The Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance (KYOSA), in partnership with the Million Girls Moonshot initiative, will fund mini-grants to help support summer programs in their efforts to engage more students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Programs will need to form collaborative partnerships with STEM partners and institutions in Kentucky in an effort to engage underrepresented student populations (female, students of color, students experiencing poverty, students living in rural communities, students with special needs) during the summer months. Program activities will vary in each community, based on local needs, but will have a clear focus on improving children’s engagement with STEM. Examples of project activities could include holding community STEM events or competitions, increasing accessibility to high-quality learning materials and activity equipment for summer programs, organizing community STEM programming with partner institutions, purchasing research-based curriculum and hosting STEM events for families.
The overarching project goals of this funding opportunity are to:
- Build support among diverse stakeholders committed to increasing access and opportunities to quality Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programming in local communities during the summer months.
- Enhance current STEM summer programming through program development and resource distribution.
- Raise local awareness about the importance of STEM summer programs for underrepresented student populations.
Funding Range
Projects for this mini-grant will be eligible for up to $2,000 during the grant period (June – August 2023). The number of projects funded will vary depending on project budgets and the amount of available funds.
Match
Match is not required. However, we strongly encourage every applicant to make some contribution to the project, as preference will be given to applicants who have match. Only cash match can be included on the budget form, but in your narrative, you can describe other non-cash contributions to the project, such as donated materials and volunteer time.
If you are requesting funding for a project that you have already put cash towards, please include that on your project budget form. For example, if you purchased a curriculum but did not have the funds for materials to implement it, you could count as match the amount you paid for the curriculum. Application reviewers may request to see financial documentation of any already-purchased materials that you are contributing as a cash match.
Funding Priorities
The goal of the Summer of STEM mini-grant program is to promote quality STEM summer programming that engages underrepresented student populations. Programs will also focus on increasing access to STEM summer activities in underserved areas. Applicants should clearly describe how this funding will help community members and organizations build lasting connections with and provide continued support to local STEM summer programs. Applicants should also discuss how their project will serve underrepresented students populations not currently participating in quality STEM summer programs and activities.
Eligibility
The make-up of the programs that participate in this project will vary. We encourage each STEM summer program to have a diverse mix of project stakeholders, especially project beneficiaries such as youth and families. In addition to parents and caregivers, others serving in STEM summer programs may include representatives of schools, faith-based organizations, childcare, local government leaders, public libraries, extension offices, businesses, health departments/medical providers, law enforcement, judicial, and nonprofit organizations who support children and families in STEM summer settings.
Applicants will be encouraged to develop needs-focused projects and events outside of school walls that engage the entire community in the process. STEM summer programs may represent a neighborhood, city, county or multi-county area.
Requirements and Limitations
- Grant funds cannot be used for construction, to support salaries, or for administrative and other indirect costs.
- Grantees are required to complete all forms prior to the start of the grant and attend technical assistance meetings as needed.
- Grantees will be required to submit a final program progress report.
Deadline
Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on April 24, 2023, with notification on or around May 1, 2023. All grant activities must be completed between June 1, 2023, and August 31, 2023. Submit completed applications via the online grant application.
Questions? Need More Information?
Please submit questions in writing to kyosa@savechildren.org with subject line “KYOSA Mini-Grant Query.” Click the buttons below to review the complete 2023 guidelines and start and application. Additional information, including a budget template and media consent form, are available on our STEM webpage.
The 2023 STEM Mini Grant online application is now closed.