Funding Opportunities
Our funding opportunities help Utah educators and organizations make the most of learning opportunities and give STEM students valuable learning tools and otherwise unavailable resources. These grants and sponsorships provide funds to enhance everyday learning, assist students in extracurricular STEM competitions, and support access to hands-on STEM experiences and activities.
Our Grant Process
STEM Action Center Grants and Sponsorships
The STEM Competition Grant is designed to support Utah students, grades K-12, participating in STEM competitions throughout the state. This grant replaces the student Fairs, Camp, and Competitions Grant. Award amounts range between $500 to $5,000.
The STEM Action Center values organizations who are dedicated to STEM education in Utah. This funding should serve three purposes: broaden student/community impact, increase student/community resources, and encourage student/community involvement in STEM activities.
Community Impact Sponsorships are for organizations that provide STEM learning opportunities outside of the regular school day. These could be community organizations, after-school clubs, summer programs, or any organization that works to enhance learning through regular/consistent programming opportunities with student/community participants. In order to apply, your organization will need to ensure it can provide a W-9 for the organization.
The Computing Partnerships grant identifies gaps in and provides solutions for computing opportunities for students and educators in Utah. This grant is intended to target the development of new, innovative computing activities or support an increase in the capacity of existing, proven programs. Applicants are encouraged to emphasize activities that support the integration of coding into problem-solving and that are cross-disciplinary. The STEM Action Center is interested in activities that provide access to underserved populations and have a focus on activities outside of the classroom; however, applicants may address a variety of activities that support computing activities.
The K-12 Math Personalized Learning Software Grant provides schools and districts with access to a selection of math personalized learning software programs to improve student outcomes in mathematics literacy. Educators have access to software that generates personalized math lessons based on individual student's abilities and aptitudes. These programs are high-quality, cost-effective, and improve student achievement. Our rigorous evaluation process for these technologies shows a statistically significant relationship between program use and improved student outcomes in math. This initiative has consistently improved students’ growth and proficiency in mathematics.
Math is the biggest educational predictor of students’ future academic and career success, even after controlling for reading and attention skills, socio-economic status, and socio-emotional behaviors. STEM jobs are among the highest paid, and the demand for qualified workers is continuously growing. Even for students who don’t pursue STEM, math achievement predicts future success and opens doors to opportunities that would otherwise be impossible. This pilot project will provide funding to institutions and organizations to develop, implement and/or enhance innovative math-focused programs designed to mitigate gaps that currently exist in math education. All ideas/programs developed using funding from the STEM Action Center are intended to be shared freely for the benefit of all learners in Utah.
This program focuses on locally-identified needs associated with STEM learning for K-12 teachers. These efforts connect thousands of teachers to opportunities to create valuable STEM-based curricula and teaching practices. Funded activities include coaching, mentoring, self-reflection, off-contract work, and effective professional learning communities (PLCs).
The PreK-12 Classroom grant expands opportunities for idea-sharing and innovation. Utah educators and administrators at Utah public schools can implement innovative new approaches to STEM experiences in their classroom, with their findings being shared at STEM conferences and awards events. We have funded hundreds of classroom grants over the years, impacting tens of thousands of students. These projects should focus on classroom-level instruction that is unique to the needs of the students.
STEM Community Impact
Student Experiences Created
Community Partnerships
Professional Learning Opportunities for Educators
