Special Edition: Upcoming Grants
Welcome to a Special Edition of Insights & Opportunities, 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 Improved Insights, a research and evaluation firm dedicated to strengthening the field of informal STEM learning.
We are taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming (newsletters that highlight an evaluation feature, suggestions on resources to review, and opportunities of interest) to bring you two special newsletter editions in June.
At the midpoint of the year, we thought it would be helpful to forecast opportunities for informal STEM education professionals coming up in the next six months. In our previous edition, we highlighted upcoming conferences. This Special Edition focuses on relevant grants with submission windows between August and December, 2026.
August
Community Grants Program, The Denver Foundation, $20,000-$50,000. Nonprofits in Metro Denver are invited to apply for funding for initiatives that focus on four priority areas: youth well-being, economic opportunity, environment and climate, and housing. This grant opportunity’s goal is to support organizations working to reduce disparities, with a particular focus on people who live in low-income communities and communities of color. Applications are due August 3, 2026.
The Cytokinetics Corporate Giving Program, Cytokinetics, variable. Nonprofits in the greater Bay Area and Philadelphia are invited to apply for grants that support diversity in science education for middle school, high school, or post-secondary students. Initiatives may include STEM-related learning and experiential programs, college prep and readiness programs, and STEM scholarships. Applications are due August 3, 2026.
September
Institutional Challenge Grant, William T. Grant Foundation, $650,000 over 3 years. Partnerships between research institutions and public agencies or nonprofit organizations focused on reducing inequality in youth outcomes are invited to apply for funding to support these research-practice efforts. Youth-serving areas can include education, justice, mental health, workforce development, and others. Applications are due September 9, 2026.
Bay County Community Partnership Grants, Bay Area Community Foundation, up to $5,000. Registered nonprofits in Bay County, Michigan, are invited to apply for funding for their projects and programs. Priority focus areas are the arts, education, environment, health, human services, recreation, or community initiatives. Applications are due September 14, 2026.
2027 Funding Cycle, McCune Charitable Foundation, $15,000. Nonprofits, state and tribal governments, and public schools in New Mexico are invited to apply for funding that promotes the priorities of the McCune Charitable Foundation: capacity building in the nonprofit sector; education transformation; strategies for rural development; and others. The grant cycle is open August 15-September 15, 2025.
West Michigan Youth Programs, The Gerber Foundation, up to $10,000. Nonprofits in the West Michigan region are invited to apply for grants to fund youth programming. Special emphasis will be placed on programs in the target areas of education (including STEM education), early childhood services and literacy, life experiences (agricultural science education, 4-H, FFA, etc.), among others. Submissions are due September 15, 2026.
Youth Service Capacity-Building Grants, William T. Grant Foundation, $60,000 over 3 years. New York City nonprofits that provide direct services to young people ages 5 to 25 are invited to apply for funding to address capacity-building needs that have been identified through a formal or informal assessment. The long-term goal of the program is to help build stronger, more stable youth-serving organizations that tackle inequality in youth outcomes. Applications are due September 17, 2026.
National Cancer Institute Youth Enjoy Science Research Education Program, National Institutes of Health, up to $400,000. Organizations, including nonprofits, school districts, institutes of higher education, and others, are invited to apply for funding to support research education activities that promote interest in biomedical research for students in grades 6-12. Proposed activities should focus on research experiences, curriculum or methods development, and outreach. Applications are due September 28, 2026.
Early Childhood Education and Play, Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood, variable. Nonprofit organizations are invited to submit letters of inquiry for support of new programs aimed at improving the quality of early childhood education everywhere a child learns through innovative curricula and designing imaginative play materials and learning environments. Letters of inquiry are due September 30, 2026.
Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) STEM Innovator Awards, NASA, up to $400,000 over 2-3 years. STEM Innovator Awards will support institutions serving as a regional resource and that are working to enhance innovative practices in STEM informal education. Eligible entities include non-profit museums, planetariums, libraries, and youth-serving organizations. Notice of Funding Opportunity is anticipated to be released in Fiscal Year 2026 Q3.
October
Energize the Environment Grant Program, Quadratec, $3,500. Individuals, groups, and organizations with ideas or events designed to help the environment are invited to submit a brief essay about their proposed project or endeavor. Examples of previously funded projects include trail building, litter prevention initiatives, and community environmental education projects, among others. Essays must be submitted by October 30, 2026.
Bee Grants, Whole Kids Foundation, $1,500. Schools and non-profit organizations that serve grades K-12 are invited to apply for monetary and equipment grants to start or enhance existing bee programs. The grant will support educational bee hives and bee programming so students can observe bees up close and learn about pollinators’ vital role in the food system. Applications are due in October 2026 (final date TBA).
November
2026 Grant Cycle, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, variable. Nonprofits serving the greater Washington, D.C. area are invited to apply for funding to support five program areas: education, arts and humanities, community services, environment, and health and wellness. Projects submitted in the education category may include both formal and informal learning opportunities. Applications are open October 1-November 1, 2026.
Inspire Grants for Small Museums, Institute of Museum and Library Services, $5,000-$75,000 over 1-3 years. Small museums of all disciplines, through the Museums for America program and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), are invited to apply for funding to support project-based efforts to serve the public through educational programs and exhibits, community partnerships, and collections stewardship activities. The application deadline is November 13, 2026.
National Leadership Grants for Museums, Institute of Museum and Library Services, $50,000-$750,000 over 1-3 years. Museums of all disciplines are invited to apply for grants to support projects that address critical needs of the museum field. Projects will advance museum learning and engagement practices, advance the museum field’s ability to respond to community needs, and identify new solutions to address collections care or conservation issues. Applications are due November 13, 2026.
December
Seeding Action with iNaturalist Funded Cohort, Seeding Action and iNaturalist, up to $20,000. Association of Science and Technology Centers and Seeding Action member organizations that have used iNaturalist in the past are invited to apply for funding to undertake new or expanded projects that leverage the iNaturalist app to encourage local action. The cohort will meet regularly over one year (timeline TBA) to support collective brainstorming, learning, and project planning. A Request for Proposals for Cohort 3 is anticipated to be released near the end of 2026.
Rolling
These opportunities are open to applications year-round:
NSF STEM K-12, National Science Foundation (NSF), $25,000-$750,000. Nonprofits, institutes of higher education, U.S.-based commercial organizations, State and Local Governments, and Tribal Nations are invited to apply for funding to support innovative, multidisciplinary, and potentially transformative projects that support fundamental, applied, and translational research that enhances STEM teaching and learning in formal and informal learning settings.
STEM Sprouts Grant Program, Glenn W. Bailey Foundation, variable. Organizations that introduce young children in grades K-8 to foundational concepts and skills are invited to apply for funding to support STEM programs. Programs should aim to foster curiosity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and a love of STEM learning from an early age.
STEM Stars Grant Program, Glenn W. Bailey Foundation, variable. Funding is available to organizations that support middle and high School students in advanced STEM programs (both in and out of school) and who ultimately want to pursue a college degree in a STEM-related field. Various STEM interest areas are supported by the grants, including Enrichment Activities, Curriculum Development, and Parent and Community Engagement.
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