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Other Arts Funding Resources

Explore opportunities to obtain grant and crowdsourced funding for arts initiatives at your school, and browse organizations that offer free/cheap arts supplies and equipment and/or educator discounts.

Grant Funding Opportunities

  • Chicago Foundation for Education 2021-22 Educator Impact Fund (EIF)

    CFE’s 2021-22 Educator Impact Fund (EIF) aims to furnish school communities with the digital learning tools, physical equipment, and other classroom supplies necessary to support high-quality instruction and engagement. CFE plans to again support school communities in Chicago’s most disinvested, economically-disadvantaged neighborhoods through this initiative. Educator teams of 3 or more are encouraged to submit requests of up to $5,000, identifying specific supplies and equipment for broad staff use. Schools that were awarded during this year’s Relief Fund are still eligible to receive EIF awards in 2021-22.

    • Request Form Available: August 16–October 11, 2021
    • Committee Consideration of Submissions: October 15-24, 2021
    • CFE Connection with Requesting Schools’ Administrators: October 15- 24, 2021
    • Tentative Distribution of Funds:
      • Round #1 in November 2021
      • Round #2 in January 2022
      • Round #3 in March 2022

    Visit Educator Impact Fund

  • Fund for Teachers

    Teachers are most effective, and improve in their practice, when they are problem solvers and innovators, who take risks, learn, reflect, and collaborate. Teachers who pursue Fund for Teachers’ transformational learning experiences catalyze these problem-solving experiences for themselves and students, ultimately changing schools and communities. Fellowship proposals that prioritize teachers seeking solutions to their own, genuine problems of practice will be best aligned to grant goals. In addition, proposals that have the potential to center students as changemakers for problems in their communities are highly encouraged to apply. Individuals may apply for up to $5,000 and teams may apply for up to $10,000 (while team members may be from different schools, districts or states, all members must meet the eligibility criteria). 

    • Applications open: TBD (likely late Fall 2021)
    • Award notifications: TBD (likely early Winter 2021)

    Visit Fund for Teachers

  • Little Kids Rock

    This nonprofit partners with public school districts in economically disadvantaged communities with the goal of ensuring that all students have access to music education. Teachers apply to be trained in the Little Kids Rock methodology; after training is complete, they receive a donation of curricula, instruments and other resources to launch Modern Band music programming at their schools.

    • Applications open: Training workshops are held throughout the year; music and general education teachers can apply here to join an upcoming workshop.

    Visit Little Kids Rock

  • Lang Lang International Music Foundation

    Lang Lang’s awards include the music-intervention program Keys of Inspiration™ and a Young Scholars Program.

    Visit Lang Lang International Music Foundation

  • National Art Education Foundation (NAEF) Awards

    The National Art Education Foundation (NAEF) was established as an independent, sister organization to the National Art Education Association (NAEA) to provide support for a variety of art education programs. A variety of Foundation grants are made only to NAEA members, including student and retired members, state/province associations, and recognized affiliates. Download the previous year’s NAEF Grant Guidelines here.

    • Updated NAEF Grant guidelines posted: September 1, 2021
    • Next deadline for NAEF Grant submissions: October 1, 2021

    Visit National Art Education Foundation (NAEF) Awards

  • P. Buckley Moss Foundation Teacher Grants

    The P. Buckley Moss Teacher Grant program provides funding for art supplies for teachers. These grants are given annually and may be up to $1,000.00 each. The purpose of the Teacher Grant is to support a new or evolving program that integrates the arts into education in the school classroom setting, with a special focus on those who learn differently.

    • 2021 applications open: July 2021
    • 2021 applications due: September 30, 2021

    Visit P. Buckley Moss Foundation Teacher Grants

  • SEL in Action Awards

    These awards from the NoVo Foundation, in partnership with Education First and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, aim to seed projects that foster social and emotional competencies in students in grades PK-12. Grants for educator-led projects are a maximum of $7,000 each. District-level grant awards are a maximum of $25,000 each. They also award a small, select number of two-year grants. The application window for SY22 is now closed. Read the RFP for 2021 here.

    • Applications for SY23 open: February 2022 (estimated)
    • Applications for SY23 due: Spring 2022 (estimated)

    Visit SEL in Action Awards

Crowdsourced Funding Resources

Resources for Free or Cheap Art Materials and Supplies

Educator Discounts and Freebies

CPS Department of Arts Education

773-553-2170

cpsarts@cps.edu

42 W. Madison St, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60602