STEM learning.
This newsletter is brought to you by me, Sarah Dunifon, and my team at Improved Insights. I’m a long-time STEM educator, researcher, and equity advocate. Along with my team, I now work on cutting-edge informal STEM learning research and evaluation.
Each edition of this newsletter offers exciting insights, resources, and opportunities for informal STEM learning professionals, including funding, jobs, professional development, informal STEM learning research, evaluation tips and resources, and so much more! We hope you find it valuable. Now, let’s get started.
Non-Federal Funding Sources for Informal STEM Education
At a time when federal support for STEM education initiatives is on unstable ground, we thought it wise to pull from the example set by Dr. Ruopeng An in this White Paper on NSF’s Handling of DEI-Related Proposals and point to funders outside of the state and federal governments who support informal STEM education (ISE).
Our research on ISE funders led us to three main categories of funding organizations: private foundations, corporate philanthropies, and the federal government. We cannot say if and when the new federal orders will influence corporate and private philanthropy, but, for now, here are some organizations who support our work:
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Amgen Foundation
Arizona Community Foundation
BP Foundation
The Brinson Foundation
To read the full article, check it out in our Insights.
60-Second Suggestions
Here are a few of our favorite things this month, usually pertaining to informal STEM education and evaluation, but occasionally some fun personal stuff, too.
STEM Next Opportunity Fund’s Flight Crew program is currently seeking applications from young voices (ages 13-18) in STEM from across the country to inspire their peers and demonstrate that STEM is for everyone. Flight Crew members share their stories on regional, state, and national stages and advocate for more out-of-school time STEM opportunities. Applications are open through March 12, 2025.
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is conducting a survey to better understand the collective impact of the new executive actions in the field of environmental education. The results of the survey will help inform lawmakers, donors, and others who support environmental education as well as the public understanding of how federal funding benefits their communities.
This blog post from Science Buddies highlights 40 influential African American scientists and engineers for Black History Month. This is a great starting point for conversations with students about the importance of representation, career opportunities in STEM, and exploration of science projects based on the work of these incredible scientists.
Opportunities
Check out these new opportunities for the informal STEM learning community.
Funding:
Aim High Grant Program, New York Life Foundation via the Afterschool Alliance, up to $100,000. Nonprofits are invited to apply for one- and two-year grants ranging from $20,000-$100,000. Grants will be awarded to organizations that support the ability of community-based afterschool and summer learning programs to provide the foundational skills and guidance that middle school students need to be prepared for the critical transition into high school. Applications are due March 7, 2025
Frank Hadley Ginn & Cornelia Root Ginn Foundation Grant Cycle, The Cleveland Foundation, up to $15,000. Organizations in the Cuyahoga County area are invited to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 in support of efforts focused on education, including programs that promote academic success, social-emotional growth in students to help them excel in school, and in-school and after-school programs that supplement academic learning. Applications are due March 1, 2025.
Garden Grant Program, Whole Kids Foundation, $3,500. Schools and nonprofit organizations will be awarded grants of $3,500 to turn outdoor spaces into hands-on learning gardens that connect kids with food, spark their curiosity, and support classroom curriculum. The program supports both new and existing edible educational gardens. Applications are due March 5, 2025.
Keep Communities Flowing: Water and Environment, American Water Charitable Foundation, variable. Nonprofits, public schools, and colleges and universities are invited to apply for funding to support programs focused on environmental education, water-based recreation, clean water, conservation, and climate variability. This includes projects that seek to educate, inform, and advance environmental issues, such as biodiversity projects. Applications are due March 7, 2025.
STEM Action Grants, Society for Science, $5,000. Nonprofit organizations working to enhance the public's understanding of science and increase participation of underrepresented populations in STEM fields are invited to apply for funding. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded and may apply to renew for up to three years. Applications are due March 5, 2025.
UWorld Cares Community Grants, UWorld, variable. Nonprofit organizations in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant counties) are invited to apply for funding. Grants will be directed toward innovative programs that support middle and high school students, with a special emphasis on STEM. Applications are due March 31, 2025.
Jobs and Fellowships:
Education Manager, Western Flyer Foundation (Moss Landing, CA), $75,000. The Education Manager will lead and expand education programs, refine existing offerings, and develop innovative initiatives that center experiential learning opportunities in marine science. Applications are due February 16, 2025.
Director of Exhibits, Exhibitions, and Environments, Explora (Albuquerque, NM), $55,000. The Director of Exhibits will lead and manage the exhibits, exhibitions, and environments group to oversee design, production, fabrication, installation, and evaluation of Explora's projects. They will coordinate internal and external partners, subcontractors, and content experts, incorporate visitor feedback, and ensure that exhibit activities align with the organization's values and mission.
Environmental Education Fellowship Program, Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center (Sandstone, MN), $275 weekly stipend plus room and board. The Environmental Education Fellows will gain experience with current environmental education methods, knowledge of Minnesota's unique biomes and natural history, direct mentorship, graduate-level coursework, and on-the-job learning. A weekly stipend, on-site lodging, and meals during the work week are provided. The fellowship will take place August 11, 2025 through August 7, 2026, and applications are due March 7, 2025.
Visitor Services Manager, Pajarito Environmental Education Center (Los Alamos, NM), $48,000. The Visitor Services Manager will oversee visitor experiences, coordinate volunteers and casual staff, and manage the membership program. This includes recruiting and retaining volunteers, enhancing visitor experiences, and outreach to potential and current center members.
Youth & Family Programs Educator, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Boothbay, ME), $24/hour. The Youth and Family Programs Educator will lead camp programming and implementation of programs for youth and families. They will manage their own portfolio of initiatives, including school partnerships and outreach programs. They will lead classroom lessons, field studies, and natural history tours, develop standards-aligned field trip programs, and support the development of a local school garden program. Applications will be reviewed February 24, 2025.
Professional Development:
AZA 2025 Mid-Year Meeting, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), March 24-29, 2025 (Palm Springs, CA). The AZA is hosting its mid-year meeting for 2025 March 24-29 at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Springs, CA. The meeting will feature education, networking, and social events with more than 1,000 zoo and aquarium professionals from across the country. Register by February 21, 2025 to receive the early bird discount.
National Conference in Philadelphia: For the LOVE of Science Education, National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), March 26-29, 2025 (Philadelphia, PA). The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)'s annual conference will take place in Philadelphia, PA March 26-29, 2025. Conference strands include Assessment, Research to Practice, Resilience in Teaching and Learning, and more.
Online Workshop: Museum Experiences Participating in STEM Learning Ecosystems, National Informal STEM Education (NISE) Network, March 4, 2025 (virtual). NISE Network partners will discuss their experiences engaging with their local STEM Learning Ecosystems. During this online workshop, participants will learn about the variety of types of STEM learning ecosystems and stages of relationship development, and hear from three STEM ecosystems about their partnerships and the work they are doing across the US. This virtual workshop will take place March 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM EST.
Science Talk '25, Science with Society, April 3-4, 2025 (Raleigh, NC). The Association of Science Communicators' annual conference will take place April 3-4, 2025 in Raleigh, NC. The 2025 conference will highlight the importance of ecosystem building over a wide spectrum of science communication activities, and explore how various areas of scicomm can come together to span boundaries.
Thanks for tuning in to this edition of Insights and Opportunities. While you’re waiting for the next edition, tell your friends! We appreciate you sending along a blog post you enjoyed, a job opportunity you think a friend should apply for, and resources you found valuable. Sharing this newsletter is the best way to support this work. Until next time - thanks!
