7 Ways Your School Can Leverage Grants for Success

Applying for grants is an intimidating process for many schools. You’ll need to create proposals, submit data, and juggle proposals to convince grantmakers that your organization deserves their funding. However, despite the complexity, grants are well worth pursuing—they provide an invaluable funding source your school can greatly benefit from.

To help you understand the benefits of grant funding, we’ll discuss seven ways your school can use grant money to enhance the student experience and boost your educational programs. Whether you need the extra resources to improve your curriculum or enhance your fundraising efforts, grants can provide the support you need.

A quick word of caution: Usually, grants are bestowed for a specific project, and you’ll need to prove that you allocated grant funding to that project. After you’ve been awarded a grant (known as the post-award phase of the grants lifecycle), make sure that you stick to funding the project you outlined in your grant proposal. Take the time during the pre-award phase to thoroughly research the grants you’re applying for and ensure that they fit your school’s funding priorities.

1. Curriculum Improvement

As a school, your top priority is to provide a stellar educational experience to your students. One of the best ways to spend grant funds is on the improvement of your curriculum, with a focus on providing a more enriching education and preparing students for college and careers. You can use your funds on items that will help you do that, such as

• Textbooks and library books
• Educational technology
• Science lab equipment
• Engineering kits
• Art supplies
• Musical instruments
• P.E. equipment

You can also use your funding to pay for field trips that enrich learning and broaden students’ horizons. For example, if your middle schoolers are learning about ocean conservation, host a field trip to an aquarium to provide a fun learning experience.

2. After-school and Summer Programs

Many schools also offer after-school and summer programs to help students develop social and emotional skills, improve school performance, and explore their interests. Additionally, these programs accommodate parents’ schedules by providing childcare for those with full-time jobs.

With grant funding, you can develop and offer new extracurricular programs, such as

• Mythology and Folklore
• Journalism
• Robotics
• Game Design
• 3D Printing and Design
• Coding
• Stained Glass Art
• Digital Art and Graphic Design
• Music Composition and Songwriting
• Art History
• Film and Media Studies
• Ballroom Dance

Additionally, you may use grant funds to hire new teachers or external instructors who specialize in the topics your after-school and summer programs focus on.

3. Facility Upgrades

If any areas of your school are outdated or need repairs, you can use grant funds to make upgrades. Here are a few examples:

• Classrooms: Studies have shown that 94% of teachers use their funds to purchase classroom necessities. Survey teachers and provide them with the items and upgrades their classrooms need.
• Library: Set up flexible study spaces for students to collaborate in and upgrade your book collection with new releases and updated textbooks.
• Cafeteria: Create a more comfortable and inviting dining area for students or purchase more efficient and better appliances for cooks.
• Gym: Provide the equipment needed for your physical education or recreation programs. This might mean installing a rock climbing wall, installing newer flooring, purchasing synthetic turf for your soccer field, and more.
• Music rooms. Install soundproof booths or rooms with quality instruments so students who study music can practice without disturbing others.

You might also use your funds for general green initiatives. For example, if you’re trying to be more environmentally sustainable, you might purchase energy-efficient lightbulbs, solar panels, and other items that help reduce your energy usage. Upgrading your security system, such as installing newer cameras and replacing fire alarms, is another option.

4. Community Engagement

Schools are well-positioned to have an engaged community. Their beneficiaries are students whose parents and family members are willing to get involved and support the school. However, that doesn’t mean you should neglect engagement—it’s still key to implement thoughtful strategies that keep students, parents, and alums interested in what you’re doing.

In particular, hosting community events is an effective way to strengthen the ties between your organization and your audiences. If you’re not already, consider using grant funds to organize events like these:

• Field day
• Talent show
• Movie night
• School spirit week
• Cultural heritage day
• Science fair
• Bookfair
• Homecoming
• Prom

Furthermore, keep your community up-to-date on what your school is doing with a robust marketing plan. Take a multichannel approach and release newsletters about new changes and improvements to your school. Getting Attention recommends staying up-to-date on trends to maximize your outreach and meet your audience’s preferences.

5. Scholarships and Financial Assistance

It’s no secret that some students require scholarships and financial assistance to make the most of their education. Some grantmakers offer funds that you can use to cover education costs for students in need—for example, you could apply for a grant to help students who can’t afford to pay for the class field trip or school lunches.

Additionally, many grants are specifically aimed at students rather than schools. In those cases, you can help students apply for scholarships and financial assistance by directing them to these opportunities and coaching them through the grant writing process.

6. Fundraising Initiatives

Although applying for and receiving grants is a form of fundraising, some grants allow you to use their funds to boost your revenue-generating efforts. Fundraising is a staple activity for any educational institution, and you can use grant funds to boost revenue potential.

For example, let’s say you’re hosting a product fundraiser. You could use grant funds to purchase

• Cookie dough
• Candy bars
• Popcorn
• Tumblers
• Candles
• And more!

Selling a wide range of products will draw in more buyers, resulting in more funds for your school. A student who’s not interested in purchasing cookie dough might want to buy a new water bottle, for example.

You can even use grant funds to create a dedicated merchandise store, either online or on school grounds. Sell merchandise branded to your organization, school supplies, snacks, and other items students might want. You’ll build a sustainable revenue stream that helps you meet your fundraising goals.

7. Capacity-Building Technology

Our last recommendation for how your school can use grant funds is to invest in capacity-building technology. You may have outdated processes that can be streamlined and made more efficient. For example, maybe you require parents to pay for after-school programs via check. It would be much more convenient for parents and your staff if they could submit payment online instead.

According to CommunityPass, top school management software includes these features:

• Digital attendance: Track students’ attendance, streamline parent check-in and check-out, and optimize staffing needs.
• Instructor site: Dedicated instructor sites empower teachers to manage their students more efficiently, manage attendance, and even message students.
• Fee management: Whether you need funds for class trips, athletics, or other student activities, your school software should easily and safely facilitate payments. Plus, allow parents to pay online!
• Fundraising and donations: Boost fundraising results by creating standalone web pages for fundraising event registrations, prompting parents to make a donation when they register for a program or event, and more.
• Marketing and communications: Stay connected with your community via announcements, email lists, message centers, and other communication tools.
• Reporting and analytics: Access various reporting templates on attendance, finances, and more to easily assess any information you need.

With the right tool, your school can streamline everything from attendance to payments to tracking fundraising progress. Don’t be afraid to shop around, book demos, and request quotes from top providers to find the solution that works for your school’s unique needs.

As you begin applying for grants to fulfill your school’s needs, remember to research the grant’s guidelines and eligibility requirements. Ensure your school’s eligibility and confirm that the grant will help you achieve your goals to maximize the time you spend applying for truly impactful grant funding. Study how to write an effective grant proposal and provide all the information the grantmaker requires to maximize your chances of success!

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He's helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.