Idaho National Laboratory K-12 STEM Education Grants

Idaho National Laboratory (INL), operated by Battelle Energy Alliance for the U.S. Department of Energy, is accepting applications for its annual K-12 STEM Education Grants. These grants are part of INL’s broader mission to enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning across the state of Idaho. Through strategic partnerships and targeted funding opportunities, INL aims to support hands-on learning, community engagement, and workforce development to ensure a future pipeline of STEM professionals. Over the past decade, INL has invested nearly $5 million into K-12 STEM education initiatives statewide. The program offers four distinct grant opportunities tailored to different educational needs. The Gov. C.L. “Butch” and First Lady Lori Otter INL/BEA STEM Impact Grant is the flagship award, offering $15,000 to a collaborative team of educators proposing sustainable and impactful STEM projects. The grant seeks to support projects that integrate STEM into the classroom in meaningful ways and promote measurable educational outcomes for Idaho students. Proposals are encouraged to involve partnerships with local businesses and community organizations to foster broader engagement. The Innovation in STEM Grant is designed for informal educators who offer STEM programming in non-traditional settings. This $15,000 award supports initiatives that enhance K-12 STEM learning through informal education channels such as museums, libraries, after-school programs, and other community-based platforms. The goal is to align informal learning with INL’s workforce development objectives, expanding the reach of STEM education beyond the traditional classroom. For individual teachers and school administrators, the Classroom Grant offers funding of up to $2,000 for hands-on STEM instruction materials and equipment. These microgrants are intended to bolster in-class experiential learning and help students grasp key STEM concepts through direct application. The Classroom Grant empowers educators to bring innovative and effective STEM education into their daily teaching practices. Lastly, the Family and Community Engagement Grant provides up to $500 to support events and initiatives that raise awareness of STEM opportunities and career pathways. Eligible applicants include publicly funded and nonprofit organizations that host community events focused on STEM learning. These events are expected to engage families and community members, helping to promote STEM education as a shared civic priority. Applications for all grants are due by February 16. Interested applicants must submit their proposals through the official INL portal. Specific application requirements for each grant type vary, and prospective applicants are encouraged to align their proposals with the intended outcomes and audiences of the individual grant streams. For further information or to ask questions about the program, applicants may contact Adrienne Petrovic at [email protected]. Successful applicants will be notified following the close of the application period, and awards will be disbursed according to INL’s funding and reporting schedule.